The Nature of Faith- John 4:43-54

Introduction

Prayer

Alright, 2nd—5th graders you guys are free to dismiss. And as a reminder, parents you can pick those children up at the Wetlands Building, and if you need any help finding where that is, don’t hesitate to ask someone with a lanyard.

If you’re new with us, my name is Andrew McClure and I’m one of the Pastor’s here, and if you would please turn in your Bible’s to John chapter 4.

We’ve been studying the Gospel according to John since August, and have chosen to entitle this series “BELIEVE”, because John is unapologetically wanting us to See Jesus, and in seeing Jesus we would Believe Him, and in believing in Him you would have LIFE.

True Life, Real Life. Eternal Life. an Abudant Life.

But to have a full, abundant life. you have to believe. Or synonymously, faith.

You have to have faith.

But not mere cognitive faith, but a living faith. A faith that grows, and expands, and changes your life, and the life of everyone in your life.

I know you know the difference.

Imagine you come to a perilous cliff, and the only way to get to the other side is to cross an old, swinging rope bridge.

It’s one thing to say, “I have faith this bridge will hold me.”

It’s something altogether different to start walking.

And the reason that John is writing, is to get us walking. To get us living by faith.

Church, faith is essential to salvation and to our life with God.

Without faith it is impossible to please God. (Heb 11:6)

In fact, I’d go so far to say that without faith it is very much possible to displease God.

Isn’t this the story of Scripture!?

It was faithlessness, or unbelief that led Eve to doubt God’s goodness, and inevitably led her to put faith in the serpent not God.

It was unbelief, that led to the drowning of all in Noah’s day.

It was unbelief that hardned the heart of Pharoh.

It was unbelief that locked the doors of the Promised Land to the children of Israel.

It was unbelief that led Israel to demand a King, and reject their God.

It was unbelief that led to the Jews and religious authorities to be offended by Christ, and ultimately crucify Him.

And it is unbelief that leads to the ruined lives of so many today.

Hebrews 3:12 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.”

Unbelief has, and continues to obstruct God’s Power and Purposes in the lives of His people.

Now that is challenging--- but let me double down.

Unbelief has, and continues to obstruct God’s Power and Purposes in the lives of His people.

Now the objection is as follows: “Well hold on Pastor, I thought God was Sovereign...”

Yes! Unequivocally. His purposes will always prevail.

You see, your faithlessness, doesn’t nullify what His purposes.

But he may just accomplish those purposes apart from you.

Robbing you of the incredible blessing, and fullness of life that comes from living with God, and for God.

He’ll use another. Or accomplish it another way.

Leaving you in a plateued experience of His Presence, and plateued understanding of His Power.

Hindering you from knowing the indescrible joys of the peaks of God.

ALl. becuase of faithlessness… we live plateued.

Church, your faithlessness is consequential.

John Calvin once wrote, “Our own unbelief is the only impediment which prevents God from satisfying us largely and bountifully with all good things.”

Our faithlessness is consequential.

Yet, in contrast, so is our faith.

It’s the pathway to incredible power and the promises in God.

It’s the pathway to greater knowledge of His purposes and Presence

By faith, Noah built

By faith, Abraham went

By faith, Isaac received

By faith, Jacob blessed

By faith, Joseph informed

By faith, Moses parted

By faith, Israel crossed

By faith Rahab lived

And so many others

Hebrews 11:33–35 “who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.”

Here’s the point--- Faith is essential to a life in God.

It is the greatest asset we have, while its contrast “unbelief” is the greatest stumbling block.

But can I let you on a deep discipleship secret?

Faith isn’t static, but dynamic.

What I mean is that faith is received for sure.

It is a gift of God.

Like we saw in John 3 with Nicodemus, faith is a work of God, leading to a new birth.

But are we to live as spiritual infants forever!?

Is our faith to remain as immature as an infant?

No!

It’s to be nurtured. Grown. Matured.

This is what the Spirit of God is doing in each and every Christian in this room.

He’s growing us up.

He’s developing our faith, so that we can be powerfully used in His Divine Purposes.

Faith is essential to a life in God.

I hope I’ve convinced you of that

Well today, our text is going to educate us on the nature of faith.

The nature of faith.

So let’s read our text, and then we’ll unpack it together.

John 4:43–54 ESV

After the two days he departed for Galilee. (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

The Nature of Faith--- now our text won’t tell us everything about faith.

This isn’t exhaustive, but let me mix it up today and give you 5 Insights into the Nature of Faith.

First, Unblief is the Enemy of Faith

Unbelief — The Enemy of Faith

Look at John 4:43 “After the two days he departed for Galilee.

Now remember, this is coming straight off his time in Samaria with the village of Sychar. After the Samaritan Woman’s testimony, Jesus spent 2 additional days there, and the village ended up testifying

John 4:42 “They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.””

In Samaria, Jesus had been well received.

But now he enters back into Galilee where he is from. For Nazareth, is in Galilee.

And here John quotes a popular proverb back in the day.

John 4:44 “(For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.)”

What he means is that a person who delivers some life altering, world changing message is often not appreciated or believed by the people who know them best because of the familiarity they share.

And this was unequivicoally true of those closest to Jesus.

Look with. me on the screen at Matthew 13:53–58 “And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.”

They knew Jesus. And due to their familiarity with him, they rejected him.

They were offended by him. His lack of formal training, his ordinary background… his work as a common carpenter.

You see, familiarity breeds contempt.

They couldn’t see who he was to Be, because they knew him for who he used to be.

Not that he had changed, its just that His Messiahship was being revealed.

Familiarity bred contempt.

And church, there’s a real warning here for those who are aging, or for those who have walked with Christ for a long time.

The older we get, the more dull our faith can become, because familiarity breeds contempt.

We must combat this by actively meditating on God’s Faithfulness, rather than numbing in our own familiarity.

But what should shock us is what Matthew 13:58 says, “And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.”

Not that he could not do… but he would not do— because of their unbelief.

Unbelief had obstructed God’s Power and Purposes in their lives.

And it continues the same today.

Why? because unbelief is the enemy of faith.

But let me give you Insight #2.

Insight #2--- Life is the classroom of faith.

Life — The Classroom of Faith

John 4:46–47 “So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.”

Jesus’ reputation had spread.

And word of his power had reached this unnamed official.

Many translations list that he was a nobleman.

Which communicates that he’s a person of wealth, and status.

A man who had access to the best doctors of the ancient mideast.

But apparently there was nothing the doctors could do.

The fever was slowly draining the young boys life.

And consumed by the ongoing suffering of his son, the man comes the 20 miles on foot himself.

So desperate, he refused to send one of his many servants.

So desperate, he came himself refusing to take no for an answer.

Church, what can compare with the pain of a parent witnessing the suffering of their child?

The helplessness, and powerlessness is as overwhelming as the innate grief.

So this. man was desperate. And had come to ask Jesus for a miracle.

But ask is too light, the greek communicates a begging. A persistence.

A desperation.

He wasn’t there to ask, but to demand.

Church, here’s the insight— we can never learn faith in times of comfort.

It is when Life throws us curveballs, that they actually aren’t curveballs at all.

Instead, they’re classrooms.

Places, and times, and opportunities that we get to learn of God, and grow our faith.

One commentator wrote, “Some of God’s brightest blessings come to us clothed in the dark of mourning. If this nobleman’s heart had not been moved through the sickness of his son, he would have never known the power of Christ through faith.”

Being in Pastoral Ministry, I am consequently faced with the question: Why do bad things happen to good people?

And I don’t have time to answer that question in full.

But here’s a couple of points for free:

First, we tend to totally underestimate the cataclysmic nature of sin. It wreaks havoc on your bodies, your relationships, and our world.

Secondly… Who is good—Romans 3:10-12…No one.

So we under-estimate sin, and over-estimate our goodness.

But that’s irrelevant for today.

And I don’t have time to talk about suffering in full, and I don’t know all the reasons God allows it in your life.

But one thing I know for certain: One of His purposes is to leverage the suffering in your life to build faith and form character.

Joseph couldn’t have learned that God uses all things for good, without being sold into slavery, accused of infedility, and wrongly imprisoned.

Paul couldn’t have learned the true strength and Sufficiency of Grace, without being intimately acquainted with weakness.

And even Jesus Christ Hebrews 5:8 “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”

Resurrection always comes after Crucifixion

And there is no eternal eden, without Gethsemane.

Life— the ups and downs, and pains and sufferings are the classroom of faith.

But let’s go to insight #3.

#3- God’s Word- the obeject of Faith.

God’s Word— The Object of Faith

John 4:48–50 “So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.”

This man, overcome by the classroom of life, begs, pleads, and demands for CHrist’s attention and presence.

But Jesus’ repsonse is a bit startling isn’t it.

You see, Jesus knew that this man wanted nothing to do with Him personally. Just his power.

He wanted His gifts, not the giver.

He was seeking His hands, not His face.

But it wasn’t just the Nobleman.

The “you” in verse 48 is plural. It’s you all. It’s all the Galileans in his hearing.

Look at verse 45, John 4:45 “So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.”

Oh they rolled out the red carpet, becuase they had witnessed his power in John chapter 2.

and many. believed in him becasue of these signs.

But John 2:24–25 reads “But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.”

He knew they were fickle. They weren’t interested in Jesus, just what he could do for them. And once they believed that his blessings had run out, they’d turn away.

Once Jesus, stopped meeting their temporal needs, they’d grow offended and reject Him anyway.

Not just the Nobleman, many, including all the Galileans.

What about you?

Has in what ways are you offended by God?

Are their needs, or desires you have that God hasn’t met?

How have you responded to him?

Have you tried to make Him your miracle Worker, or do you really believe Him to be your Maker and Lord?

Because Jesus isn’t interested in being anybody’s Genie.

So he offers a startling rebuke, “Unless you see signs and wonders YOU WILL not believe.”

You see, Jesus is a good High Priest. He cares about your physical needs, but he has ultimatly come for your spiritual and eternal needs.

And this rebuke, intended for all in his hearing, was intended to lift the man to deeper faith.

But also, miracles and signs, and emotional highs, make terrible gods.

How many people witnessed Jesus raise Lazarus?

How many were there that day to see the loaves and fishes multiplied?

How many saw the blind see, the lame walk, or the water turned to wine?

And yet, even after witnessing all these miracles--- eventually refused to accept Him as Savior?

Even in our own day, how many have had an emotional high at a conference, or in a worship service. Leave that time, and vow to follow Jesus all their days, only to forget that vow the next week or month?

This is because emotions, and signs, and wonders, and highs are insufficient objects of faith.

They’re like roller coasters. Coming and going. Peaks and Valley’s.

Unstable.

Therefore, we must be able to place our faith in something that never changes.

Something that’s sure. Grounded. Constant. and Stable.

God’s Word.

God’s Word is to be the object of our faith.

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word from the mouth of God.

Every word of God proves true.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God stands forever.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but his words will never pass away.

The Word of God is the only appropriate object of our faith.

Trust in the Word of God, is always trust well placed.

And that’s how this story unfolds.

Jesus says, John 4:50 “Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.”

But once you come to God’s Word, you’ll find insight #4.

#4— Obedience — The test of Faith.

Obedience— The Test of Faith

It’s one thing to say, “I believe this bridge will hold me.” It’s another thing altogether to start walking.

Can you imagine the insane dilemma of this nobleman?

This man had come to demand Jesus’ presence. To come with Him.

But Jesus says… no--- but go, your son will live.

You see, in this moment, to keep asking. To keep begging would have been evidence of unbelief.

Right? To stay is unbelief.

But to go, was to go without any assurances.

To go, would have been to head home with ZERO evidence or proof that the promised healing would actually happen.

What a terrifying test? A quandary.

Do we keep asking after he said, or leave trembling?

Church, God will test your faith in His Word.

And you may think, Well isn’t that cruel?

Isn’t that unkind, for God to sit so high and mighty and test us.

Well no, because not all tests are bad.

They aren’t GOTCHA moments, but instead transformative opportunties to grow and become a person God can use.

A Test is an opportunity to be faithful, becuase as Jesus says, those faithful in little, can be trusted with much.

It would be foolish of God to trust us with much, when we’ve never been tested with little.

He will test our faith, so that we can become true vessels of HIs glory.

Abraham was tested with the sacrifice of Isaac.

The Israelities were tested in the wilderness.

Daniel was tested with unclean meat.

Joseph was tested with Potipher’s wife.

Jesus was tested in the Wilderness.

You see, each of these individuals listed, had been chosen and selected by God for a divine purpose.

But God needs to ensure they were trustworty with the stewardship of His plans.

That they were people of strong enough character to endure His plans.

So how does he form that faith and character? With tests…

And as a quick point--- tests aren’t necessarily pass/fail.

Now unblief can obstruct. but God is so patient and merciful that often he will give us more opporutnities of testing. He is patient. ANd longsuffering with us.

But his extension of tests isn’t forever. At some point we could be given over to our unblief.

So God will test our faith, and He will you all kinds of things to test us.

Circumstances of suffering.

Persecutions.

Choices of Integrity--- rather you’ll chose what is right even when no one is looking.

Stewardship of your season, your current vocations, giftedness, roles and responsibilities.

And the Word of God.

When God speaks to you… there is a test.

Will you Obey?

That’s what this nobleman faced… A test of faith.

But if we can obey--- they’ll be some incredible rewards.

And that’s Insight #5.

Abundant Life— The Result of Faith

John 4:50–53 “Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.”

First, the boys physical life- was the result of faith.

On his way home, with all of his doubts and concerns of rather he’s just been bamboozled.. he runs into his servants and learns His son has recovered!

As a result of believing and obeying the Word of God, he experienced confirmation that the healing had taken place.

So this boy’s physical life— is the result of faith.

But what does the man do when he hears this update?

Does he start celebrating? Cheering, hugging his servants, highfiving the passerbys?

Does he break down in tears of gratitude!?

No.

What did he do!?

He immediately inquires of the timing of his sons recovery!

Why?

Becuase he had to confirm that recovery was directly connected to Jesus and His Word.

And he learns that the exact hour Jesus spoke “Your Son will Live” was the exact hour the son recovered!

And what do you think happened to the faith of that nobleman!?

Oh man, it surged in strength!

Any doubts are officially quenched.

So growth and strength is another result of faith.

But then we read the end of verse 53… “And He himself believed...”

Believed in what… not just the miracle working power of Jesus. But the Saving Power of Jesus.

The miracle pointed him to the Man.

So Eternal Life--- was a result of faith.

But it gets better.

When he gets home, he’s a different man.

He’s changed! Totally transformed.

And it’s noticeable.

He’s serving his wife, and giving to the poor, he’s probably even driving the speed limit.

And the realness of this transformation is contagious.

“And all his household believed.”

Eternal Life of others… the result of faith.

Conclusion

Church, faith is consequential.

Without it we cannot please God.

Faith is the pathway to incredible power and the promises in God.

Faith is the pathway to greater knowledge of His purposes and Presence

And what our text has shown are some aspects of the Nature of Faith.

Unbelif is the enemy of faith.

Life is the classroom of faith.

God’s Word is the object of faith.

Obedience is the test of faith

And Life is the Result of faith.

And we’ve learned all this in the second sign Jesus did when he had come from Judea (vs. 54).

John wants us to have life, and the only path to lfie is faith, and the only way to have faith is to see Jesus.

And in this sign we get a glimpse of Jesus.

Who by his command, by his very word brings healing of disease. This is our Jesus.

Let’s pray.