John 4:46-54
Notes
Transcript
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.
Jesus’ second sign or miracle as per John 4:54.
1st one being the water into wine
John 4:46a So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine.
Why are these in here?
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
To show God as God. Above all. The creator not the created! Elaborate.
John 4:46b 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.
A lot geography is being mentioned here! verses 43-45 Galilee, mentions Jesus’ hometown, Jerusalem, verses 46-47 mentions Capernaum, Cana Judea and earlier in chapter 4 Samaria and Sychar. Where are we and what is going on?
Chapter 2: Water to wine at the village of Cana, which is in a region of northern Israel named Galilee.
Traveled south to Jerusalem for the Passover, which is in a region of southern Israel name Judea.
Started traveling back to the region of Galilee, in between the two regions of Galilee and Judea is the region of Samaira and the city Sychar. Where Jesus had the run in with the woman at the well in this chapter.
From there Jesus finished his journey back to the region of Galilee, bypassing his hometown Nazareth and stopping back in at Cana.
Capernaum was a town about 20-25 miles away from Cana, still within the region of Galilee.
Cana to Jerusalem about 75 miles. Several days to possibly a week. From Price to Provo.
Jerusalem to Sychar about 30-35 miles. Somewhere between Provo and the Billies Mountain/Red narrows of Hwy 6
Sychar back to Cana 40-45 miles or from Billies Mtn/Red Narrows to Price.
Capernum Price to Huntington away.
Why go through all this? Well first it’s in scripture, second it builds context for Jesus’ name and how it is spreading.
Cana and the water into wine.
Jerusalem and the passover where Jesus makes a scene at the temple. Along with...
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.
The woman at the well running off and telling all that Jesus had done.
And now here an official seeking Jesus to come heal his son.
Good, bad, or indifferent on how they take Him, Jesus is being made known through His works and travels.
Going back to scripture now with a little bit of context.
John 4:46b 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.
an official, someone with some type clout or a nobleman a person of high social standing, often associated with wealth, power, or lineage
We also see in 51 he has servants, again indicating someone with high social standing.
As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.
He has a son that is ill
Left Capernaum for Cana again roughly 20-25 miles away or about a day’s journey.
Why? Because this official has obviously heard about Jesus and His signs.
And is seeking help for his son. For his son is at the point of death.
A quick pause here for obvious truth.
Before today’s verses what were we reading about? The women at the well and her 5 husbands. A woman of public disdain, a outcast, someone people probably looked down at.
To today’s verses, and official, a nobleman with status, wealth, and some sort of clout.
What do both share?
It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.
Death, why?
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
And what is the result of this sin?
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are all equal in sin and all equally need Jesus!
Moving on with scripture and the official asking Jesus to come down to Capernaum to heal his son from the point of death.
So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”
This is actually pointed at the crowd that was around for all this...
The original Greek text uses plural forms here for this text.
Remember
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.
People have come for all reasons...some righteous, some not so righteous as well see. Kinda like today’s present seeking of Jesus.
John 4:48 is better translated in the NIV version.
John 4:48 NIV “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
Which opens up the heart of today’s teaching.
In the words of John the Baptist.
He must increase, but I must decrease.”
What are the “signs and wonders” of Jesus’ authority meant to bring?
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
But in this case when Jesus says “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe”, what’s he referring to?
How many times must Jesus show himself for repentance to come?
If we see the God of all creation, pure, perfect, holy, come before us and we don’t recognize our sinful ways as damming and deserving of death, we’ll never see the God of all.
Instead we’ll see a God of our making. One that is tolerant of all things, including the very thing that brings death and destruction, our sin.
One who grades on a curve. Takes all of humanity and averages out the good with the bad. Taking the so called good people of the world and leaving the so called bad people of the world.
There is no such thing! All are equal, all are unrighteous, all are sinful and deserving of death.
What are they after? Ease and comfort of this life all the while ignoring their righteous judgement to come for their horrific acts of sin against a Holy God.
What are they after? Themselves...
This is the point of this talk.
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
repent, change direction! With true belief comes true repentance of sin acts. Not perfectly, why because we’re not Jesus!
But our hearts are troubled over sin and hurt over it to the point of change.
The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
Pleading type of wording to Jesus
Down equals elevation here.
This man wants Jesus to come to his place heal his daughter
What does he get?
Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.
“Go; your son will live.”
How many of us would of done what this man did?
Leave all the while in your mind, you headed up to get Jesus to come to your physical home to heal.
Now Jesus isn’t coming with!
What we see here is faith!
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
This is faith in Christ!
This man took Jesus at his word.
Oh, how many of us need help with this at times?
Does this mean that everything we truly want will be given? No!
What does this mean? God’s word is never void. If He says it, it is done.
What we need will be given for those that are in Christ.
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
Have faith and take God at His word.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Jesus doesn’t leave us in a place of despair and brokenness.
It’s quite the opposite. Praise God!
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.
These are the reason for the signs and miracles!
Not for worldly ease and comfort. But for
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Signs and miracles given in our own life, what are they for?
Yesterday, Justin asked what has God saved you for?
Do we understand that it is not for joy’s and comforts of this world?
Then what is it for?
To bring praise, honor, and glory to God.
Not because God is some egotistic being that lacks self-confidence and needs others praise to survive.
But because of His loving nature.
What happens when we put our hope and faith in anything else but God?
Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, our jobs, our money, our children, our health.
All are temporal, all hold no real power, and therefore all hold no real hope for life.
What do we get if we praise, worship, and bring glory to things that are created over the creator of life itself?
In essence, nothing...why? Because created life is not sustained in itself. There’s only one that sustains life and that is the creator of life!
So without the sustainer of life, we have death!
Therefore, to bring glory to God is the right, loving thing to do. If Glory to God isn’t first, we’re lost and dead!
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Why have signs been given to you in your life? “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name”.
What signs has God done in you to share so others “may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing they may have life in his name.”?
We all have a story of death to life and that story isn’t meant to be hid!
It is meant for His Glory.
It’s meant to bring us to a place of love for Him and others.
Let’s Pray.
