Understanding Belief

Intro

What does true belief in Jesus look like? Last week we saw Jesus call Nicodemus to believe—but we never saw how he responded. After that, Jesus traveled back to Galilee, passing through Samaria, where He had a conversation with a Samaritan woman. Her response was very different from Nicodemus. Then, crowds in Samaria who saw Jesus for themselves came to say, “We know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).

Today we will be in John 4:46–54. I invite you to go ahead and open your Bibles there now.

Here, Jesus arrives back in Galilee from Samaria and meets a nobleman. Once again, someone is challenged to believe. As we look at his story, I believe we will see a picture of what it means to believe in Jesus—not just at the beginning, but how that belief grows and shapes our lives moving forward.

Will you read along with me as we read John 4:46–54.

Read John 4:46-54

John 4:46–54 NKJV

46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” 49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” 52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household. 54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for meeting us in our doubts and imperfections. We confess that too often we look for signs rather than stepping out in faith. We can be more concerned with our own needs than with what You are doing around us. And yet You continue to pour out Your love on us and call us to Yourself.

By Your Spirit, draw us to You this morning. As we hear Your Word, help us trust what Jesus says and strengthen our belief in Him.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1. Belief Begins with Curiosity about Jesus (John 4:46-48)

This encounter with Jesus has a happy ending filled with belief for the nobleman and his family. But that’s not how it starts. It starts with curiosity and desperation.

Jesus returned to Galilee after being in Jerusalem for the Passover feast. Many people from this region were also in Jerusalem for the feast so they saw or heard about the miracles he was doing. And now crowds of Galileans came to “welcome” him (John 4:45).

Some wanted to see a miracle. Wouldn’t that be pretty cool. Other’s wanted to see the person everyone is talking about.

But some, like this nobleman were in desperate need for help. “Is it possible that this Jesus everyone is talking about could work a miracle.… for me?”

It was a long shot. But it was the only option left, because the son was terribly sick and if something didn’t change.… he wouldn’t make it.

So the nobleman, who probably works for Herod comes to Jesus with his request. He implores him. “Please, help my son.”

Jesus Response

But Jesus doesn’t just say yes and get to healing. Last time he was in Cana Jesus’ mother asked for help when they ran out of wine. And he also gave a delayed response, one that focused on his mission and forced his mother to deeply consider how much she could trust him.

Mary responded with great faith. How will this nobleman respond?

Jesus tells him in verse 48: “unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”

Jesus is not just speaking to the man, but to the whole crowd, the whole group of people who have welcomed Jesus looking for more signs. They had already seen some, but maybe just one more so they can see it’s real or find out how Jesus is faking it.

They are coming to Jesus with curiosity about what Jesus will do. Yet they lack faith. They don’t trust him.

Transition

Curiosity is a fine place to start, but Jesus is not content for the nobleman to stay there. True faith requires trust, not just curiosity.

2. Belief Saves through Faith in Jesus (John 4:49-50)

Jesus hadn’t offered a miracle, but the man continues. He begs for Jesus help. Look how Jesus responds in verse 50: “Go your way; your son lives.”

Do you see what Jesus is doing here. He’s offering healing, but only through faith.

He’s not offering to go and heal the boy like the man is asking.

He’s not offering any proof at all.

He’s not even offering some prayer or ritual that the man can see and trust.

No, he’s only offering his own word.

And the man believes. Simple. Short. Maybe we’d like something more complex—a list of rules, steps to check off—but John simply says: “so the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and he went his way.”

This is a picture of saving faith.

It’s more than curiosity. It’s trust. When life hangs in the balance, it’s believing and trusting what Jesus says.

For that nobleman it was believing Jesus’ word that his son lives. But what word, does Jesus have for us to believe so that we can live?

What about the words that Jesus spoke to Nicodemus in John 3:16

John 3:16 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Or Paul’s words in Romans 10:9?

Romans 10:9 NKJV

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

“Saving faith” is faith that trusts in Jesus. That’s it. We don’t have to add any more.

3. Belief Grows through Experiencing Jesus (John 4:51-53)

Are you familiar with evangelists? People like Billy Graham. They have big services, and preach the good news with this destination in mind. People believing in Jesus so that they can be saved.

And sometimes we think of salvation as the end, the goal. But this moment of believing isn’t the end of the Christian journey or the end of belief. It’s just the beginning, because belief grows through experiencing Jesus.

Did you see what happened to the man after he left. He recieved confirmation from his servants. They came rushing to meet him as he was heading home. Your son is better!

Imagine his relief. He placed his trust in Jesus, and he came through, he delivered on his promise.

“When was this?” he asked. His servants told him and it was the very hour Jesus said his son would liv.

I’ve seen many people come with curiosity and some level of skepticism when it comes to Jesus. And often, it seems like they are alway one sign away from faith. Well, if Jesus would just prove he’s real, then I’d believe.

But do you know what else I’ve seen? What comes from trusting in Jesus. I’ve seen time and again people place their faith in Jesus and seen God works. Christians often have these type of coincidences when we follow God in faith. This week I spoke to two Christians about how small “coincidences” made a big difference, that they could see God guiding them.

The life of a believer is not blind faith. It’s faith in a trustworthy God who reveals himself in our lives.

For most of us, God’s promises to us are not healing. Although I’ve seen that too.

He promises us forgiveness of sins. And when we believe in Jesus, we don’t just hear that promise—we feel the weight of sin and shame lifted. The burden we’ve been carrying is no longer ours to bear.

He promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Life still brings uncertainty, suffering, and fear, but we never face them alone. God’s presence is not fragile or temporary—it is faithful.

We’ve seen this at Haven so many times already. As we’ve stepped out in faith, God has:

Provided for our needs (places to meet like a funeral home, this property, even used the robbery of our AC units to have the insurance cover replacing one of our units)

Sent us leaders (think back to the leaders we’ve had, volunteer and staff, and ask yourself: did we do this on our own or ha God been with us and never forsaken us)

Sustained us in seasons when we didn’t know what the next step would be

He promises us new life. Not just a fresh start, but a transformed heart. In Christ, we are no longer defined by our past, our failures, or our regrets.

He promises us peace. Not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ in the middle of it. A peace that guards our hearts even when circumstances are at there worst.

He promises us eternal life. Just as the nobleman trusted Jesus’ word that his son would live, we trust Jesus’ word that we will live—now and forever.

And none of these promises come because we earned them, proved ourselves, or did everything right.

They come because Jesus is faithful, and His word can be trusted.

And here is the reality of belief in Jesus.

As Christians, when we place our trust in ourselves, Christian leaders, or denominations or movements, we will often have shallow spiritual lives inevitably marked by disappointment.

But when we trust in Jesus and believe in his word our belief will grow as we see God work.

4. Belief is Meant to Be Shared (John 4:53b)

And that’s not the end of it either. Because it’s not just about us. When we experience true belief in Jesus we will be compelled to share it.

Look what happens for the nobleman in verse 53. After hearing confirmation of what Jesus had done, only did the nobleman grow in his belief, but “he himself believed and his whole household.”

His growing faith became a witness to his whole family.

Parents: Do you want your children to experience salvation by believing in Jesus? Then let them see you trust Him. Let them watch Jesus work in your life, and they will believe even more when God moves.

At work or school: Do you want those around you to experience the love and grace of Christ? Then let them see your faith in the midst of hardship, and watch how Jesus works in your life. Your trust becomes an invitation for others to believe.

Here at Haven: Do we want our church to grow in belief? One simple way is to notice and share answered prayers. Let the ways God is faithful in your life encourage others so that together, we all grow in trusting Jesus.

Conclusion

In the nobleman’s encounter with Jesus, we see what true belief looks like and how it grows.

If you are in that place of curiosity, I want to invite you to truly believe. Place your trust in Jesus and experience salvation for yourself.

If you are a believer, will you grow your faith by experiencing Jesus—turning to God in prayer and watching for all the moments where He moves around you and in you?

And as you experience God’s presence and love, will you share it with others, so they too might come to believe?

Sermon Notes

1. Quotes and Illustrations Used

True Faith vs. Curiosity (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary)

True faith must be grounded in who he is and not just what he does. Carson correctly notes (1991:236), “Therefore when he arrived, the Galileans welcomed him—not as the Messiah, but because they had seen all that he had done at the Passover Feast in Jerusalem.” They were like Nicodemus, thrilled with his power but not understanding his person. In that sense, their welcome was halfhearted and inadequate.

Grant Osborne, Philip W. Comfort, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 13: John and 1, 2, and 3 John (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2007), 76.

The Point of the Story (NAC)

The point of this story is that it illustrates a new dimension of believing: namely, a believing without the immediacy of seeing. Accordingly, it foreshadows the concluding words of Thomas about believing without seeing (20:29).

Gerald L. Borchert, John 1–11, vol. 25A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 217.

2. Scripture References

Today’s passage is best understood in the context of the various conversations John records in chapter 3 and 4. Read the following encounters. Compare what Jesus is saying in each and how he is received.

John 3:1-21 Nicodemus

John 4:1-26 Samaritan woman

John 4:39-42 Samaritan crowds

John 4:43-45 Jewish crowds

3. Additional Questions from John 4:46-54

Question: Is the healing of the nobleman's son in John 4 the same event as the healing of the centurion's son (Matt 8:10, Luke 7:9)?

Answer: No

Logos smart search answers this question well:

These are distinct events. While some scholars have suggested that John’s account of the nobleman’s son healing represents a variant of the centurion’s slave healing, the evidence does not support this identification.[1]

The differences between the two accounts are substantial. Beyond some interesting verbal parallels and the shared feature of healing at a distance, the accounts diverge significantly:

the centurion is a Gentile while the official is probably Jewish;

the centurion’s servant is a slave whereas the official’s patient is his son;

Jesus speaks his healing word in Capernaum in the centurion account but in Cana in John’s account;

the centurion’s faith receives Jesus’ explicit praise while the father’s faith is initially weak;

the centurion refuses Jesus’ offer to visit his home,

whereas the father urgently requests it.[2]

Additionally, the centurion’s servant suffers from paralysis while the nobleman’s son has a fever.[2]

The most striking distinction lies in the contrasting attitudes of the two men seeking healing. In the Synoptic accounts, when Jesus proposes visiting the centurion’s home, the centurion firmly opposes this and explains his understanding of authority and obedience from a distance. In John’s narrative, by contrast, the father pleads with Jesus to come to his home and becomes insistent when Jesus does not immediately agree to do so.[2] The settings also differ temporally, with John’s event occurring considerably later in Jesus’ ministry.[2]

[1] Leon Morris, Luke: An Introduction and Commentary, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 3:155. [2] Leon Morris, The Gospel according to John, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), 254–255.

4. Bible Translation

I’m choosing the NKJV for preaching because I believe it offers the strongest balance of faithfulness to the historic text of Scripture, clarity for modern readers, and continuity with the church’s worshiping tradition.

At the same time, I deeply value other faithful translations—such as the NASB, ESV, CSB, and NIV—which also serve the church well and can enrich our understanding of God’s Word.

5. Commentary Recommendation's

I have found the following commentaries helpful in my study of John.

Introductory

Explore the book in greater depth. Ideal for curious church members, Bible study leaders, and Sunday School teachers who want a clearer understanding of the text without being overwhelmed by technical detail.

1. Holman New Testament Commentary: John by Kenneth O. Gangel

2. Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in John by Matt Chandler and Josh Wredberg

3. Be Alive (John 1-12) and Be Transformed (John 13-21) by Warren Wiresbe

4. The Life Application Bible Commentary: John Editor: Grant Osborne

Intermediate

More advanced, with increased attention to historical context, theological nuances, and interpretive questions. Best for teachers or small group leaders seeking a scholarly yet accessible examination of passages.

1. Signs of the Messiah: An Introduction to John’s Gospel by Andreas J. Köstenberger

2. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: The Gospel of John by Grant Osborne

3. ESV Expository Commentary: John by James M. Hamilton Jr.

In-Depth Study

These are a bit more advanced than the previous recommendations and go into more depth. These resources are ideal for those preparing lessons or sermons and looking to engage more deeply with the biblical text.

1. New American Commentary: John 1-11 and John 12-21 by Gerald L. Borchert

2. Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel According to John by D.A. Carson

3. New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Gospel According to John by Leon Morris