Why they (and we) do not Treasure Christ above all things.

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.

Potentially confusing text. There are a few things in our text today that can quickly confuse us so let’s clear up the confusion and them try and see the main point that John the author is trying to bring home here.

1. Clearing up potential textual confusion

Potentially confusing text. There are a few things in our text today that can quickly confuse us so let’s clear up the confusion and them try and see the main point that John the author is trying to bring home here.

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Potentially confusing text. There are a few things in our text today that can quickly confuse us so let’s clear up the confusion and them try and see the main point that John the autor is trying to bring home here.

Not the same has the healing of the Gentile centurion servant in & Luke 7>2-10

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 4

The healing of the official’s son resembles that of the Gentile centurion’s servant in Matt. 8:5–13 and Luke 7:2–10, but this is not the same incident.

2. Geographical Confusion. Lots of locations being mentioned here. Helps me to get my head around the geography.

John 4:54 ESV

This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

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2.1. Note that Bethlehem is South.

2.2. Jesus has been with the women at the well in Sychar because he was traveling with disciples from Judea to Cana. Shortest route was through Samaria but more importantly He had eternal business from the Father to attend to in Sychar.

2.3. Jesus now moves north to Galalee a region which contains several villages or towns. Jesus goes back to Cana while the official is in Capernaum but comes down to Cana to ask Jesus to heal his son

3. Apparent Textual contradiction. Jesus says “ a prophet is without honor in His home town, but then the text reads that they welcomed him. Look at verses 4.44-45 Without honor yet they welcomed him. HMMM.... This seems like honor. They do welcome him

Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem for the Roman Census but also to fulfill the prophecy

Micah 5:2 ESV

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Verese 43. Jesus departed for and arrived in Galilee (v. 45). It is at least 49 miles (79 km) by road from Sychar to Cana (v. 46), a journey that, by foot, would have taken at least two or three days.

Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2029). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

v. 44 we don’t really want you or honor you as much as we are interested in what you might can do for us. We like your miracles. We saw the water into wine.

2. They are Kind (in their welcome) but Cunning (John 4.45-46)

=1.

skill in achieving one's ends by deceit.

John 4:45–46 ESV

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.

As humans we have a way of using people.

Illustration

“ This is the Hometown of Elvis Prestly”

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Why would people in Tupelo Mss care that Elvis Presley was from their little backwater town. It brings them a sense of pride and Identity. It is like saying see we are special because Elvis is from here.

We all take advantage of an opportunity to take a photo with someone who is a celebrity or US President. The celebrity doesn’t show his picture with you to his friends and family.

Why not? That doesn’t bring them any social status above what they already have, but wait till they meet someone they think is higher than them and they too will act like you did about your photo with them. We know how to use people to elevate ourselves and we learned it most likely before first grade.

This is what is happening here with Jesus when he goes home. They welcome him but its not real. They are using Him. He feels used and we know this because how he addresses them.

John 4:48 ESV

So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

John 4.

In other words, you do not believe in me. You just want me to do something for you. You want me to give you that perfect souse, that special position at work, financial comfort, social status, peace, prosperity....but do you want me?

jesus will not be our genie in a bottle,

He will not be our lucky rabbits foot,

He is not the man upstairs

He is not a good luck charm in life to help you be successful in your financial endeavors.

He is not our physical miracle healer whenever I am the one diagnosed with a deadly cancer

But Jesus is my only hope in this life and in death

Jesus is the only one who hears my soul at the deepest places and can offer peace unending

Jesus is the only one who can bring eternal value and significance to my little small finite life

jesus is the one who beckons me to come so He can explode my soul with over flowing joy and life abundant.

Why can’t we see this Jesus for the treasure He is?

It’s almost like our vision of him is that crusty painting hanging in the foyer of your grandmothers home. You know the one with the halo over his head, when in reality He is the Lion of Judah, The Prince of Peace, The King of heaven and earth, When we stare into the night sky on a clear stary night and wonder in our soul how massive is this Universe? He is the one who spoke it into being. Simply by speaking He unleashed a Universe of stars and galaxies, of people and places.

When you hold a baby in your arms and ponder the precious life you are holding and smell that sweet baby smell it is but an echo of the Goodness of this God.

3. Supernatural Seeing gives birth to Spiritual Vision (Faith)

Yet?

In Lepers are cleansed by Jesus but only one comes back and praises God. It says that one was the Samaritan perhaps the one most outside of the visible church. Not a Jew. Familiarity with Jesus or religion can be are great cataracts to seeing Him and treasuring Him for who He is not simply what he can do for us.

Even when we experience miracles it seems we cannot see and treasure Christ.

Secularism or Atheism will Flourish in the soil of 4 things

Existential Security : You have enough money and food

Personal Freedom : (you’re free to choose whether to believe or not)

Using a separate model, Future of Religion and Secular Transitions (forest), the team found that people tend to secularize when four factors are present: existential security (you have enough money and food), personal freedom , pluralism (you have a welcoming attitude to diversity), and education (you’ve got some training in the sciences and humanities). If even one of these factors is absent, the whole secularization process slows down. This, they believe, is why the U.S. is secularizing at a slower rate than Western and Northern Europe. Albert Mohler Podcast July 2018

Pluralism (you have a welcoming attitude to diversity)

4. Education (you’ve got some training in the sciences and humanities)

If even one of these factors is absent, the whole secularization process slows down. This, they believe, is why the U.S. is secularizing at a slower rate than Western and Northern Europe. Albert Mohler Podcast July 2018

So how does the official see and how can we?

Matthew 16:13–17 ESV

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Matt 16.16

God must work and we must exercise faith.

Notice the official doesn't flinch at Jesus harsh words. Jesus says unless you see sign s you will not believe. The official stays the coarse and says “come down before my child dies”

There is so much more a stake here than a son dyeing as painful as that would be. There is the healing of the Father and his soul. Hanging in the balance we know from the rest of the story is the eternal destiny of the whole household. There is mystery here but this fathers faith lead to not simply his sone physical health being cured but the entire household believing in Jesus.

Does our faith in Jesus also have eternal ramifications?

You bet your life it does?

Why, of coarse because your great!

Not so, but because this is how God has chosen to show HIs glory and reveal Himself to us. Our faith in Christ matters not simply for us but for our families, possibly our neighbors, or friends.

OH GOD GIVE US the faith of this official.

Could it be that this boy is sick so that this man and His family will personally experience the Glory and majesty of God?

Would God allow sickness or even death in this life to bring about white hot worshippers of His beauty, goodness, and supremacy?

ps 119.

Do we have to get the prayer answered YES in our way and our timing or we secretly hold God in contempt?

Psalm 119:71 ESV

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

Job 1:21 ESV

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Who afflicted this boy? Who has afflicted you? From this we see that God afflicts us that we might learn his statutes. His word, His way, HIM, HIM, HIM

job 1

Lamentations 3:1–3 ESV

I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath; he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light; surely against me he turns his hand again and again the whole day long.

Job 1.13-

Job 1:13–22 ESV

Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Wait…Job has lost everything and his response is to worship. Must be a misprint or not a real story. Job knew something about God other men did not know.

job 13

Job 13:15 ESV

Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.

Certainly God would and does do this everyday and in 1000’s of different people and ways.

Faith in this official moved from seeing signs..... to taking Jesus at His word...... into saving faith. Beyond the signs and miracles we seek the Christ to whom they point and whose glory they signify.

We seek Him.

It is obeying His commands and trusting His promises that true faith is expressed. We do not dictate the terms of the relationship---we exist for Him not Him for us. Now we have saving faith.

Faith like we find in where Jacob wrestles with God

Genesis 32:26 ESV

Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Our faith is special to God and He is Glorified by it. Not simply faith that He can do a miracle and cure us from 0ur physical illness but a deeper faith that even if He chooses not to heal I will hang onto Him. I will trust Him. I will worship Him even in the darkness remembering what I saw in the light. I know in my soul my redeemer is Good and even this is for my good and His Glory.

Moving from trying to use God to worshipping God and allowing Him to use you takes a supernatural work of God’s Holy Spirit.

Communion:

1 Corinthians 11:23 ESV

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,

1 Cor 11:23

This leads to the third aspect of faith highlighted here, its development. There is a notable progression in the official’s response to Jesus, from seeking miraculous signs (48) to taking Jesus at his word (50), to believing (53). Faith is a living thing which grows and develops. While it may have its crisis of final commitment, it also has its period of maturation. Or, using the image of chapter 3, it has its time of gestation before the crisis of birth. It is heartening to observe Jesus’ willingness to struggle with the official as his faith grew, even though that meant appearing at first to refuse his heartfelt request.

In a sense something even greater was at stake in this encounter with Jesus than simply the healing of the boy. There was the healing of the father also, a healing of spirit, which, having been obtained, was the means of blessing to his entire family (53). It is this final treasure that Jesus seeks and he is prepared to allow us to experience deep affliction in the process of obtaining it. ‘It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees’ (; cf. ).

There is also teaching here with respect to prayer. The passion of prayer is exemplified by the official. His terrible anxiety drives him to make the long journey to Cana to meet with Jesus. We do not have difficulty identifying with the official at this point. But how little of such passion characterizes our prayers in the normal run of things. Jacob’s ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me’ () is language largely foreign to our intercessions.

Milne, B. (1993). The message of John: here is your king!: with study guide (pp. 92–93). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

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