What we need

John 4:43–54 NKJV

43 Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee. 44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast. 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.

Introduction: Read John 4:43-54

1. A nobleman stood at the bedside of his son. Son dying. Doctors helpless. Mother weeping.

2. Father is out of options. Needs a miracle. Thinks “water to wine” (John 2:1-11). “I know where there is a miracle working man.” Government keeps track of those that cause a ruckus in Jerusalem (John 2:13-25). Doesn’t send servant, goes himself.

3. Finds Jesus in Cana, an uphill journey from Capernaum. Asks Him to come down.

4. Jesus changes the subject, v. 48.

1) Reveals that He is concerned more for the soul of the nobleman than for the life of the child. …of such is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19:14).

2) Jesus’ purpose is to seek and save the lost.

a. “This is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent,” John 6:29.

b. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost,” Luke 19:10.

c. Purpose of miracles are to THAT end, John 20:30-31.

5. Nobleman repeats, “My child is going to die. Come down.”

6. Jesus says, “Go thy way. Thy son liveth.”

1) The man had to make a choice, requires his sleep-fogged mind to think, “Well, any miracle he can do there he can do here. If he can’t heal here, he can’t heal there.

2) The man believed and turned to go back home.

8. As he continued going down his servants met him.

1) they say, “Thy son liveth,” Just as Jesus had said.

2) This is not to say that the child is still barely hanging on. This would have been no reason to come.

3) Nobleman asks when the improvement began.

4) Not a matter of “improvement.” Fever “left him.”

5) Left him the day before, at 1 PM, when Jesus said, “Go thy way…”

9. The nobleman and his house believe

10.We ask now, What is God’s message in this narrative?

1) Jesus’ first concern is your soul.

2) Jesus is not a respecter of persons.

3) Jesus’ power is astonishing.

I.   THE CASE OF THE NOBLEMAN’S SON SHOWS THAT JESUS’ FIRST CONCERN IS YOUR SOUL

1. Not your health, 2 Cor. 12:7-9. (“grace is sufficient”)

2. Not your wealth. (gain world, lose soul, Matt. 16:26; God, mammon, Matt. 6:24)

3. Not your relationships, Matt. 12:47-50 (do the will … brother, sister, mother)

4. YOUR SOUL.

1) Thief on the cross, Luke 23:39-43. Jesus wouldn’t save his life but wanted to save his soul.

2) Sons of Zebedee, Matt. 20:20-23. Not interested in prestige but in their godliness, vv. 26-27

3) Woman of Samaria, John 4:1-42. Not interested in depth of well, class rivalries, gender differences. Jesus was interested in her soul, v. 10.

II.  THE CASE OF THE NOBLEMAN’S SON SHOWS THAT JESUS IS NOT A RESPECTER OF PERSONS

1. It did not matter to Jesus that the father was a royal official, with an entourage.

1) Most ministers today would fall all over themselves if the governor called.

2) Jesus stayed with His plan. He valued those of low estate.

2. Jesus expects us to do the same, James 2:1-9.

1) As a mother should care for her children no matter the status of those that demand her time.

2) As a teacher should teach rich and poor alike.

3) As a believer we should welcome everyone

3. We are equal in Christ, Gal. 3:27-38.

1) Judged by the words of Christ, not net worth, John 12:48.

2) Rewarded according to works, not privilege or gender or race, Matt. 16:27.

[We have noted thus far that I. Jesus’ first concern is your soul, and that II. Jesus is not a respecter of persons. Finally let us note that God teaches that…]

III. THE CASE OF THE NOBLEMAN’S SON SHOWS THAT JESUS’ POWER IS ASTONISHING

1. How shall God teach you that He has the power to answer your prayers from Heaven?

2. How shall He entreat you to trust His exceeding great and precious promises?

3. A general learns of an arms manufacturer that claims to have the answer to the enemy’s latest threat. He wants to believe. How does he come to believe? HE GETS A DEMONSTRATION!

5. Jesus simply utters words from a distance and it was done.

6. He utters words and the winds and the sea calm, Mark 4:35-41.

7. He utters words to call a man from the grave, John 11:38-44. This is why I trust Him. John 6:40; 1 Thess. 4:16-18; John 5:24-29; 1 Cor. 15:51-57.

1) The power of the Son has been demonstrated.

2) That power is ASTONISHING.

WE need in the Church today the strength of the Nobel-man.