Have Faith - John 4:43-54

God is on the move in John 4. Jesus left Judea where He was rejected. He came to Samaria where He was accepted, there He stayed for two days, teaching and just loving on the people. But, Samaria was not His destination.

If you will remember in John 4:3 he was heading to Galilee. When we come to this passage we see His entrance into the city and we see the reception of Jesus, read with me, John 4:45 ...

Is it any wonder? It was in this very city that He worked His first public miracle! Half the people were still talking about that! The other half had been in Jerusalem and witnessed the cleansing of the temple, and the miracles He worked in the days following. They had come home ahead of Him and were spreading the news: The Messiah has come!.

The residents of Cana were not the only ones anxious to see Jesus. When news arrived that Jesus was making His way it reached as far as the town of Capernaum, some 16 miles away from Cana. There the news reached the ears of one of Herod’s men, a worried man, a desperate man.

I speak now to the parents, if you could put yourself in this man’s shoes for a minute, if it was your child sick, unto death, burning up with fever…what would you do? How far would you go? What limits would you search to find a cure and help for your child?

Proposition: My Friends, I want you to understand me today, it does not matter what trial you may be in today, it does not matter what terrible news you may receive tomorrow, what matters right now is that you know this simple truth: Jesus is the answer to any and all of life’s problems.

Interrogative: I’ll ask: How is your faith growing?

My friends this morning I want you to know when you leave this place that true biblical faith is not so much an event, as it is a process. What we learn from this nobleman’s situation how to trust Jesus in every situation. We see first his...

Seeking Faith vv. 46-47

This is faith that says “I want to believe”

Two facts we notice about the nobleman right off:

He was the king’s man (literal translation)

He was rich,

He was powerful, and,

None of that mattered

Death/sickness are not respecters of persons

This man had access to the best doctors and the best treatments money could buy and was completely helpless as he watched his child suffer and get worse and worse

I imagine everyone in this room has had a loved one reach this point in with their help

Everyone in this place today has, or will experience a meeting with a physician and will hear the dreaded words, “There is nothing else we can do.”

He was a desperate father, read John 4:47 with me…

He traveled 16 miles to see Jesus

The Bible says, “When he heard”

The word means to: “understand, pay attention. Describes the act of hearing or listening to a person with emphasis on the accurate understanding of that which is spoken.”

In other words, he believed that Jesus could do something about his need

The Bible tells us he took the journey to see Jesus and “besought” him

Besought is an interesting word, it means to ask a question, or to make a request

Often it is used in making a request to God

It appears the nobleman, in his desperation had already begun to turn his heart toward Jesus - trusting that his man was more than a man!

Already in Cana Jesus had demonstrated HIs power at the wedding

In Jerusalme He had demonstrated HIs authority in the temple

In Jerusalem and Judea He had authenticated His person by the miracles and His teaching

The nobleman understood that there was more to Jesus, he began to understand there was no one who could handle his situation except Jesus!

I want to offer some advice this morning church, that is when difficult times come, and they will, when your back is against the wall, and it will be, when all hope seems lost - have faith.

This man, was just a man. His situation was out of his control. How many of us have been in situations which were out of our control? How many of us have ever been in a situation that looks hopeless? Have faith.

This man’s situation was not his fault. That is true, but often, our “out of control” situation is our fault, it is the result of our choices.

King James Version (Chapter 4)

47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death

I am glad today that when men can’t, Jesus can! I’m glad today when I face a hopeless situation, I can hope in Jesus! This man was convinced that Jesus could do the impossible, that He could turn his son who was at the point of death. He faith to seek the Lord, to travel 16 miles and to wait on His arrival, but I want to go on today, I want to show you that not only did He have seeking faith, but he had a...

Striking Faith vv. 48-49

King James Version Chapter 4

48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. 49

Jesus challenges his faith

Let’s be fair, Jesus was really challenging everyone’s faith

The word ‘ye’ is plural, so evidently He was speaking to the crowd as much as to the man

We read in verse 45 Jesus was recieved because the Galileans had “seen all the things that He did at Jerusalem...”

I like the way Jesus uses

Sightless Faith vv. 50-54