The Official's Faith

In this life there will be trouble. Each one of us has struggles difficulties, and trials; some physical and some spiritual, some our own faults and some caused by external circumstances. But one thing is common each one of us finds trouble knocking at the door at some point in our lives. In today’s story we find a man in trouble. His son is dying and he is desperate for him to be healed. Then He hears Jesus is nearby, Look with me at John 4:46-54 as we observe the official discovering faith in Jesus.

John 4:46–54 ESV

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.

Trouble strikes

John 4:46–49 ESV

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.”

trouble - child sick to the point of death

we all have troubles sickness death financial difficulties fights wars catastrophes pandemics

not the everyday kind but those that drive you to your knees those that break you they define you

question is what will we do about it

some use drugs/alcohol/sex to numb it

others create false worlds pretending to be someone else

still others will seek the miraculous only to find frauds

The only true hope? Jesus

He heard Jesus came to Galilee - likely heard of signs he did in Judea

Notice his desperation twice he asks come and heal my son

He does not come to Jesus in faith

indeed Jesus responds unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe

the man repeats his request

Notice what happens next

The Decision

John 4:50–51 ESV

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.

Jesus gives a command Go, your son will live

Jesus is challenging the man’s faith

the official believed Jesus could heal if present through touch or by speaking to the ill themselves or whatever but Jesus shows he has power and authority to heal even from afar - Like God

The official is left to either trust in Jesus and Go home or continue to seek for a cure. If he trusted in Jesus and was wrong then his son might die This decision of faith meant everything.

The man decides to trust Jesus and heads home.

The Result of Faith

John 4:51–54 ESV

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.

The man meets his servants on the way home the next day and is told is son is well - the physical result the thing sought after

the man then asks when he got better

yesterday at the seventh hour -the very hour Jesus said your son will live

The moment of assurance - it is at this moment the official knows for certain Jesus has the healing power of God

At the moment of decision we place our trust in Jesus and we believe are saved

important because God takes the dead and gives them life makes the old man into the new man what was lost is now saved - radically changes our life

satan tries to make us doubt our salvation so we are immobilized and unable to share our faith with others

the moment of assurance is when we know we are saved

John 10:28–29 ESV

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

When we realize that it is the almighty God that is holding our salvation in his hand that he is responsible for it and no one can take it away from Him. I know I am saved because I have seen God work in my life and I know He is keeping my salvation, I can now overcome Satan’s attacks and am free to share my faith like I would otherwise be unable to do.

This man has that same assurance; Only God can heal from miles away therefore Jesus must be God must be the messiah. This man found salvation because of his decision. He and all his household.

It is not just him but also his entire household that is saved.

Invitation

I want to speak first to those who are already believers do you know that you know. Do you have that moment of assurance when came face to face with the reality of the power of God in your life. Can you look back and see God working in your life? If the last time God did anything in your life was years ago you probably need to ask yourself why? It could be a salvation issue, or a faith issue, or even a sin issue but clearly there is something going on. If you do know that you know then who are you telling. Notice again this man shared the story with his household and they all came to faith. Who are you sharing with?

For the non-believer I want you to offer you the chance to place your faith in Jesus. The bible is clear all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, that is that all have messed up, and fallen short of God’s perfection. The punishment for this disobedience is eternal separation from God in hell. This is why Jesus, God in flesh, came and died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice to pay the price for our sins that we could be restored to a right relationship with God and live with him forever in heaven.

My question for you this morning will you place your faith in Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross as payment of your sins? Will you make him Lord and master of your life? Or will you reject him and his gift and place your trust elsewhere? Will you continue to look for a cure even after Jesus has spoken I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me. How will you choose?