Signs or Jesus?
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Believe only in what you can see or will you believe on the Word of God?
Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego - Refused to bow down to other God’s. This is why Israel was in captivity, because they had stooped to worshiping false gods. But these three men, they refused all the advances and temptations to worship. They even refused the command of the king Nebuchadnezzer. So they were cast into the fiery furnace. This fire was so hot that it killed the men throwing these three into the fire. See these men weren’t hoping on a miracle or sign, they just worshipped God no matter what! And even though they didn’t pray for a sign, they found themselves in the middle of one, as they danced in the fire with a fourth. This is the faith and the devotion God is looking for, believing so the signs and wonders show up, not waiting for the signs and wonders to believe, that what Jesus is saying in
So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”
Prayer
Jesus didn’t mind performing signs and wonders as long as people’s hearts were compelled to God and not the sign. Its exactly what is happening here at the end of John 4. Here He comes out of Samaria and into Galilee out of the world of the non-believer and into the children of God and just like spoiled children, they come looking for a miracle, all but one man, the official. That’s where we pick up in verse 43.
Having Seen
Having Seen
After the two days he left for Galilee. (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)
A. Declaration of Who
1. They witnessed
a. Not only the water to wine
b. Also the miracles
i. they would have been at the Passover in Jerusalem as well
2. Galileans welcomed Him
a. Welcomed who?
i. The savior
ii. The Miracle worker
b. There is going to be some important contrast
i. Remember John is a book on theology
ii. Jesus is correcting the people’s view
B. Faith or Signs
When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there.
1. why he says without Honor
a. They were looking for the miracle worker
b. They wanted to use Him
2. The Church today
a. Looking for signs/wonders
b. Looking for the savior
c. How do we believe
i. What He says or what He does
Believing the Word
Believing the Word
Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at his word and departed.
A. Already performed
1. Water to Wine questions
a. But the people didn’t know why
b. People didn’t understand then
i. He said it isn’t my time
2. But in Jerusalem they knew
a. It was a public display
b. They were without excuse
B. Jesus makes the comparison here
1. Unless you see
a. He already knew the people’s hearts
b. Sure they welcomed Him while things were good
i. Getting what they want
ii. But what about when it is God’s will verses mine
Prayed for my buddy Josh, but it was God’s will he go home. So where do I stand on that, well I must trust in the Lord’s will. That’s what the official is doing, trusting in the Word of God not the signs.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
2. Go you son lives
a. He trusts the Word of God
b. It is enough for Him
i. No need for anymore signs
How Many is Enough
How Many is Enough
While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”
Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.
This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.
A. While on His way
1. God meets us where we are
a. grants encouragement to the official
b. Because of his faith
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2. He went before he knew
a. received the blessing early
b. Then confirmed that faith he trusted in
c. God confirms these things for us if we trust
B. But not a wishing well
1. Have to be prepared for the no
a. God is not a wishing well
b. It does take faith, even that as small as a mustard seed
2. Have to have the right heart
a. Not in it for the miracles
b. In it for the kingdom
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
c. Commanded to pray for it
3. Then Act on faith
a. Notice the man didn’t get the answer until he moved
b. Cannot sit back and wait
God heal me, then never go to the doctor.
Conclusion: