Believing Before Seeing

Introduction:

Have you ever had a situation that seemed hopeless or bleak? Something that needed to be fixed but was beyond your own control. You have tried what you knew was best yet somehow not only did the situation not improve but it actually grew worse.

Today we will see a narrative of a man, a Roman government official to be exact. This man had a sick and dying son and did not know what else to do. The doctors could not heal his child. All of his position and power and finances couldn’t heal his son either. The false gods of Rome also could not provide any help. But then this official heard about Jesus and out of complete desperation sought out the only one who can truly provide a miracle.

Join me this morning as we take a look at this journey of a man’s simple desperate act of faith and how it completely changed not only his situation but his entire family’s eternal destiny.

Scripture Reference: John 4:43-54

John 4:43–54 NLT

43 At the end of the two days, Jesus went on to Galilee. 44 He himself had said that a prophet is not honored in his own hometown. 45 Yet the Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there. 46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die. 48 Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” 49 The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.” 50 Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home. 51 While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. 52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” 53 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. 54 This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.

Jesus is now Recognized as a Prophet

The setting of this narrative is that Jesus has left Judea and is traveling back to Galilee. Along the way he encountered the woman at the well and many Samaritans believed in Jesus and He spent two days teaching them.

Now Jesus and the disciples were returning to their home area of Galilee. Before Jesus left for Judea few believed that He was the Messiah because they recognized Him as the son of Joseph the carpenter and while Jesus was respected for His knowledge of the word, His fellow Galileans did not yet view Him as a prophet.

However, now things were different. Jesus was now welcomed as He came to Galilee because many Galileans who attended the Passover celebration in Jerusalem witnessed firsthand the miracles He completed.

There was no doubt a lot of excitement and talk about the exciting things happening in the ministry of Jesus.

Let me just briefly say never be discouraged if people do not initially see God’s calling and anointing on your life because it even happened to Jesus. He told us that directly in Matthew 13:57 “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.”

For most people close to you, they will need to observe major changes for a period of time when you step out for the Lord before it is real to them. This can be discouraging but what you will find is that the Lord will send people along your path who do see what the Lord is doing through you and will speak life into you and encourage you until those who you expect to see it first get up to speed. Again saints never let that slow you down for doing the Lords work because it is part of the process for most of us and again if it happened to Jesus count it as honor if it happens to you as well.

So to recap at this point in the ministry of Jesus the people of Galilee now not only recognize Jesus but are welcoming Him as a prophet of God.

We Are to Seek and Petition the Lord

As Jesus travels through Galilee he stops in Cana where he performed His first miracle of turning water into wine.

Upon doing so he is met by a government official whose son was exceedingly sick. The Greek term used here for official could mean a member of the royal family of Herod but is more likely a Roman official serving Herod Antipas as ruler of Galilee on behalf of Rome. Either way, this was a man of power and wealth in Galilee.

In a moment of desperation to save his son the official does not summon Jesus as he could have but rather rushes to meet him and begins to beg Jesus to heal his son. If you can imagine for a moment how significant this moment is that a powerful Roman official whose responsibility it was to be a symbol of the rule of Roman law in the area would beg a Jewish man for help. This was a completely radically and reckless act. This action not only highlights the desperation of the father to save his son but also signals to all the Jews watching that Jesus is in fact a person of great significance.

You see in his moment of need the Roman official didn’t care what people would think or what they would say. He didn’t care about position, power, or money. All he cared about was that he was desperate to save his son and was willing to do whatever it took to save him.

This is the way we are to petition the Lord in our prayers. There should be an element of desperation and acknowledgement that apart from the blessings of the Lord we cannot possibly have victory in any area of our lives. As we grow in our faith and we see the Lord bless us time and time again we can become complacent or entitled but the truth is that we cannot even breath a single breath without the Lords provision.

Yes, we should desire the Lord! Yes, we should praise the Lord! Yes, we should serve the Lord! But also, we should never forget that not only do we seek Him, but we are to seek Him desperately. Do not worry about what people will think or say. Instead go to Jesus praise Him and thank Him for all you have and then beg Him with all you are to move in your situation and if you need to do that every day then do that every day until you receive your breakthrough. Because when we lay it all down and humble ourselves at the feet of Jesus, He is compassionate and hears our prayers, Amen!

Trusting Before the Blessing

In verse 48 Jesus asks the official, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”

There are several times in the Bible where Jesus makes similar statements to people about why will they not believe Him without a miraculous sign first. Essentially the Lord is asking them why they have such little faith.

Hebrews 11:1 KJV 1900

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

So what the Bible is teaching us is that we are to believe in Jesus even if we do not see physical manifestations. Important to note here it does not say that we will not see physical blessings because like many of you I can testify of times where the Lord has moved in a very real way in the natural realm. In fact, if we open our eyes, we can see it daily.

What my point is here and what Jesus is telling this official is that it is wrong not to trust and believe in Him until we witness or receive a miraculous sign.

For example, if I trust someone then I do not need to see them do something to trust that they are doing it. In business, I direct people to complete tasks many times in a day and while I do follow up on critical items, most smaller items are completed with little to no follow up because I can trust those people who work for me.

If we can trust people that we do see, then how much more can we trust the Lord even if we don’t see Him in the natural realm. Therefore, when we pray, we are to petition the Lord and trust that He loves us and cares for us even while at times we must wait to receive an answer to them.

Have Faith and Move Forward

In verse 49 the official pleads with the Lord to come with him right away before his son dies. Then in verse 50 Jesus tells the man “Go home. Your son will live!” The Bible says that the man believed and started back home.

Verses 49-50 are so powerful to me because here is this Roman official who could have most likely physically made Jesus come with him but instead, he trusts Jesus. Though Jesus speaks just six words, “Go home. Your son will live!”, the official believes Jesus and does just what he is told and heads home.

How many times have we as believers experienced tremendous stress when all we need to do is to trust Jesus and do what He tells us? Again, this is an issue of faith or sometimes an unwillingness to accept whatever answer the Lord gives us whether yes, no, or wait. God loves us beyond measure and He blesses in His way and in His time and if we trust Him than His will than it should be our will also.

The man had no physical proof that his son would be healed. In fact, to this point when miracles were performed, Jesus was at the same location. But this sick child was in a different city entirely. So, we can see that the faith of this official and his trust of Jesus was immediate and sent a powerful message to the crowd and to all of us today.

You see it is really simple. Trust what the Lord says and do what He says to do whether we see the blessing or not and whether we completely understand His ways or not.

The Child is Healed and Many People Believe in Jesus

As the official starts traveling home his servants come to meet him with the wonderful news that his son is alive and well. The man begins to ask when and they told him yesterday at one o’clock which was the exact time when Jesus told him that his son would live.

Oh what a feeling it is when we see and feel the Lord answering our prayers in our time of need Amen! I don’t know about you, but I am so glad that we serve a right time God. Sure things can look gloomy or that all hope is lost but nothing, I declare nothing is impossible for God. Amen!

Furthermore, upon sharing the news of how Jesus miraculously healed his son not only the official but all in his household put their faith in Jesus Christ!

Let me encourage you today that the same God that healed the officials son is the same God that is alive and active in our lives today.

Jesus showed up time and time again in the Bible performing miracle after miracle so that people would know that He is who He says He is and therefore put their faith in Him and be saved from their sins. And while it is best and we should have faith and believe in Jesus without any signs or wonders in our life, the Lord knows our very hearts and minds and cares for us and when we put our faith in trust in Jesus Christ there is nothing that He cannot do for you and I.

Believe For Your Blessing

Closing

In closing my question to everyone in the sound of my voice is what do you need Jesus to do for you today? What is it that is impossible for you in natural? It could be something for yourself or something for someone else, but the truth is we all have something that though we have tried on our own the need is too great for us.

If you would please stand all throughout the house this morning with everyone’s eyes closed and no one looking around for just a moment. Like Roman official in today’s text that had a great need that only Jesus could meet if you need the Lord’s touch today for either yourself or someone close to you than please just raise your hand.

If you are here today and you are just tired and weary and need a touch from the Lord than raise your hand.

If you are here and though you have been trying your best you are struggling want to rededicate yourself to the Lord this morning than raise your hand.

The Bible says where two or three are gathered Jesus is there. So I am going to ask if you raised your hand please come down to the altar this morning to petition the Lord for your breakthrough. If everyone else would gather around to worship the Lord and help pray.

Believe before seeing that the Lord is going to bless and touch and heal.

Prayer

Thank you so much for joining me today and remember our joy is in Jesus!