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INTRODUCTION
So glad to see most of you back after a busy summer. Thanks for welcoming Mark IV last
weekend. We all were blessed!! Great time at paintball for 30 youth; excellent offering, if
you responded to their music and message, let me know. I thanked them for preaching pure
gospel with holy enthusiasm. It was great Jeannette and I to catch up on 10 years. God was in
weekend - Praise God!
Back to our adventure through the Book of John. Just spent a number of weeks with the
Samaritan woman saw the life change she and her people experienced in Christ Jesus. Today
remainder of chapter 4. TITLE. TEXT.
The Setting 4:43-46
- Two days after Jesus and disciples left Samaria went to Cana of Galilee. Same place as
the first miracle - water to wine. Jesus was getting more popular as a miracle worker
- He proving to be a great traveling show.
- However, many people who were seeing Jesus were simply curious, thrill seeking folks
looking for “signs and wonders.”
- He was back home and hometown people often don’t listen very well to local kids
who grow up - always remembered as little kids.
- Rare for a pastor to return to his home church. We know of one exception. I
couldn’t go back to my home church in Greene. Once I was interested in Allison
Bible, and Bennezette Wesleyan called me, I said no to them. It is hard to go back
home.
- Yet in spite of the locals, an amazing story of faith unfolds. I give credit to Warren
Wiersbe for much of this outline.
1. Crisis Faith 4:46-49
- “royal official” was probably one who worked for Herod Antipas
the tetrarch (governor) of Galilee. Big job, political, though not popular.
- He lived in Capernaum which was 16 miles from Cana. Pretty good distance, and he
traveled to Cana to find Jesus.
- The crises - the man’s son was sick and to point of death. Long illness. Hope is
mostly gone. Jesus is the very last chance. Man was desperate.
- “imploring” - repeatedly begged Jesus to come to Capernaum and
cure his sick son. This respected officer, swallows his pride and seeks help from a
carpenter, an iterant Rabbi, somewhat radical Rabbi.
- At this point the man’s faith is desperate. He is in crisis mode. The focus is
solving the crisis. His faith was limited since he believed Jesus had to be physically
present to cure him, and had to reach him before the child died, lack of belief about
rising anyone from the dead.
- Jesus confirms crises faith of many people, by statement in v. 48.
- Crisis Faith is when someone outside the church in a panic contacts us and want us to
pray for them or a sick relative. Or someone comes to the church and asks for help -
such as food, gas, or motel room. They are looking to meet the need, they are in
crisis, not all that interested in Jesus in their life afterwards. To them Jesus is a
genie or a magician.
- Yet Jesus responds to crisis faith, it was bare faith, but He must deepen it, it
can’t leave it the same, it is way to shallow.
2. Confident Faith 4:50
- Probably not what the man expected, but what could he do?
- Jesus tested his faith by not going to where the boy was. Jesus has all power. He
didn’t need to be there, just by His will declare the power.
- The man took Jesus at His word. Without any tangible proof that his son is healed, the
man accepted Jesus’ word and started off to home.
- Jesus is all powerful - even at a distance. The man’s faith moved one level up.
From Crisis to Confidence in the very words of Jesus. This is belief out of necessity,
but his faith is growing in the right direction.
- Notice the words in this hymn: “Tis so sweet just to trust in Jesus, just to
take Him at His word, Just to rest upon His promise, Just to know ‘thus saith
the Lord.’”
- God still speaks to us - but through His written Word. We have it always, we
don’t have to walk miles like this father in our text did. Do you have
confidence in the Word? Claim promises? Obey?
- Some verses that I claim: 1 John 4:18 “...perfect love casts our
fear...” 1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares
for you.”
3. Convicting Faith 4:51-54
- The man leaves Cana and begins the walk back. The next day the servants come to tell
him the boy is well, he recovered and did not die. What time did it happen?
7th hour - 1:00 in the afternoon. Timing!!!
- Amazing timing, and amazing trust of the man to wait for hours.
- Healing was not gradual, but instantly. We normally get better gradually, in a miracle
is it instantly. The miracle occurred over distance instantly, the very moment the
word was spoken by Jesus, the boy was healed.
- Jesus could work across distance to restore this little boy near death.
- Story not over, another healing is taking place - “he himself believed”
- Crisis faith to Confident faith, to convicting faith of salvation. Now this belief is
voluntary, focused on the person of Jesus, the full and saving power. Now the man is
spiritually healed.
- The boy’s weak body healed, now the man weak faith is strengthened.
- God does use crises to change lives, let them spiritually heal you too!
- We always want the physical healing, yet best to receive spiritual…
- Many times people get well - and forget about Jesus. Don’t you!!!
4. Contagious Faith 4:53
- The whole household fully surrendered to Christ. Like the disciples had in 2:11;
and the Samaritans had in 4:42. Friends, community, a family.
- When the father realized he could trust Jesus with his son’s life, he could
trust Jesus for His life and the rest of the family could too.
- They sought physical healing for one member of the family, and also received spiritual
healing for the whole family.
- Your faith is to mature, grow. Crisis to confidence in the Word to convicting to
contagious. Allow your faith in Christ to expand in your life and change the lives of
those around you.
CONCLUSION
Jesus is the Great Physician. He can heal us body, soul, and spirit. Best of all He heals our
sin sick hearts. All of us are near death because of the sickness of sin. Jesus can heal us
and give us eternal life.
What a great promise - eternal life! Jesus provides that.
This summer we saw a number of Christian leaders promoted to glory: Ruth Bell Graham, Adrian
Rogers, Jerry Falwell, and just last week D. James Kennedy. We too can find rest in Jesus as
He heals us and restores us.
Make sure today Jesus is your Savior, the Great Physician who heals you sin sick heart.
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