You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
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We're back in John's gospel this morning where he records for us encounters with Jesus.
People who engage with Jesus and we get to see about that, John tells us, so that we
might believe, so that we might have life, that we might find that abundant, eternal,
life-giving relationship with Jesus.
Our passage this morning is another sign, John tells us, of who Jesus is that it might
strengthen our faith in him.
It follows Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well where Jesus agrees to
stay two days with the reject Samaritans who are embracing him as the Messiah.
And now he's on the move north again, back towards home base in Galilee.
John 4 at verse 43.
After two days, he departed for Galilee.
For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his hometown.
So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem
at the feast.
For they too had gone to the feast.
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.
And 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.
Thus far, God's holy word.
And I want to make one general observation about God's word as we get started.
Because it has become increasingly popular these days to believe that these biblical accounts we read are accounts of Jesus made up by his followers after his life.
You know, Jesus didn't really perform miracles.
Many say, come on.
In fact, he didn't even claim divine authority himself, people will tell you.
His disciples made these things up.
I'm sure that some of you here this morning believe that.
That that's how you understand these accounts.
And I want to address that briefly in light of this passage.
Because it's really significant when you talk about such a historically influential person as Jesus.
With the significant claims that he makes.
That you know if you're actually encountering the real Jesus.
Think about the places here that we just read.
Jesus has gone from Galilee.
Down to Jerusalem.
For the Passover.
Where he cleanses the temple publicly.
And then he goes through Samaria.
Back up to Galilee.
To Cana.
Where not long ago at all.
He turned water into wine.
And so a couple towns over.
They've been talking about Jesus.
And what he's been doing.
And everyone seems to be talking about him.
To the point that a man comes 15 or 20 miles.
To ask him to heal his son.
All of this traveling.
And all these signs and wonders.
Within about a 50 mile radius.
Like Huntsville.
Madison.
Decatur.
And some from these towns had come with him.
Down to Jerusalem.
They'd been there for the Passover too.
And they'd seen these things.
And they were telling stories.
They're following this.
Everyone knows what's going on.
Now we know these accounts that we have.
In God's word.
Are written and received.
In the lifetime of at least some eyewitnesses.
To these very events.
And certainly many of their children.
Who've heard these stories.
Maybe their whole lives.
These are publicly witnessed.
Publicly discussed events.
You can't make them up.
Without your account of them being dismissed.
As fiction.
As soon as it's published.
The most reasonable explanation.
For these.
And for how people respond to them.
In faith.
And follow this Jesus.
Is that this account.
Is indeed.
The real Jesus.
That's only one reason.
Right.
To trust God's word.
When we read it.
I'm happy to talk with you about more.
You may have more questions about that.
But it's an important one that our text brings up today.
As Jesus performs another divinely miraculous sign.
See Jesus comes back home.
Specifically where he performed his first public miracle.
What John calls the first sign.
Where he might expect no honor.
Because they know Joseph and Mary's son.
Right.
Everybody knows him.
But here in his hometown.
They're at least surface level excited.
That the hometown boy.
Is a magic man.
He's a miracle worker.
Word is getting around.
Right.
Kind of cool that he's coming back.
And we see they welcome Jesus.
Generally because they like what he can do for them.
They want the signs and wonders.
Jesus realizes.
Jesus.
And we'll see Jesus is not against signs altogether.
Is he?
But he knows it's faulty faith.
To stop at the sign.
Just as we discussed during the baptism earlier.
You don't stop for medical care at the red emergency room sign.
Right.
That's what Jesus is saying in response to the nobleman's plea.
Isn't it?
Verse 48.
This father is desperate.
Right.
His son is dying.
He's heard of Jesus.
He asks for help.
I mean this seems like an easy yes for Jesus.
Right.
But Jesus wants more.
He wants to help him and others.
Not stop at the sign.
He answers this man's prayer.
So to speak.
With a heart level challenge.
About his faith.
You won't come and believe.
Unless I put on a show for you.
And that's a problem.
Jesus is pointing out.
He wants something more for the man.
Why do you come to Jesus?
I think if we're honest.
We can relate to people stopping at the sign.
Can't we?
What are some ways we sometimes want the things that Jesus does for us.
More than we want Jesus himself.
Sometimes I think we too are interested only in the physical healing or provision.
We talk to Jesus only when we're sick or hungry or desperate.
For some of us.
Our relationship with Jesus is primarily about keeping our kids or grandkids in line.
That's why I'm associated with Jesus if I'm honest.
I mean they need some good morals.
Some good community.
Sometimes.
Some of us just want intellectual superiority.
To be able to argue or impress someone.
Or seem like we know more theologically.
Rather than knowing more Jesus personally.
You may have any of those struggles in your own heart.
I'll tell you where I see this struggle the most.
In our community.
Sometimes in my own heart.
We so often want a Jesus who fits into our schedule and life plan.
I call it comfortable Jesus.
We're not interested in going deep with the real Jesus who might disrupt my life.
He might mess with where I live.
Or how much money I make and what I do with it.
Who I spend my time with.
My kids activities.
Their preparation for college.
Maybe for you you feel this sense of Jesus.
Here is my weekly calendar.
There are exactly 36 uncommitted minutes left.
And I promise I'll do with them whatever you want.
Jesus.
With those last 36 minutes.
Have you felt that way?
Jesus I want a church that I can enjoy going to.
And I can make some friends.
I'll even study the Bible a little bit when it's convenient for me.
So I can play church reasonably well.
That'll give me some social credibility.
And I expect you to make my family peaceful.
Because honestly we're pretty decent people.
But if I'm really honest I'm not longing to know you more.
I certainly don't want you changing my life too much.
Unless I ask you specifically.
And then maybe something extreme.
Friends we sometimes come to Jesus.
Bring our prayers to him.
And we need to hear his reminder.
That we are just here for the signs and wonders.
For what he can do for us.
John Calvin says what's happening here in this passage.
Is our heavenly father often does not comply with our prayers in every detail.
But goes to work in an unexpected way to help us.
So that we may learn not to dictate to him in anything.
That we trust him.
Consider why Jesus insisted on going deeper with this man and the others around him.
Can a faulty faith based merely on signs and wonders.
Hold up in a world of suffering?
I mean maybe in this case his son gets healed.
But someone else he loves is going to get sick next.
Right?
Can a faulty faith based merely on signs and wonders be enough when Jesus goes to the cross?
What good will he be to me then?
What's he going to do for me hanging up there?
Where?
Jesus knows that we need to go beyond the signs to the one they point to.
To the person of Jesus himself.
He's helping with that.
So when the nobleman asks again for Jesus to come heal his son.
Jesus says go.
Your son lives.
The man takes Jesus at his word doesn't he?
He believes and goes.
There's certainly a lot in this story about faith.
But this is full faith.
It's confirmed when the son is healed.
The man explains to his family and servants what Jesus has done.
And they all believe full faith what Jesus is working on here in this encounter.
That the reason he pushes back on the man a little bit when he comes.
Is that he wants this full faith that sees where the sign is pointing.
That comes to see the true Jesus for who he really is.
What does this sign point to?
What is it that it's a sign of?
Signs point to something.
What's it telling us about Jesus?
Well anyone who heals serious sickness like this has a lot of power.
Power over creation.
Over the physical realm.
But perhaps there are other doctors with great techniques.
Other magicians with tricks to work such powerful changes.
Jesus wants to be abundantly clear when he heals this boy.
He heals how?
With a word?
Immediately?
Just at that time?
From a distance?
Miles and miles away?
There is no one who does this.
This is not just power.
This is God-like power.
This is like the God who created the universe by the word of his power.
This sign shows Jesus not as a carnival trickster.
Not as a physician with newfangled methods.
But as God himself ordering molecules and healing people with a word.
Further, I think this sign points to the fact that Jesus cares and is powerful not just when he's physically present.
Why is that important?
How important is that going to be for Jesus' followers when he returns to his father in just a couple of years?
And he's not there with them in that way anymore.
He's not physically with this boy they've never met.
But Jesus cares.
And Jesus can heal.
Do you see how Jesus is taking care to push the man toward what matters most?
Yes, Jesus heals his son's body.
But Jesus is also healing the hearts of the whole household.
Jesus demonstrates for the man not what he asks for, but what he most needs.
To know who Jesus really is.
So much more than a magic miracle worker who can fix something for him every once in a while.
No, no, no, a God who cares deeply.
Who rules supremely over all creation.
Who can be trusted implicitly.
Even, even when he doesn't do what you ask him to do.
So that we would always come to him no matter what.
No matter what our need is.
No matter how we feel that we could come to him.
John Bunyan who wrote Pilgrim's Progress once said,
I was driven to such straits that I must of necessity go to Jesus.
And if he had met me with a drawn sword in his hand.
I would sooner have thrown myself upon the edge of his sword.
Than have gone away from him.
For I knew him to be my last hope.
I would sooner have thrown myself on Jesus' sword.
Because no one else could I trust like him.
Is that the way you come to Jesus?
Not for the things that he can do for you.
For how good he promises to make it all right away.
But in fact regardless of what he does.
For himself.
For the fact that he's the only one you can even hope to trust completely.
Because he is the true God that you can take at his word.
His powerful, life-changing, hope-breathing word.
That's what this sign shows us about Jesus.
Okay, I want to apply this in two ways.
Two ways as we think about this.
Both of them thinking about what it looks like
when we come to Jesus and believe him to be who he really says he is.
The God that this sign shows him to be.
The God we can take at his word.
And first, and this is a bit harder.
I want to think specifically of times when God doesn't answer your prayer
the way you want right away.
I would ask for a show of hands when that's happened for you
but we all know that's all of us.
I don't know if you've picked up on this lately.
From people you know.
Maybe those of you who pay close attention to the prayer guide.
There are a lot of hard physical illnesses
in this church family right now.
A lot.
There are more hard situations that can't be printed.
You believe that.
I hate the ravages of cancer.
Of mental illness.
Of death.
And we typically do not have in those situations
a direct promise from Jesus
like the one this noble official got.
Your son will live.
Usually we don't have that.
Many of us are right now
where all of us have been
at some time
when immediate miraculous healing does not come.
When God doesn't answer my prayer right away.
when cancer or miscarriage
or other tragedy strikes
and my world is turned upside down
and I'm crying out.
I've been there.
What does this look like in our lives
when we come to Jesus
not just for the sign.
We may not have that yet.
But for who he really is.
If he's really working that kind of faith in us
what does that look like?
A couple things we see in this story.
Twice interestingly
Jesus does not grant
the request of the nobleman
for him to come with him
and heal his son.
Friends keep asking.
Keep praying.
Like the persistent widow
you're praying to a powerful
and personal God.
He cares.
Unlike the unjust judge
he doesn't delight
in scorning his children.
Keep praying.
But seeing Jesus also enables us
to live
by faith.
Jesus doesn't do
what the nobleman asks
but
the nobleman does
what Jesus asks.
He goes home
and believes
the word
of Jesus.
even when we
when we don't have
the sign in hand yet
when we don't
see the answers
when we don't
know what God's up to
we can keep following
this God
worthy
of our trust.
And finally
we can share
with others.
Certainly
this man rejoiced
in his son being healed.
No reason
to downplay that.
But he and his whole
household
believed.
Believed what?
who Jesus was.
They didn't have to believe
about the son
once he was alive.
They knew that.
They believed
Jesus'
divine nature
because the nobleman
shared not only
about his son's healing
but also about
the Savior's power
didn't he?
So you can share
of the goodness
and greatness
of Jesus
while you are still
waiting on the answer.
But only if
you've seen him
beyond the signs.
If it's only about
the thing he's gonna
do for you
then you have to wait
till you have it
but if there's a God
you can trust
in the meantime
you can for your own
heart
and for the hearts
of others
share about him
already.
Do you see
you see why we
must see Jesus
not merely signs
and wonders?
this man receives
his son back
restored to him.
Many of us
have prayed
for ourselves
for those we love
and not seen them
restored to us.
If you're only with
Jesus for the signs
for what he can do
for you
at that point
you're out
right?
there better be
something more
divine power
over death
a divine perspective
beyond time
and the realities
of this life
and this broken world
a divine personal
care for you
that understands
that your heart
can only take
so much.
In fact
sometimes
y'all have taught me this
sometimes
it's when we
don't get
our prayers
answered
the way we want
and the timing
we want
that we learn
to cling
to God's
eternal healing
isn't it?
That we learn
to hope
in a fresh way
in a world
with no more
death
or tears
and put our stake
there
more than here.
We learn
to treasure
a God
in a way
we never have
before
a God
who right now
shares our griefs
and one day
wipes away
our tears.
Friends
not having
that direct
promise
is hard.
Living by faith
is hard.
We are praying
with you
and for you
your God
is with you
and for you.
In fact
second application
consider what it
means to take
God
at his word
with the promises
that he has
given us.
This is a preacher
trick.
I said two applications
this one has
like 34.
Okay
so all in
the second one
get excited.
The pro
all
think of all
the promises
way more than
34
that we don't
have
specifically
for all
of those
promises
we wish
we knew
there are so
many promises
that we do
have
and that we
must embrace
that we can
absolutely
take
to the bank
because of the
power of
God's word.
Let me just
mention a few
see if
your heart
needs
to embrace
one of these
this morning.
some of us
really battle
with doubts
about our
salvation.
Hear the words
of Jesus
truly truly
I say to you
whoever
hears my word
and believes
him who sent
me has
eternal life
has passed
from death
to life
whoever believes
in Jesus
is not
condemned.
In fact
Jesus
promises
this is the
will of my
father that
everyone who
looks on the
son and
believes in
him should
have eternal
life and
listen to your
savior I
will raise
him up on
the last
day.
Hear the
voice of
your good
shepherd who
laid down his
life for the
sheep and
take Jesus
at his word
today.
Many of us
have been
praying for
years and
years for
our kids
and our
hearts ache
for the
wayward
adult
children that
we still
love so
much
that seems
God doesn't
do anything.
God would
have you
remember what
you saw this
morning in the
sacrament of
covenant
baptism.
I will
establish my
covenant an
everlasting
covenant.
I will
be God
to you.
I will be
God to your
children after
you.
I will be
their God.
He hasn't
left them.
He hasn't
given up on
them.
Keep asking.
I will be
God.
I will be
God.
I will be
God.
I will be
God.
Perhaps some
of us have
thought I've
got this
struggle that I
live with every
day and it's
really heavy and
I'd like to share
it with someone but
it's just too big
or too bad to
share with my
pastor or my
grace group.
In fact,
well honestly it's
too bad for
Jesus to forgive
me.
I just carry it
around every day
fearfully.
I'm exhausted.
Jesus says all
that the
Father gives me
will come to
me and
whoever comes
to me I
will never
cast out.
Whoever
comes I
will never
cast out.
Try him.
Take him at
his word.
Some of us are
sitting here this
morning frantic,
worried,
wondering how
we're going to
make ends meet
even this week.
Jesus says all
these things,
all these things
will be added to
you.
Don't worry,
he says.
In fact, we
read this week in
our Bible reading
plan from
Philippians 4,
my God will
supply every
need of yours,
every need of
yours according to
his glorious
riches in Christ
Jesus.
I know because
we've been
talking about
sharing our
faith so much
lately that some
of us feel
totally inadequate,
absolutely
unconvinced that
we could point
someone else to
Jesus.
Listen to his
promise as we
come to him,
as we follow him,
he says,
I will make you
become fishers
of men.
You come to
Jesus,
you rest in his
divine nature
and power
and he promises
living in him,
with him,
you will bear
fruit.
He does that
in you.
Most of us know
what it's like to
feel alone.
It's all up to me
and my resources
and strength
every day or
honestly,
no one cares
about me
or notices me.
Jesus says,
behold,
I am with you
always
to the end
of the age.
In fact,
Jesus is so
committed
to never leaving
you or forsaking
you that when
he does return
to his father,
he sends to you
his spirit
to dwell in you.
If I go,
I will send
him to you.
He has not
left you alone.
He has not
left you alone.
I promise
I won't do
34,
but I got more.
I've talked
with young
and old
in this church
who struggle
to feel
that it's really
true
that Jesus
is more valuable
than the things
of this world
that are right
there in front
of them
every day.
They feel
more real,
more impactful
so often
in our lives.
how can I
give up
comfort
or friends
or success
to have
Jesus?
Jesus promises
everyone who
has left
houses
or brothers
or sisters
or father
or mother
or children
or lands
for my name's
sake
will receive
a hundredfold
and will inherit
eternal life.
Jesus promises
that true life,
abundant life,
eternal life
comes from him
and actually
consists in
knowing him
that that's
where life is.
Will you keep
trusting your feelings
or will you
take God
at his word?
It's not just
that we sometimes
feel exhausted
and overwhelmed
when we're
following Jesus
but it's easy
to feel that
that's the way
it should be.
Jesus promises
again
as we come
to him
I will
give you
rest.
In fact
when you are
weak
when you are
at your lowest
he promises
his grace
is sufficient
which means
you don't have
to be.
Do you believe
that?
all right
just one more
for now.
Many of us
wonder
about what's
after this
life.
We fear death
uncertain
unknown.
Jesus
understands
that these
concerns
trouble our
hearts
and he speaks
to us
let not
your hearts
be troubled.
Believe in
God
believe also
in me.
In my
father's
house
are many
rooms
if it
were not
so
would I
have told
you
that I
go
to
prepare
a place
for you
and if
I go
and prepare
a place
for you
I will
come
again
and will
take
you
to
myself
that
where I
am
you may
be
also.
The
God
who
spoke
and
fifteen
miles
away
molecules
reorder
viruses
obey
a
dying
boy
is
healed
he
promises
you
that he's
coming
back
for you
to take
you to
be with
him
where he
is
forever.
So many
glorious
promises
from this
God that
we can
take
at his
word
that we
must
take
at his
word.
I'm not
suggesting
please hear
me
that
these
magically
remove
all
struggles.
That's
not the
point.
But I
pray that
one or
two for
you would
build your
faith
in a
God you
can
trust.
As we
close this
morning I
want to
talk one
more time
especially to
those who
are hurting
for yourself
for those
you love
who are
longing to
receive
healing
from Jesus
like the
nobleman
and his
son in
this story
you want
that to
be your
story.
Living by
faith and
not right
now by
sight is
hard.
Trusting God
when it
doesn't seem
to be
working out
is difficult.
it should
not be
done alone.
But I
want to
encourage you
I want to
encourage you
by reminding
you that
Jesus
the God
of the
Bible
the God
you can
trust
not merely
because he's
powerful
and his
word is not
bound by
time or
space and
it transforms
molecules and
hearts.
Praise the
Lord that is
true.
But especially
he's a God
you can trust
because he's
a God who
entered our
pain.
Knowing our
great need
that we were
dying in
our rebellion
in our
brokenness
knowing that
we didn't have
the strength
to hold on
to him
he grabbed
hold of us
and would
not let go.
He cared
about us so
much that he
entered this
world faced
temptation
endured rejection
had his
body
racked
with agony
even tasted
death
because of
his great
love
for us.
He says
that he is
with you
and for
you
he is.
He promises
a future
without
pain
or death
or tears
you can
count on
it.
He tells
you to
trust him
today.
You can
take him
at his
word.
Let's pray.
Jesus for
all the
things that
you have
given us
that we
can hold
on to
as we
cling to
you
we give
you thanks.
We confess
the feebleness
of our
faith.
How quickly
the circumstances
of our lives
and the
temptations
around us
make us
forget
and not
trust
what you
have told
us.
Thank you
for loving
us.
Thank you
for coming
for us.
Thank you
for never
letting us
go.
Give us
hope in
you today.
Build our
faith
that it
might stand
strong
in the
tests of
this life
that it
might overflow
from us
to others
who are
hurting.
Thank you
for giving
us faith
and being
with us
by your
spirit.
In your
name we
say it.
Amen.
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