WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.960 And the Holy Gospel is found in the Gospel according to John chapter 4 beginning at the 46th verse. 00:00:07.740 --> 00:00:09.800 ! Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ. 00:00:09.800 --> 00:00:16.960 So Jesus came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. 00:00:17.880 --> 00:00:21.260 And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 00:00:22.179 --> 00:00:25.760 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, 00:00:26.240 --> 00:00:31.480 he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:33.880 So Jesus said to him, 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:37.939 Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe. 00:00:37.939 --> 00:00:39.879 The official said to him, 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:42.460 Sir, come down before my child dies. 00:00:43.059 --> 00:00:43.960 Jesus said to him, 00:00:44.460 --> 00:00:46.459 Go, your son will live. 00:00:46.959 --> 00:00:51.259 The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 00:00:52.119 --> 00:00:57.039 And as he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 00:00:57.700 --> 00:01:01.700 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, 00:01:02.219 --> 00:01:05.039 Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:09.200 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, 00:01:09.540 --> 00:01:10.380 Your son will live. 00:01:11.020 --> 00:01:13.420 And he himself believed in all his household. 00:01:14.060 --> 00:01:18.920 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. 00:01:18.920 --> 00:01:24.799 Before I came to faith, I was, through my teen years, I came to faith when I was 18. 00:01:25.379 --> 00:01:29.219 In my teen years, I was a very different person from what I am now. 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:35.780 I used to be the person that if you handed me a Bible, I would light it on fire in front of you. 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:38.140 I was a very angry person. 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:41.700 That led to a lot of things in my life. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:43.900 A lot of drug abuse and alcoholism. 00:01:43.900 --> 00:01:48.300 A lot of things I'm not very proud of if I think back on it. 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:52.740 A lot of people I've used, and there's just a lot of things I've done I regret. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:02:03.160 And when I was 18, I was invited to go to this evangelistic event that was hosted by this charismatic movement 00:02:03.160 --> 00:02:05.340 that was really popular at the time within Ottawa. 00:02:05.340 --> 00:02:10.180 And if you're not familiar with charismatic Christians, if you've never heard that word before, 00:02:10.780 --> 00:02:12.599 two ways I can describe them. 00:02:12.659 --> 00:02:15.939 If you know what a Pentecostal Christian is, just picture that on steroids. 00:02:17.180 --> 00:02:20.319 If you don't know what a Pentecostal is, picture a group of people 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:25.439 who are so focused on supernatural things and on experiences. 00:02:26.699 --> 00:02:30.039 And I was involved in this movement for about four years. 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:32.180 Give or take four, maybe a little bit longer. 00:02:32.180 --> 00:02:39.060 And one of the things I remember from this time is that the main focus was, in fact, on signs and wonders. 00:02:39.219 --> 00:02:41.540 You heard this term all the time. 00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:43.640 Signs and wonders. 00:02:44.200 --> 00:02:50.760 It was focused on healings, prophetic visions, word of knowledge, and of the like of that kind of genre. 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:52.600 Everything out of this language. 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:57.060 You were told all you needed to do was just muster up more faith. 00:02:57.760 --> 00:02:58.680 And it would happen. 00:02:59.700 --> 00:03:01.140 You'd speak it into being. 00:03:01.139 --> 00:03:02.679 You'd name it and claim it. 00:03:03.119 --> 00:03:08.559 And if it wasn't happening, it just means your faith wasn't strong enough for that time. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:10.199 You had a lack of faith on your part. 00:03:11.219 --> 00:03:16.459 Now, I'm not trying to say here that miracles don't happen because we read them. 00:03:16.759 --> 00:03:17.739 We read about them in the Bible. 00:03:17.839 --> 00:03:18.279 They happen. 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:24.139 And I'm not here to criticize the charismatic movement because we can easily look at Anglicanism 00:03:24.139 --> 00:03:28.079 Anglicanism and pick out a lot of things that are not the best with it. 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:39.659 But the thing is, churches are made up of sinners leading other sinners to the one who knew no sin, to Jesus Christ. 00:03:39.659 --> 00:03:47.340 But the text we're looking at this morning critiques something about the human heart that so easily gets entangled with. 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:56.560 And that's making ultimate things, which leads to replacing Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, and makes them the ultimate things. 00:03:57.359 --> 00:03:59.979 See, the thing is, I read this in a commentary this week. 00:03:59.979 --> 00:04:03.139 I thought it was a good line, so I'm going to include it. 00:04:03.379 --> 00:04:07.379 If you only believe in the miracle, you're actually living a pagan life. 00:04:08.459 --> 00:04:14.560 A pagan life would be one who's just focused on getting results, on moralism, and of that kind of thing. 00:04:15.239 --> 00:04:20.180 Now, turn with me to John chapter 4, verses 46 to 54. 00:04:20.339 --> 00:04:22.659 If you do not have a Bible, it's very helpful to have one. 00:04:23.019 --> 00:04:25.159 There's some on the table just outside the doors. 00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:28.620 You can just get up and get one whenever you want, or open it up on your phone. 00:04:28.620 --> 00:04:31.759 And we're going to approach this text in three ways. 00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:34.920 We're going to look at it, the first thing is the problem. 00:04:35.879 --> 00:04:37.340 The second thing is faith. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:39.360 And the last thing is the result. 00:04:39.860 --> 00:04:42.620 So the problem, the faith, the result. 00:04:43.340 --> 00:04:46.139 Now, we've been going through the book of Joshua. 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:50.639 And now, because Daniel's gone, I'm preaching on this text. 00:04:50.699 --> 00:04:52.800 So we're kind of parachuting into this text this morning. 00:04:53.079 --> 00:04:55.340 We don't know what happened before, and we don't know what happens after. 00:04:55.339 --> 00:04:58.719 But the thing is about John's gospel, we're just going to take a moment, 00:04:59.099 --> 00:05:06.399 is that he is an eyewitness of Jesus' life, of Jesus' ministry, of Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:10.039 He is the writer of five New Testament books. 00:05:11.219 --> 00:05:15.199 And the thing is, at the end of this chapter, chapter 4 that we're coming to, 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:23.219 it closes a series of three conversations that Jesus is having with people of different social classes. 00:05:24.159 --> 00:05:25.979 He talks with a leading Pharisee. 00:05:26.039 --> 00:05:29.959 A Pharisee is a religious teacher of that time named Nicodemus. 00:05:30.539 --> 00:05:32.500 This is where you get the famous quote. 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:36.579 Whether you're here and you call yourself a Christian or you don't know, you're a Christian, 00:05:36.980 --> 00:05:38.219 I'm sure you've heard this quote. 00:05:38.220 --> 00:05:44.660 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:49.320 We then move on to the next conversation, and that's with the Samaritan woman. 00:05:50.960 --> 00:05:54.700 This woman is known as a woman who has multiple sexual partners. 00:05:55.020 --> 00:05:56.040 I believe it says five. 00:05:56.780 --> 00:06:03.020 She would have been considered the lowest, the lowest on the social standing in society, 00:06:03.260 --> 00:06:05.440 the bottom of the barrel, bottom of the ladder. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:09.379 And now we come to Jesus' conversation with an official. 00:06:09.740 --> 00:06:10.699 He's not given a name. 00:06:11.480 --> 00:06:16.759 This official most likely would have been a senior member of Herod's court. 00:06:17.339 --> 00:06:19.839 Herod was a Roman-appointed person. 00:06:20.339 --> 00:06:27.220 They called him, they nicknamed him the King of the Jews in a derogatory way towards the Jewish people. 00:06:27.579 --> 00:06:28.980 He represented the Romans. 00:06:28.980 --> 00:06:35.819 He was known of that time, if you read history books on him, as someone who built many buildings. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:40.400 He had grand schemes to build, and then he was also known as being very cruel. 00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:45.420 The official then, because of this, because of Herod's standing, 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:51.600 had a very high social standing amongst the peers, because he was in Herod's court most likely. 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:54.600 So this brings us to the first point, the problem. 00:06:55.540 --> 00:07:03.100 We have to ask ourselves, but why would this man of such social standing want to talk to a poor religious teacher named Jesus, 00:07:03.939 --> 00:07:07.100 who wasn't even a part of the religious elite? 00:07:07.660 --> 00:07:09.100 Why wouldn't he just look elsewhere? 00:07:09.280 --> 00:07:11.680 Why wouldn't he look to the leading healers of the land? 00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:14.520 Why wouldn't he look to the leading religious elite? 00:07:15.200 --> 00:07:16.180 But he goes to Jesus. 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:16.900 Why? 00:07:17.340 --> 00:07:17.960 Well, let's look. 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:20.160 Verses 46 to 47. 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:26.939 So Jesus came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made water wine. 00:07:27.980 --> 00:07:31.300 And at Capernaum, there was an official who was ill. 00:07:32.100 --> 00:07:35.320 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, 00:07:35.460 --> 00:07:39.379 he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:41.800 for he was at the point of death. 00:07:42.740 --> 00:07:44.500 So here we are given the scenario. 00:07:45.080 --> 00:07:47.980 Jesus is back in the region where he's done miracles, 00:07:47.980 --> 00:07:50.800 where he did the first miracle, turning water into wine. 00:07:51.060 --> 00:07:51.759 So he's famous. 00:07:51.840 --> 00:07:53.020 He's known within the area. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:56.000 I feel like anyone who does that would be quite known within the area. 00:07:56.720 --> 00:07:57.680 He's known for this miracle. 00:07:57.800 --> 00:07:58.860 So his fame is everywhere. 00:07:59.340 --> 00:08:01.620 And the official hears that Jesus is back. 00:08:01.980 --> 00:08:04.500 It shows, though, how desperate this man is, 00:08:04.540 --> 00:08:05.740 because he seeks out Jesus. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:09.460 He doesn't go to one of his servants to go to Jesus. 00:08:09.459 --> 00:08:12.539 He goes himself and meets with him. 00:08:13.259 --> 00:08:14.199 He goes personally. 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:15.939 And according, I looked it up on Google Maps, 00:08:16.339 --> 00:08:18.560 this would have been an eight-and-a-half-hour walk. 00:08:19.259 --> 00:08:21.759 And that's not a short walk of that time. 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:24.459 For any of us, taking an eight-and-a-half-hour walk 00:08:24.459 --> 00:08:26.620 is quite a big walk. 00:08:26.740 --> 00:08:29.060 But of that era and that geography, 00:08:29.579 --> 00:08:30.479 it's quite substantial. 00:08:31.219 --> 00:08:32.240 It's not a short walk. 00:08:33.180 --> 00:08:35.180 And something we have to think about, Lord willing, 00:08:35.980 --> 00:08:37.759 that those here and those listening 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:41.299 will never have, will never experience 00:08:41.299 --> 00:08:44.860 what it's like to have a child being sick to the point of death. 00:08:45.340 --> 00:08:47.680 Last winter, our son John, 00:08:48.379 --> 00:08:50.240 he got the flu for the first time. 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:53.460 And it was during that time, last winter, 00:08:53.460 --> 00:08:56.860 in the news, they were reporting on the deaths of children in Ottawa 00:08:56.860 --> 00:08:58.740 because it was a really bad flu strain. 00:08:58.740 --> 00:09:03.139 And this led us to feel super desperate. 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:05.600 It felt we were out of control. 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:06.639 Like, things were out of control. 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:07.539 And we didn't know what to do. 00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:09.720 So we ended up going to the emergency room 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:11.340 because he had the flu pretty bad. 00:09:11.779 --> 00:09:15.220 But the thing is, the nurses basically rolled their eyes at us 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:16.399 because we're first-time parents. 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:19.279 We had no idea what the flu looked like in a child. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:21.840 And after a couple days, he started to get better. 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:23.659 But in that moment, I remember this, 00:09:24.139 --> 00:09:26.580 we just felt so gripped, desperate, 00:09:26.580 --> 00:09:28.560 because we couldn't do anything about it. 00:09:28.740 --> 00:09:30.100 We had no idea what was going on. 00:09:30.779 --> 00:09:32.680 And the official here, in this text, 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:36.740 is in a state of extreme desperation. 00:09:37.460 --> 00:09:38.500 He doesn't know what to do. 00:09:38.580 --> 00:09:39.820 His child is dying. 00:09:40.620 --> 00:09:41.360 He doesn't know what to do. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:44.539 So he goes to the one he's heard about, who's healing. 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:48.340 He approaches Jesus and asks him to come and heal his son. 00:09:48.940 --> 00:09:51.680 In his culture, where social status is everything, 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:53.560 this is pretty remarkable. 00:09:54.120 --> 00:09:57.899 He risks it all for his son by talking to Jesus. 00:09:58.740 --> 00:10:01.200 So look with me how Jesus responds. 00:10:01.460 --> 00:10:03.019 Because it's not what you think. 00:10:03.299 --> 00:10:04.980 It's not how you think Jesus would respond. 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:05.740 Let's look at the words. 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:06.779 Verse 48. 00:10:06.779 --> 00:10:11.199 So Jesus said to him, 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:14.059 unless you see signs and wonders, 00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:15.899 you will not believe. 00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:19.699 See, Jesus' words here are somewhat harsh to this man. 00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:21.839 You would think Jesus would just say, 00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:23.379 of course, let's go. 00:10:24.079 --> 00:10:25.120 Let's go at once. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:25.939 But he doesn't. 00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:26.319 Why? 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:29.639 Unless you see signs and wonders, 00:10:30.179 --> 00:10:31.819 you will not believe. 00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:34.920 The you here is plural. 00:10:35.560 --> 00:10:38.420 So Jesus isn't just speaking directly towards this man. 00:10:38.900 --> 00:10:42.520 He's speaking in general towards all the people of this area. 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:45.260 Jesus is speaking about most people. 00:10:46.040 --> 00:10:48.420 They will not take Jesus' words at face value. 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:50.200 They need signs and wonders. 00:10:50.340 --> 00:10:51.940 They need to see something to prove it. 00:10:52.900 --> 00:10:58.020 The Apostle John is not including this to show that miracles are bad. 00:10:58.019 --> 00:11:04.399 In fact, miracles are the main way that Jesus showed who he said he was. 00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:06.779 And proved who he said he was. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:09.019 So why is Jesus saying this? 00:11:09.059 --> 00:11:11.759 Well, this brings us to the crux of this text that we're looking at. 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:15.720 Jesus is honing in on something here. 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:17.259 And then it challenges the official. 00:11:18.379 --> 00:11:20.819 Jesus wants to know where he's putting his faith. 00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:24.600 Is it unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe? 00:11:25.340 --> 00:11:26.039 And let's be honest. 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:29.000 That's how we all tend to live our Christian lives, if we're honest. 00:11:29.959 --> 00:11:31.240 There's this UK Christian. 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:32.799 I have his book, but I couldn't find it. 00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:34.319 So I couldn't remember his name. 00:11:34.379 --> 00:11:35.740 I have the book somewhere in the box. 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:37.279 I was looking for it, but I couldn't find it. 00:11:38.199 --> 00:11:39.959 This book is about his testimony. 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:44.360 And he was a climber, so that's why I have the book, because I really like climbing. 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:46.699 But I think that's a part of his testimony. 00:11:46.839 --> 00:11:51.939 Before he came to faith, he was really trying to push the harder climbs. 00:11:52.059 --> 00:11:53.539 He just kept going and going and going. 00:11:53.539 --> 00:11:59.199 And then there's this moment he decided to climb this notorious mountain on his own solo, on his own. 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:02.139 He only had a rope that rappelled down once he got to the top. 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:08.519 And the thing that makes it more dramatic is that he did it in winter conditions, which means that it's harder. 00:12:09.179 --> 00:12:13.240 You get more notoriety if you do it. 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:18.539 But it's harder and it's more dangerous, because things are more unpredictable in winter conditions. 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:22.659 But as he got to the top and he started rappelling down, he slipped. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:24.180 And he fell. 00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:30.159 And he landed on a ledge, a very small ledge that didn't really give him much room to move around. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:32.879 And he was very exposed to the winter conditions. 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:36.000 He had nowhere to hide from the wind, from the snow. 00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:36.899 And he was in a blizzard. 00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:40.580 You're always in a blizzard when you're on a mountain going down for some reason in winter conditions. 00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:42.279 And so he's on this ledge. 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:44.299 He doesn't have his rope anymore, because he fell. 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:45.419 He fell on rappel. 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:51.580 And after a couple hours, he knew he was going to die, because he was so exposed and it was becoming night. 00:12:51.580 --> 00:12:55.220 So he decided to pray in desperation. 00:12:56.240 --> 00:13:06.379 And he prayed that he said that, God, if you get me out of here, if you let me reach out off this ledge and grab my rope, I'll commit my life to you. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:10.520 But in order for him to do that, he had to step off the ledge. 00:13:12.180 --> 00:13:13.220 And he does it. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:15.060 He writes about it in the book. 00:13:15.139 --> 00:13:16.900 He actually just steps off the ledge. 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:19.160 And as he's going, he grabbed his rope. 00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:24.540 Now, I'm not here saying that this is how we should live our lives. 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:26.160 We should just step out in faith like that. 00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:28.600 He stepped out, and he grabbed his rope. 00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:33.900 And the story after this is about his commitment to that prayer he said. 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:35.320 This is a remarkable story. 00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:39.759 But this leads us to thinking how faith works, right? 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:41.780 We ask, and God delivers. 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:43.160 This is a unique story. 00:13:43.680 --> 00:13:45.660 It does happen, but it does happen all the time. 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:48.460 Have you ever prayed for something and it didn't happen? 00:13:48.900 --> 00:13:51.120 Or it felt like God wasn't listening at all? 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:54.320 A new job, maybe. 00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:55.480 Maybe you prayed for a new job. 00:13:56.540 --> 00:13:59.860 Maybe discipline in some area of your life. 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:04.440 Maybe better health, or for someone to be saved, or for someone to be healed. 00:14:04.920 --> 00:14:05.940 Or maybe to have a baby. 00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:12.700 See, these moments can often be some of the most testing times in the Christian walk. 00:14:12.700 --> 00:14:19.160 They often lead people to reject Christianity because it appears God doesn't exist or care about them. 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:23.140 I mentioned I was only a part of the charismatic move for four years. 00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:28.819 I believe that if I prayed for something and spoke it into being, it would happen. 00:14:29.179 --> 00:14:31.240 It didn't, and I left the faith for many years. 00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:34.139 But luckily God was not done with me. 00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:40.980 But if you look at the book of the Psalms, if you don't read the Psalms, I highly recommend you read the Psalms. 00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:43.120 Try to read them every couple months. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:50.019 Because the Psalms show us something of this continual subject of appearing God does not listen. 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:52.120 You hear, where are you God? 00:14:53.179 --> 00:14:54.379 Why aren't you acting? 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:55.159 I'm suffering. 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:55.860 I'm oppressed. 00:14:56.299 --> 00:14:59.139 Crying out night and day at the very point of death. 00:14:59.139 --> 00:15:06.139 But they always end the Psalm in praise, adoration, and trust in the true living God. 00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:09.539 See, Jesus challenges this man. 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:12.659 Are you only approaching me for signs and wonders? 00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:15.220 How does the official respond? 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:16.600 Let's look. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:17.519 Let's look at the text. 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.340 Verse 49. 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:21.840 The official said to him, 00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:25.460 Sir, come down before my child dies. 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:30.420 The official basically ignores Jesus' words and his response. 00:15:30.540 --> 00:15:31.940 And he doesn't give any attention to it. 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:35.040 He just repeats what he came to ask Jesus for. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.420 To heal his son. 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:37.620 To come and heal his son. 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:38.600 He's desperate. 00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:40.840 Can you imagine? 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:41.600 Can you imagine? 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.720 Just say you're in this scenario. 00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:49.440 If you go to somebody who's known for healing people by laying his hands on them. 00:15:50.920 --> 00:15:52.780 And the only thing they say to you is, 00:15:52.780 --> 00:15:53.100 Go. 00:15:53.700 --> 00:15:54.900 Your dying son will live. 00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:57.900 Wouldn't you want more assurance than that? 00:15:58.160 --> 00:15:59.879 Really, like, think about it. 00:16:00.560 --> 00:16:05.040 But the official's response is pretty remarkable. 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:09.060 This guy is remarkable that he would go on in such a high social standing to Jesus. 00:16:09.780 --> 00:16:11.280 And then his response is remarkable. 00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:12.540 Look at it in verse 50. 00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:14.820 He says this. 00:16:15.400 --> 00:16:16.240 So Jesus said to him, 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:17.360 Go, your son will live. 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:22.019 The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:23.360 He leaves. 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:23.980 He leaves. 00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:26.120 Not because Jesus did anything. 00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:29.360 But because Jesus said his son will live. 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:31.320 And he believed his word. 00:16:32.680 --> 00:16:33.639 In surgery, 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:36.259 before they do anything, 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.320 most of the time, 00:16:37.560 --> 00:16:39.840 they take x-rays to see what the problem is. 00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.759 The current Pope 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:43.820 had x-rays done 00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:47.200 and it showed that he needed something on his lungs to be removed. 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:49.940 And as they were doing the surgery, 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:53.080 they found that, in fact, he had cancer 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:54.780 and he needed a part of his lungs removed. 00:16:55.920 --> 00:16:58.260 See, they obviously didn't wake him in this moment 00:16:58.260 --> 00:16:59.600 to consult with him first. 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.720 The surgeon took action 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:03.960 and removed a part of his lungs. 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:06.500 We put our hands, 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.539 or our lives, 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:09.019 into the hands of surgeons. 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:11.579 Not based on successful surgeries, 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:13.360 but on their word 00:17:13.360 --> 00:17:14.660 that they will, in fact, 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:16.099 do the surgery 00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:18.079 and it will be successful. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:20.140 And we normally trust the piece of paper 00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:22.000 that's hanging behind them in their office. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:25.019 See, we find ourselves 00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:26.660 at the end of these three conversations 00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:27.680 that Jesus has. 00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:30.359 But the one thing that is common with them 00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:31.240 is the question 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:33.140 of what you believe in. 00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.819 What are you trusting in? 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:35.859 A sign? 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:38.220 Or Jesus' word in himself? 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.980 See, if you're sitting here 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:42.240 and you don't call yourself a Christian, 00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:44.839 and maybe you're listening on the podcast, 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.400 and you're just curious 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:48.160 what do Christians really believe in, 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:51.140 what are you putting your faith in? 00:17:51.140 --> 00:17:52.680 Because it's in something. 00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:55.620 Maybe you've set yourself up 00:17:55.620 --> 00:17:56.800 really well financially, 00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:58.320 and you have the best portfolio, 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:00.140 and you could buy, 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:02.980 and the best portfolio you could buy, 00:18:03.060 --> 00:18:04.140 and you think to yourself, 00:18:04.540 --> 00:18:05.520 you're set and secure. 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:08.380 And honestly, maybe you are right now. 00:18:08.820 --> 00:18:10.220 What happens if the market crashes, 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:11.300 or your health goes? 00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:12.220 Are you still secure? 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:15.180 Maybe you've put your faith 00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:16.380 in athletic accomplishments. 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:19.259 They bring you a sense of meaning and purpose. 00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:21.640 What happens when your body can't do it anymore, 00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:23.019 or you injure yourself? 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:26.799 There are many examples we can use 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.740 to fill in the blank. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:30.400 But all these things are fleeting. 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.879 They give you a sign 00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:34.220 that you're progressing or achieving something, 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:35.900 but that's it. 00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:39.839 Unless you see signs and wonders, 00:18:40.379 --> 00:18:41.599 you will not believe. 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:44.140 Look again with me at verse 50. 00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:46.860 Jesus said to the official, 00:18:48.300 --> 00:18:50.100 Go, your son will live. 00:18:50.800 --> 00:18:52.259 The man believed the word 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.560 that Jesus spoke to him 00:18:53.560 --> 00:18:54.640 and went on his way. 00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.880 See, the Christian life 00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:58.400 is built around God's word. 00:18:58.980 --> 00:19:00.420 A word that has been tested 00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:01.420 and stands firm. 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:03.680 And when the word is pushed aside, 00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:05.759 faith goes with it. 00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:09.280 What we have here in the Bible 00:19:09.280 --> 00:19:11.960 is a very trustworthy thing. 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:15.799 There is more manuscripts of the Bible 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:18.480 than most of the things in history 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:20.400 that we trust and were taught in school. 00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:23.039 There's thousands of manuscripts, 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:24.700 and they're pretty exact. 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:26.819 There's things that are taught 00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:28.559 about certain Roman emperors 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:29.880 or certain philosophers, 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:31.840 and there's only two manuscripts, 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:33.220 and they're partial. 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:35.819 But we treat them as gospel. 00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:40.179 The Bible has thousands of manuscripts, 00:19:40.939 --> 00:19:43.480 and they're all pretty exact. 00:19:44.099 --> 00:19:47.200 That is something you can put your faith in, 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:48.960 is that this is, in fact, 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:50.720 a worthy, trustworthy source. 00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:52.759 This is, in fact, God's word. 00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:57.419 And the thing that also this verse shows us, 00:19:58.299 --> 00:20:00.559 it shows us who Jesus is. 00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:04.720 See, Jesus is fully man, 00:20:05.159 --> 00:20:06.379 but he is fully God. 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:09.480 He can speak things into being. 00:20:09.919 --> 00:20:12.480 He does not need to lay his hands on people. 00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:15.539 He can speak healing into being. 00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:17.819 It shows that he is fully God 00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.599 here in this moment. 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:21.859 The Christian life is built on God's word, 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:23.720 on trusting in God's word. 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:25.359 So what happens? 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:28.079 Well, look with me at verses 51 to 54. 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:31.159 As he was going down, 00:20:31.879 --> 00:20:33.159 his servants met him 00:20:33.159 --> 00:20:35.559 and told him that his son was recovering. 00:20:36.419 --> 00:20:38.099 So he asked them the hour 00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:40.220 when he began to get better. 00:20:40.679 --> 00:20:41.659 And they said to him, 00:20:42.179 --> 00:20:43.859 Yesterday at the seventh hour, 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.980 the fever left him. 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:48.339 The father knew that was the hour 00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:49.839 when Jesus had said to him, 00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:51.159 Your son will live, 00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:54.359 and he himself believed 00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:55.659 and all his household. 00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:57.859 This was now the second sign 00:20:57.859 --> 00:20:58.779 that Jesus did 00:20:58.779 --> 00:21:01.319 when he had come from Judea to Galilee. 00:21:02.659 --> 00:21:04.740 The official's son is healed instantly. 00:21:05.679 --> 00:21:07.439 It shows who Jesus is, 00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:08.819 that he is fully God. 00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:10.879 And his servants confirm this 00:21:10.879 --> 00:21:12.379 the next day when he's heading home. 00:21:13.419 --> 00:21:14.559 See, notice what happens 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.579 at Jesus' word, 00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:18.099 as Jesus' word is confirmed. 00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:20.039 The official's faith matures. 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:23.159 Through his faith on Jesus' word, 00:21:23.159 --> 00:21:25.579 his household comes to faith as well. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:28.019 And household here means just, 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.619 it would have been the adults 00:21:29.619 --> 00:21:31.099 and the children coming to faith. 00:21:31.179 --> 00:21:32.519 His entire house comes to faith 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.599 through his faith 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:34.799 and the act that happens. 00:21:36.939 --> 00:21:38.819 So what does this have to do with me, 00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:39.579 you might be asking, 00:21:39.679 --> 00:21:40.759 or listening online? 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:43.039 See, we all need to ask ourselves, 00:21:43.919 --> 00:21:45.740 are you trusting in the miracle 00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:47.400 or the miracle giver? 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:49.900 What dictates your faith, 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:50.500 your trust? 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:52.200 What are you putting your trust in? 00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:55.640 This text shows us God's deep love 00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:57.339 to heal those who call on him. 00:21:58.339 --> 00:22:00.000 He healed this man's son, 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:01.640 so he may live. 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:04.059 But God gave his son, 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.579 so all may be healed. 00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:08.519 There's no greater miracle 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.579 than a converted heart. 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:12.939 God gave his son to heal hearts, 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:15.179 to turn the hearts to him, 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.759 to turn people to him, 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:18.559 to those who put their faith 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:19.500 and trust in him. 00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:22.619 See, this is the time in the sermon 00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:23.639 where the preacher 00:22:23.639 --> 00:22:25.639 normally gives application. 00:22:25.899 --> 00:22:26.559 So what is it? 00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:29.740 See, this text calls all Christians 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.839 and non-Christians 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:32.599 to take seriously who Jesus is. 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:35.179 Did he rise from the dead? 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.099 Is he the one? 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:37.699 Is he the Messiah? 00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:39.119 If you're here 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:40.219 and you call yourself a Christian, 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:42.099 are you trusting in the person of Jesus 00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:43.939 or what he does for you? 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.000 If you're here 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.399 and you call yourself a non-Christian, 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:48.519 are you trusting in yourself? 00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:49.719 Will that sustain you? 00:22:50.399 --> 00:22:51.379 Will that go with you 00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:52.500 through when you die? 00:22:53.679 --> 00:22:55.719 Is your faith in the word made flesh 00:22:55.719 --> 00:22:56.819 or on the miracles 00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:57.859 you hope to receive? 00:22:58.439 --> 00:22:59.879 This is what the text challenges. 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:02.439 This text points to who Jesus is, 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:03.839 to he is God. 00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:06.079 And it also points to our hearts 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:08.079 about what we are putting our faith in. 00:23:09.139 --> 00:23:11.019 Is it what Jesus does for us 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:12.519 or are we faith in him 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:14.699 and what he's done for us? 00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:17.939 Sorry, has he saved us or not? 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:19.899 But how do I do this? 00:23:19.919 --> 00:23:20.599 You may be asking. 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:22.399 You can't do it on your own. 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.559 You can't muster it up 00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:24.439 with your own faith. 00:23:24.679 --> 00:23:26.599 It's a gift given by the Father. 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.899 So you have to ask Jesus 00:23:28.899 --> 00:23:30.599 to take control of your life, 00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:32.579 to help you give up the things 00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.419 that hinder you 00:23:33.419 --> 00:23:35.159 from going closer to him, 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:37.579 to make your heart more like his. 00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:39.939 Read his word. 00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:42.939 Let it reform you more and more. 00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:45.319 Meditate on the person of Jesus, 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.219 what he does, 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.599 how he interacts with people, 00:23:47.939 --> 00:23:49.159 and what he's done in your life. 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.799 In the spring this year, 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:54.679 I did the funeral for my grandfather. 00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:57.779 And my grandmother, 00:23:58.120 --> 00:23:59.259 as I was talking with her 00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.240 before the funeral, 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:02.019 and then also after a bit, 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:05.480 really struggled with why God 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:07.680 didn't heal her husband, 00:24:07.820 --> 00:24:08.400 my grandfather. 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:10.759 And she struggled with it. 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:13.360 The unanswered prayer for healing 00:24:13.360 --> 00:24:15.160 and had a moment of struggle 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:15.940 with her faith. 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:18.480 She struggled with this. 00:24:18.820 --> 00:24:19.680 Her husband died. 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:20.700 God didn't heal. 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:22.440 But you read about these things 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:23.680 in the text that God heals. 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:32.320 And I was able to see her 00:24:32.320 --> 00:24:33.100 in the hospital 00:24:33.100 --> 00:24:35.240 a couple days before she passed, 00:24:35.360 --> 00:24:37.480 before she slipped into basically 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.620 a coma from the drugs 00:24:38.620 --> 00:24:39.500 and not eating. 00:24:41.320 --> 00:24:43.140 And before I prayed with her 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:44.620 and read her Psalm 23, 00:24:44.820 --> 00:24:47.000 because that was her favorite psalm, 00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.940 I leaned in to comfort her 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:49.880 and she said to me, 00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:51.779 I trust in Jesus. 00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.360 He is my Savior. 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.759 He is with me. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.880 See, these are the moments that count. 00:24:58.580 --> 00:25:00.940 When you are at the end of your life, 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:03.100 will you say, 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:04.100 I trust in Jesus. 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:05.500 Is he my Lord and Savior? 00:25:06.060 --> 00:25:06.779 Or are you going to say, 00:25:06.860 --> 00:25:08.180 I trust what he did for me, 00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:09.279 what he's done for me 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.360 through my Christian walk? 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.779 See, trust in the person of Jesus. 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:14.200 If you're going to trust in something, 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.740 trust in his word. 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:19.039 trust in the finished work on the cross. 00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:22.079 Because that is the only thing that matters. 00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:23.660 Nothing else matters. 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:25.279 Don't seek miracles. 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.420 Seek Jesus. 00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:26.820 all you have? 00:25:26.820 --> 00:25:27.160 You have a different way. 00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:27.420 You have a different way. 00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:27.560 So, 00:25:27.560 --> 00:25:27.640 you have a different way. 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:27.880 So, 00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.000 you have a different way. 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.279 So, 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:28.560 you have a different way. 00:25:28.560 --> 00:25:28.800 And I what I have? 00:25:28.800 --> 00:25:29.060 I have a different way. 00:25:29.060 --> 00:25:29.300 I have a different way. 00:25:29.300 --> 00:25:29.560 I have a different way. 00:25:29.560 --> 00:25:29.860 I have a different way. 00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:30.160 I have a different way. 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:30.480 I have a different way. 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:30.779 I have a different way. 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:31.019 I have a different way. 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.240 I have a different way. 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:31.500 I have a different way. 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:31.740 I have a different way. 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.019 I have a different way. 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:32.300 I have a different way. 00:25:32.300 --> 00:25:32.640 I have a different way. 00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:32.980 I have a different way. 00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:33.160 I have a different way. 00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:33.320 I have a different way. 00:25:33.320 --> 00:25:33.480 lipid. 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:33.560 lipid. 00:25:33.560 --> 00:25:33.600 lipid. 00:25:33.600 --> 00:25:33.800 lipid.