John included seven attesting miracles – 7 signs – that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God; so that readers of his gospel would believe in Jesus and believing, would have eternal life!
What kind of faith is required to have Jesus perform a miracle in your life?
Do you know?
Do you even think it’s possible for God to impact your life each day in miraculous ways? Many people say they believe God can do amazing things; but they live as if they never expect Him to do the miraculous for them. It’s as if they are saying:
“I know God could do a miracle. And, maybe He would for __________ (and they name someone they consider very spiritual or religious); but He wouldn’t do that for me.”
John, in his gospel, states just the opposite: Jesus is passionately interested in touching, and working in, each life – no matter how insignificant or un-religious we may think they are. John gives examples showing that Jesus impacts ordinary lives in supernatural/miraculous ways!
Do you believe Jesus will impact your life in a miraculous way? Not just that He can, but that He will? With the right kind of faith we can receive the supernatural workings of God in our otherwise, ordinary lives!
John’s account of the second sign shows Jesus impacting an ordinary life through two miracles! The first is clearly seen; the other, most often is missed. As you read further, keep these two questions in mind:
What kind of faith is required to have Jesus perform a miracle in my life?
Do I have that kind of faith?
After leaving a wedding in Cana (see Sign 1: Water Into Wine), John records several snapshots of Jesus’ ministry. He moves from Capernaum to Jerusalem, then passes through Judea, Samaria, returning to Galilee. Jesus did and taught many amazing things during this time.
Through this part of the narrative it is important to notice the beginnings of Jesus’ success and opposition. His success is among those the Jews consider rejects. His opposition from those the Jews consider religious. This pattern will continue throughout Jesus’ ministry. Perhaps here we are given our first clue into the kind of faith required to receive miraculous works of God in our lives.
Back in Galilee, John introduces us to the man with whom Jesus interacts in providing the second attesting miracle:
There was a certain royal official whose son was ill at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and pleaded with him to come down and heal his son, for he was about to die. (John 4:46b-47)
Immediately we are told two things about this man. First, he was a royal official who lived in Capernaum. And second, his son was sick.
Capernaum was some twenty miles from Cana. This man made quit a trek to ask Jesus for a miracle.
Was he a Jew or a Gentile? What was his position in the government? What was his national or social standing? What was his background? How had he heard of Jesus?
We know the answers to none of these questions. In fact, we know little about this man, other than his desperate plea to Jesus on behalf of his son. Yet from him, we will learn much.
THE MIRACLE: PART ONE
The Nobleman’s request was simple: “come down and heal [my] son.” His request was sincere: “he went to Him and pleaded with Him.” And it was sound: “for he was about to die.”
That’s why Jesus’ response is so surprising.
Jesus’ words must have had quit a sting to them for those who heard. Certainly, they are not at all what we expect.
Jesus told him, “Unless you [people] see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” (John 4:48)
Jesus’ answer was an open rebuke, of the man and the people. Why did Jesus rebuke them?
The people were rebuked because in His travels through Judea and Galilee, Jesus had experienced their lamentable spiritual condition. The people in the world, and often those in the church with us, have a very pragmatic viewpoint. Such was the spiritual condition of the people Jesus encountered in Judea and Galilee. Their spiritual thought rested on this old quip: Seeing is believing!
The nobleman was rebuked because he was inaccurate in his assessment of the Savior. He made two critical mistakes.
(1) Location – he believed Jesus had to be in Capernaum to heal the sick boy. He implored Jesus “to come down” (vs. 47) and again, “Sir…come down” (vs. 49). Jesus healed the Centurion’s servant from a distance; as well as the Canaanite women (see Matthew 8:5-13; 15:21-28). Jesus did not have to be physically present to heal the boy.
(2) Timing – he believed once the boy died it would be too late for Jesus to do anything. “Sir… come down before my boy dies.” (vs. 49). Throughout His ministry Jesus proved that neither distance, nor even death, was a hindrance to accomplishing His purposes!
But the nobleman was not going to give up. In the face of rebuke, he pressed on and repeated his request. Though this time he added a word: “Sir,” the official said to Him, “come down before my boy dies.” (John 4:49). The word sir is better translated as Lord; and its use tells us something about the nobleman. Though a man of authority, he was willing to submit to Jesus in his time of need.
Matthew Henry, when applying this passage to all mankind, summed it up well: The greatest men, when they come to God, must become beggars.1
This time Jesus responds differently. And both His response and that of the nobleman are noteworthy. Jesus simply said: “Go…your son will live” (John 4:50a). And the nobleman “believed what Jesus said to him and departed” (John 4:50b). So great was the nobleman’s faith that he stopped overnight on the return trip home. We see this when he meets his servants the next morning coming to give him the good news and inquires about when the boy got better. The servants respond: “Yesterday at seven in the morning…” (John 4:52). In case there is any doubt, John makes it clear that this was the same hour Jesus spoke the words of comfort:
The father realized this was the very hour at which Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” (John 4:53).
A miracle happened! The boy recovered immediately. And the father returned to a home of joy, life and happiness; not one of grief, sorrow and death. Thus ends the clearly seen portion of this story.
But what about the second part – the one most often missed. Where, or what is it?
THE MIRACLE: PART TWO
It’s really amazing that so many people miss this second part of the miracle. It is so easy to see:
The father realized this was the very hour at which Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” Then he himself believed, along with his whole household. (John 4:53; emphasis added).
The second part of the miracle is the development of the nobleman’s faith. As a result of which, he and his whole household believed in Jesus and came to experience life in the fullness of His Name!
Reading through the narrative carefully again, one discovers FOUR STEPS of FAITH DEVELOPMENT.
1. Crises Faith – A father was about to lose his son; and he was willing to do whatever was required to seek a miracle, even if that meant begging at the feet of a poor teacher. In the gospels, many people came to Jesus with their crises, and He did not turn them away. Is there any reasonable basis to believe He will turn you away? Of course not.
2. Confident Faith – Jesus spoke a word, and the crises of the heart became the confidence of the hope. When Jesus touches our hearts, He always brings hope: a living hope (1 Peter 1:3); which never disappoints (Romans 5:5). Our confidence is sure in Christ.
3. Confirmed Faith – The encounter with his servants, their news, and the comparing of notes confirmed that the healing took place exactly when Jesus spoke the words. What confirmation; clear and unmistakable! As you walk with Jesus, He confirms over and over His presence and provision in your life. Thus, feeble faith becomes fortress faith!
4. Contagious Faith – The confirmation of Jesus’ action made a believer of the nobleman, and his servants, and his household. His faith became contagious. Imagine him sharing the story with all his neighbors, and everyone who lived in Capernaum!
This second attesting miracle confirms Jesus’ ability to meet our needs – whatever they are. More importantly, it answers our first question.
The kind of faith which results in our receiving God’s supernatural working in our lives is one which (whether is originates in Crises or not) is Confident, Confirmed, and Contagious!
Now the other question: Do you have this kind of faith?
1 Church, Rev. Dr. Leslie F., ed. The NIV Matthew Henry Commentary: In One Volume (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), pg. 333.
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