John Series Sermon 24 The Stages of Faith, 4:46–54
(4:46–54) Introduction: this nobleman was a government official, probably holding some high position in Herod’s court. His experience reveals the various stages of faith, the kind of growing faith that every man should experience.
1. A beginning faith (vv.46–47).
2. A persistent faith (vv.48–49).
3. A trusting, obedient, and working faith (v.50).
4. A confirmed faith (vv.51–53).
5. A witnessing faith (vv.53–54).
1 (4:46–47) Faith—Seeking Jesus—Contrition: the first stage is a beginning faith. When Jesus entered the city of Cana, a nobleman (basilixos), an official of the King’s royal court, approached Jesus. The actions of the man demonstrated exactly what is involved in a beginning faith.
a. There was a desperate need. The man’s son was at the point of death.
Thought 1. Needs confront every human being. Eventually the severe needs arising from accident, illness, disease, suffering, and death strike everyone. No one is exempt. One may be an official in government or even the king himself—it does not matter. The day eventually comes when every man needs help. The severe disasters of life are beyond any man’s control.
b. There was hearing about Jesus. The man heard about Jesus, and he listened attentively to what he heard. He did not …
• turn a deaf ear to the message
• think himself too important
• consider the message to be foolish
• mock the person sharing about Jesus
c. There was coming to Jesus. Facing one of the severe disasters of life, the man came to Jesus. Jesus was the only person he had ever heard about that might be able to help. Note what the man had to sacrifice in order to go to Jesus.
1) The man had to leave the side of his dying son knowing he would be gone for many hours. Imagine the anxiety and fear that his son might die while he was away. The man would literally have to tear himself away from his son. Such an act shows how strongly he believed that Jesus could help him.
2) The man had to travel almost a day’s journey to reach Jesus. Capernaum was about twenty miles from Cana. Imagine the concern and apprehension gripping the father’s heart every foot of the way, wondering if he should have left his son’s side. The fact that he persevered and kept his eyes on the hope of Jesus shows the faith of his heart.
“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD” (Ps. 31:24).
“Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy” (Ps. 33:18).
“And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee” (Ps. 39:7).
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (Ps. 42:11).
“For thou art my hope. O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth” (Ps. 71:5).
“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God” (Ps. 146:5; see vv.6–9).
“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is” (Je. 17:7).
3) The man did not let his high position keep him from Jesus. He did not wrap himself in pride nor did he allow what others might say keep him from Jesus. Swallowing his pride, he confessed his need in the face of all who ridiculed, and he went to Jesus.
“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him” (Ps. 91:15).
“Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity” (Is. 58:9).
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Je. 33:3).
d. There was begging Jesus to help. The man literally begged (erota) and kept on begging for Jesus to meet his need.
2 (4:48–49) Faith—Belief—Signs: the second stage was a persistent faith. Note two crucial lessons.
a. A lesson in faith. The man said, “Come down, and heal my son.” Jesus was saying, “Unless I come down and you see signs and miracles you will not believe. Is that what you are saying?” Jesus had to teach the man that His Word alone was enough. Belief in His Word was what was going to assure the request. His power was at the nobleman’s disposal if he would just believe Him. Belief is to precede signs and wonders. Note that “you” is plural. Jesus was addressing both the man and the crowd. He wanted the crowd to get the message as well. (See DEEPER STUDY # 1—Jn. 2:23; DEEPER STUDY # 2—2:24.)
b. A desperate insistence. The man was in no position to argue, not even to think through what Jesus had just said. He was desperate. A severe disaster had stricken his life. He believed Jesus was the only One who could help him, and he was determined to secure Jesus’ help. He cried out, “Lord [Kurie] come down ere my child die.”
Note two significant points. (1) The man did not allow Jesus’ rebuke to deter him, and (2) he kept after Jesus.
Thought 1. Note the crucial lessons.
(1) Signs and wonders (the boy’s healing) were not as important as believing Jesus. A man’s eternal salvation was at stake, and the man had to believe to be saved.
(2) The man was helped because he persisted. Persistence was absolutely necessary in securing the Lord’s help. Persistence shows that one really recognizes and acknowledges his need and really believes God can and will help. Note: if a man ceases to ask, he shows that he does not believe God will answer. He gives up on God, disbelieving Him. This man did not allow the Lord’s hesitation to stop him.
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Mt. 7:7–8; see v.9–11).
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (He. 11:6).
“The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate” (Ps. 34:22).
“Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Is. 26:4).
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Je. 29:13).
3 (4:50) Faith—Obedience: the third stage was a trusting, obedient, working faith. Note three things.
a. The charge and the promise of Jesus was forceful.
? The charge: “Go thy way.”
? The promise: “Thy son liveth.”
b. The man’s belief in Jesus’ Word and his obedience. He “believed the word that Jesus had spoken,” and “he went his way.” The idea is that of instantaneous faith and action: he believed immediately and he turned immediately, heading home to his son. He acted on his faith. Note what he believed.
? The Lord’s love, compassion, and concern: that Jesus cared for those who had desperate need.
? The Lord’s knowledge (omniscience): that Jesus knew his son was healed, although he was twenty miles away.
? The Lord’s power (omnipotence): that Jesus had the power to heal his son, even from a great distance.
c. Both faith and obedience were necessary to receive the promise and help of Jesus. The man would not have received the help of Jesus if he had not accepted and believed the Word of Jesus or if he had rebelled and acted childishly. The man could have easily acted like so many when they bring their needs to God: “Your word is not good enough. My son is not healed. He is there in Capernaum and you are far away, no place close to him. How could he be helped with you so far away? Come, visit, show yourself, stand before us: help us.” Such, of course, is pleading to God for help; but it is not crying to God in faith, not basing one’s request upon the Word and promise of Christ. It is asking God to help, but it is also dictating how God is to help. It is telling God how He is to act instead of accepting and acting upon His Word.
Thought 1. There is no real faith apart from obedience and work. (See DEEPER STUDY # 2—Jn. 2:24; DEEPER STUDY # 1—He. 5:9.)
“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Mt. 19:26).
“For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Lu. 1:37).
“Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed” (Lu. 7:7).
“And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed” (Lu. 17:14).
“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (He. 5:9).
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (Js. 2:17).
“I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee” (Jb. 42:2).
“Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!” (Ps. 31:19).
“The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate” (Ps. 34:22).
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Ps. 37:5).
“They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever” (Ps. 125:1).
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Pr. 3:5).
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Is. 26:3–4).
4 (4:51–53) Faith: the fourth stage was a confirmed faith. Note the words “as he was now going.” He was in the act of obeying Christ when he received the glorious news that his prayer was answered. Again, it was believing the promise of Jesus and obeying Him that brought the blessing. Both belief and obedience were essential.
Note also that the man confirmed the supernatural vs. the natural. He asked the exact hour the boy recovered. He wanted to be certain; he wanted absolute confirmation. He was reaching out for stronger faith in Jesus. He was so full of joy and thankfulness to Jesus that he wanted to believe on Him more and more.
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mk. 11:22–24).
“But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee” (Jn. 11:22).
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (He. 7:25).
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (He. 11:1).
“For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD” (Eze. 12:25).
5 (4:53–54) Witnessing: the fifth stage was a witnessing faith. Note two things.
a. The man witnessed to “his whole house.” He told them about the experience, the Word of promise and instructions Jesus had given, and they all believed. They committed themselves fully to Jesus as the Messiah.
b. Witnessing for Jesus was not easy for this man. He was a high official, moving about in the halls of a corrupt government and among immoral officials. He would definitely be facing ridicule and persecution, and perhaps loss of position and even loss of life. But note: his faith was a witnessing faith. He loved Jesus for what Jesus had done for him, and he wanted others to know Jesus’ glorious salvation.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mt. 5:16).
“Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him” (Lu. 8:39).
“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Ac. 16:30–31).
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Pe. 3:15).
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2004). The Gospel according to John . Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
