STRATHMOOR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
PENTECOST SUNDAY -- 05-03-01 -- John 4:43-54 / Isaiah 43:1-9a
A MATTER OF THE HEART
I. Are you confused yet? (You’re probably not alone -- if you’ve given up --
on tracking Jesus’ whereabouts.)
1. You aught to be confused -- because I have found that many commentators --
who study this stuff are very confused --
1) about where Jesus is coming from -- and going to.
2. There seems to be little consistency among commentators --
when talking about cities -- or regions. And often, their lack of a map --
leads to misgivings -- about the intent of the scriptural message. 1) One of the misgivings about this particular passage of scripture --
seems to be Jesus’ comment that a prophet has no honor --
in the prophet’s own country.
2) To help us get a handle on this problem --
I want to ask you to imagine in your mind today -- a very simple map.
1- Begin by imagining a rectangle -- on end –
2- then divide the rectangle horizontally -- into three equal parts.
1] The top section is the region called Galilee,
2] the middle section is the region called Samaria,
3] and the bottom section is the region called Judea.
3- In the top region there are three cities that are important to our story: 1] Nazareth is in Galilee;
2] Cana is in Galilee;
3] and Capernaum is in Galilee.
4- In the middle region there is one city that is important:
1] Sychar is in Samaria.
5- And in the bottom region there is one important city:
1] Jerusalem is in Judea.
II. With that in mind, let’s take the tour with Jesus -- over the last couple of chapters:
1. Jesus is at the festival in Jerusalem (the [bottom] region of Judea) --
when he decides to go to Galilee the top region.
1) To get to the ‘top region’ --
he must pass through the middle region (Samaria).
2) It is in the middle region -- that he stops on the outskirts of the town
know as Sychar and meets the women at the well --
we talked about two weeks ago.
1- He is then invited into the town of Sychar --
where he spends two days with the people of that town
2- (and many of them become believers).
2. After the two days, Jesus left the middle region --
and went to the (top of your rectangle) -- region of Galilee.
1) When Jesus first arrived in Galilee -- we don’t know --
what town He went to -- because the text does not say.
2) What we do know -- is that Nazareth is in the region of Galilee.
1- And, if you take a real map of the region --
and you drew a straight life from Sychar to Cana
1] (where we know Jesus is headed)
2- you will find that that line -- passes right by --
the western side of Nazareth.
1] Since roads are not straight lines -- and since
there are no other major cities between Sychar and Nazareth --
it is highly likely that the road went through Nazaraeth.
3- So, we know that Jesus is in his own country,
we know from the text that the Galileans welcomed him,
since they had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem –
at the festival, for they too had gone to the festival.
4- And we know, that John, (the author of this gospel,) –
wanted to remind us -- that Jesus himself had said --
that a prophet has no honor --
in the prophet’s own country.
3. Now, some see a problem here.
1) If Jesus is being welcomed by the Galileans, --
how can Jesus say -- that He is without honor?
2) I think, -- the answer to that question -- is the point of this passage:
4. You see honor is not the willingness to observe.
1) These people are here because -- of the things they have seen --
or heard about Jesus --
1- They are curiosity seekers -- not believers.
1] They may have heard John the Baptist’s witness about Jesus. 2] They have heard the stories -- from Jesus’ last visit to Galilee
when Nathaniel became convinced --
that Jesus was the Son of God.
3] They may have seen Jesus turn over the tables --
at the festival in Jerusalem.
4] They surly heard the rumors -- that came out of Cana --
when He turned the water into wine.
2- They are here for the same reason -- that you go to a carnival --
to watch the rubber man twist himself into a knot --
or the snake lady shed her skin.
1] But -- they are not here -- because they honor Jesus.
2] They are not here -- because they hold him in high esteem. 3] They are not here -- because they recognize --
his right to great respect -- and admiration.
3- To be sure that you and I understand that, --
John, the Gospel writer -- reminds us –
(with the authority of Jesus’ own words)
that a prophet has no honor -- in the prophet’s own country.
4- And that -- this is Galilee, --
the region that holds the city of Nazareth: --
it is Jesus’ own country.
2) The importance of these first three verses --
is not that the Galileans welcomed Jesus --
1- but that they welcomed him --
because of what they had seen and heard.
2- Not because -- they honored Him -- as the Messiah.
III. That is how we come to Cana. Jesus left that first stop in Galilee --
and the scripture say: Then he came again to Cana -- in Galilee --
where he had changed the water into wine.
1. John is not telling us that for no reason.
1) He is telling us so that we’ll know what the crowds know:
1- In other words, We can be sure --
that the curiosity seekers are still around.
2- We can assume that the rumors are rampant --
and everyone wants to see this Jesus do another “miracle.”
3- We can be positive -- that the event that is about to take place --
is not a co-incidence -- but a God-incident --
4- and we can be equally certain --
that Jesus knows the hearts -- of these curiosity seekers.
2. Now look what happens:
1) First, there is a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum.
Verse 47 says, When he heard --
that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, --
he went and begged him --
to come down and heal his son,
for he was at the point of death.
2) I want you to notice -- that he did not come from Capernaum to Cana
because he knew -- that Jesus was going to be there.
1- We are not told what he was doing in Capernaum --
but while there -- he heard that Jesus was there too.
1] Here in the midst of the “rumors and the tales” of Jesus --
this man comes to Him out of desperation.
1} He has not come because he is a believer.
2} He did not come to Cana -- seeking Jesus.
3} He did not come as a curiosity seeker either.
3) Yet, -- in the providence of God -- he came -- when Jesus was there.
1- He came when his defenses were down.
2- He came in the frantic anxiety -- of a parent worrying --
about a dying child.
1] He is 17 miles from a dying son.
2] Probably looking for anyone who might help.
3] Finding no hope.
3- When he hears about this legend, -- this miracle worker, --
this prophet, -- this fanatic, -- this ‘possibility’ --
this “last shot in the dark”.
3. Do you realize -- how many people come to God this way?
1) (Sometimes I think -- that if this life we lead were easy --
then no one -- would pay any attention -- to God.)
1- I think we’d be self-absorbed -- and content --
to move on in bliss -- without any concern
1] for the Creator of the world,
2] the Sustainer of our life,
3] and the Redeemer of our Souls.
2- The truth is -- we most often --
come to God -- when we are desperate!!
Illustration: W.C. Fields, a famously irreligious man, who near the end of his life was visited by the actor Thomas Mitchell, who found him sitting up in bed reading the Bible. When his amazed friend asked what he was doing, he replied, "looking for loopholes". End Illustration.
2) That’s what often brings us to God. –
1- We’re hoping for Loopholes!
1] Is there a way around my sons death?
2] Is there a way to avoid the trial I’m about to face?
3] Is there a possibility to avoid the inevitable?
4] Is it conceivable -- that I could circumvent --
this horrible reality?
3) You’ve got to hear it the way it was.
1- The scripture says he “begged” Jesus:
1] “Jesus! Jesus! Please come to Capernaum and heal my son he is dying!!! -- For the love of God listen to me --
he is dying!!!!”
2- I don’t know who would grieve more at those words:
the father, -- or the Father.
1] NO ONE ESCAPES DEATH!
2] No ‘age’ is immune from death!
1} But is there no solace -- in knowing that I love you -- 2} that your children are my children --
3} and that I am there -- when you cannot be.
1> That is the essence of faith.
2> It is hope beyond hope --
3> and it is living -- as though we are certain --
of God’s eternal love.
4. That is what this man grasped! -- and it is what these curiosity seekers - missed: 1) The scripture say: Then Jesus said to him,
“Unless you see signs and wonders -- you will not believe.”
1- In the Greek -- the word for ‘you’ -- is in the plural.
2- Jesus is speaking to the crowd of curiosity seekers --
not to this individual man.
3- Jesus is saying, ‘you came here --
because of what you have seen and heard. What will it take --
for you to believe, -- to have faith --
and to know God’s love for you?
Illustration: Soren Kierkegaard, the famous Christian existentialist philosopher (and my grandson’s namesake), said, “there exists a paradox between reason and faith. Reason can bring us to the edge of faith -- but ultimately, religion defies human logic and requires that we take a ‘leap of faith’ as we commit ourselves to Christ.
2) You see, signs and wonders -- appeal to our reason.
1- But belief is not a product of reason -- it is a product of faith.
1] Even when doubting Thomas --
placed his fingers into the wounds on Jesus side --
he could have stuck with reason -- and said,
1} Thank God he survived!
2} Thank God he was only wounded!
3}Thank God we got him out of there on time!
1> Against the visual evidence --
2> Against the miraculous evidence --
3> and Against the prophetic evidence! --
3) Our reason can be used to deny -- as well as discover.
1- But at that moment -- Thomas did exactly --
what Kierkegaard was talking about.
1] He had been led to the pinnacle of reason --
(as far as it could take him) -- and the next step –
had to be -- the ‘leap of faith’ --
2] From ‘reason to faith’ -- from ‘faith to belief’.
3] Thomas answered Jesus, My Lord and my God!
1} To which Jesus responded, --
Have you believed because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen --
and yet -- come to believe.
IV. Back to the Royal Official: Jesus’ response is to the crowd --
and then, -- The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.”
1. Now at this point -- the Official is still expecting Jesus --
to return with him to Capernaum.
1) He knows what he wants -- and he hopes beyond hope --
that Jesus can give it to him! --
2) But, he is still bound -- by what seems possible.
1- In his mind -- it is more like he has found a doctor --
than it is like ‘calling on the healing power of God.’
1] But Jesus says to him -- simply:
“Go; your son will live.” (Pause)
2. Now here is the most interesting twist -- in the whole passage.
1) This is where the man does -- what Thomas did --
2) This is where the crowd witnesses -- the most important miracle --
in all of Scripture --
3) This is where -- the rubber meets the road --
and the -- reason becomes faith -- and faith becomes belief --
and God becomes real!!
1- The Bible says: The man believed the word of Jesus --
and started on his way.
3. I imagine the crowd -- standing there -- in an amazed stupor!!
1) They had probably planned -- to follow Jesus to Capernaum --
to see what would happen.
2) They had come for evidence -- to see, - and touch, - and witness --
1- But all they got -- was a pledge: “Go; your son will live.”
1] What a disappointment! What a let down!
4. But, you see, -- it’s what they didn’t see -- that was so miraculous: 1) Because as they stood in their stupor --
something changed -- in the heart of the Royal Official.
1- He didn’t have to beg Jesus to come anymore!
2- He didn’t have to worry anymore!
3- He was able to let go of his anxiety.
4- He didn’t even have to hurry home -- to check on his son!!
5. Look at what the scripture says: As he was going down, --
his slaves met him -- and told him that his child was alive. –
So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, --
and they said to him, -- (now listen to this) --
“Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.”
The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said
to him, “Your son will live.’
1) You know, as I read the commentaries -- this is the biggest quandary --
for the scholars and Bible experts.
1- They wonder why this man -- is still on the road the next day?
1] The walk from Cana to Capernaum is only about 17 miles. 2] He could have walked there -- in under 5 hours!
3] If he left Jesus at 1 in the afternoon --
then he could have been back home --
to check on his son -- by 6 o’clock that evening. 2- But, the Bible says -- his slaves meet him -- the next day!
1] He is in no hurry to get back.
2] He has taken the ‘leap of faith.’
1} This man has been transformed --
from a desperate, frightened, begging parent --
2} into a cool, contemplative, confident father.
3- He is the same man -- but everything about him -- has changed.
2) It is that thing that most change -- in everyone --
who come to an earnest faith -- in Christ.
1- Everyone who comes to believe -- without seeing.
2- Everyone who has taken ‘reason’ -- as far as it could go --
and then jumped from the pinnacle where it lead --
into the hands of God.
3) At that moment -- when everyone else was deciding --
weather or not to change their minds --
this man -- changed his heart.
1- He surrendered it to Jesus -- and the Bible says:
he himself believed, -- along with his whole household.
6. In Romans, Paul says that literal circumcision -- is not what makes a Jew. 1) Instead, he argues -- that it is a circumcised heart, --
that receives praise . . . -- . . . from God. (Romans 2:29)
2) Today we will welcome new members -- and we will baptize those --
who have made that ‘leap of faith’
1- As we do it -- let us remember --
1] that it is not their intellect that God wants.
2] It is not their head -- that is washed clean --
in the waters of baptism.
2- It is their hearts -- which from this moment forward --
will belong to God --
1] and will give them -- the peace --
that surpasses all understanding.
Let us pray: Lord we receive your love through the faith of a converted heart. We know you -- not because we have seen -- but because your Holy Spirit has lead us to believe. We pray that you will help us to deepen our walk with you and to trust the words of Jesus, Your Son. Guide us this day, as we step out in faith -- and receive new eyes and ears and hearts. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible.
