The Progress of Faith
John 4:46-53
March 3, 2002
Introduction
John Q. Archibald (DENZEL WASHINGTON), his wife Denise (KIMBERLY ELISE) and their young son Mike (DANIEL E. SMITH) lead a relatively happy life despite their various financial problems that stem from John’s hours being cut back at the factory where he works with his friend, Jimmy (DAVID THORNTON).
When Mike is suddenly stricken ill and Dr. Turner (JAMES WOODS), the head cardiologist at Hope Memorial Hospital, informs the Archibalds that their boy needs a heart transplant or he’ll die, their world is shattered. It gets worse, however, when hospital administrator Rebecca Payne informs them that John’s health insurance doesn’t cover that operation and its related costs, and that unless they can come up with a $75,000 down payment on the total $250,000 amount, Mike won’t be put on the transplant waiting list.
To his shock, John learns that’s true, and so the two set out to raise the money any way they can, including sell most of their personal effects. When that doesn’t raise enough and the hospital announces it’s going to discharge Mike, John becomes desperate and takes Turner and a handful of other people in the emergency room hostage.
Taken from Movie Review at screenit.com
This morning we are going to look at the life of another desperate father. Turn with me to John 4:46-53
Body
I. Crisis Faith – Verse 46
46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.
A. The knowledge of Jesus
1. Jesus has proven His power
a.) Cana was the location of the first miracle of Jesus and He was becoming very well known in that region
b.) Jesus was the source of a miracle and the official was in need of a miracle
2. Jesus had returned to Cana
B. The need of the official
1. The official’s son was sick
a.) The man was in great need because his son was near death
b.) The need was desperate. The need was total. The need was beyond the official’s ability.
2. The official needed a miracle
a.) The reality of human need
1.) No one is exempt from having some type of need
2.) Needs confront everyone from the powerful to the weak
b.) The need was beyond his control
Accidents happen illnesses come, diseases strike, suffering grips and death overtakes. Sooner or later everyone is going to have a need beyond their ability.
II. Calling Faith – Verses 47-49
47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 48 "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." 49 The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."
A. The action of the official
1. The official takes action
He hears about Jesus being in Cana
He gets up and goes to Jesus
He begged Jesus to meet His need
2. The two requests
The man asks for Jesus to come to his home
The man asks for Jesus to heal his son
B. Jesus responds to the request
1. Rephrase the statement
a.) “unless I come and you see signs and wonders you will not believe. Is that what you are saying to me?
b.) What is Jesus driving at? Jesus is making the crowds and the man see that faith must come before miracles can happen
2. The power of Christ is the disposal of faith
a.) Matthew 13:57-58
57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
b.) There must be belief before Christ can do anything
c.) Do you believe that Christ can and will work in your life?
C. The official will not stop
1. The man does not stop
a.) The man is filled with determination and will not stop his plea
b.) The attitude is that the man would not take “no” for an answer
2. The plea becomes more urgent
a.) The official is showing the reality of his desperation
b.) Four examples of desperation
1.) He left the side of his dying son
2.) He traveled at least a day to find Jesus
3.) He begged Jesus for help
4.) He would not stop his plea for help
Q - When was the last time that you approached God like this?
III. Confident Faith – Verse 50
50 Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed.
A. Jesus answers the requests
1. Jesus answers the first request: come
a.) Jesus tells the man to go – to return to his home
b.) Jesus gives the man a specific charge to complete – This is an act of faith
2. Jesus answers the second request: heal
a.) Jesus tells the man that his son will live
b.) Jesus gives the man a specific promise to believe – This is an attitude of faith
B. The official reveals his faith
1. The official took Jesus at His word
a.) The man believe in Jesus – this is faith
b.) The man no longer asks but rather follows the instruction of Jesus
2. The official heads home
a.) The official puts his faith into action
b.) The official accepted and acted on the word of Jesus
IV. Confirmed Faith – Verse 51-52
51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour." 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live."
A. The official is met by his servants
1. The servants traveled to meet the official
a.) Remember that he was still a half day from home
b.) Notice that the answer to the plea comes while the official is in the process of obeying
2. The servants come with good news
a.) The official’s son was free of the fever
b.) The boy would live
B. The question of the official
1. The official asks when the boy recovered
a.) The official was searching for exact confirmation
b.) Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe. Augustine.
c.) The blessing of the confirmation. Can you imagine how this news made this man feel? Can you imagine what this news did for this man’s faith?
2. The realization of Christ’s power
a.) The man realized the timing of the miracle and acknowledged the work of Christ
b.) The man saw the power of faith in action
V. Contagious Faith – Verse 53
So he and all his household believed.
A. The result of the miracle
1. The official believed
a.) He believed in the power of Jesus
b.) He believed in the proof of his faith
2. The proof of faith
a.) Faith is not proof without evidence but trust without reservation
b.) This man watched as a miracle unfolded in his life
B. The return of the miracle
1. The household was won
a.) Imagine the homecoming of the official. What kind of emotions must have been a part of his coming through the door! Can you picture the man embracing his son that was dying? Can you hear the shouts of excitement? Can you see the tears of joy?
b.) Now think about his retelling the story of meeting Jesus and His words. How do you think this family was effected?
2. The miracle of conversion
a.) They all believed in Christ. They experienced his power, his love and his grace. They experienced the transforming power of faith
b.) They were changed forever by the power of faith
Conclusion
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Where are you in the progress of faith? How has the power of faith changed your life? How is your faith making you into the person God wants you to become?
