PLEASE JESUS

 

John 4:43-54

It doesn’t matter who you are in this place we call earth, sooner or later you are going to experience great sorrows or even tragedies in your life.

 

You may be…. rich or poor, a man or a woman, black or white, tragedy inevitably will become a part of your personal experience and there is nothing you can do to prevent it, or avoid it.

 

This is true because it comes from the Book of Job. “For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.” Job 5:6-7

The Hebrew translation of the word for “spark” literally means “the sons of flame” the thought is that men are born to endure the fires of this life and then eventually perish in the burning.

From the time you are born into this hostile world after being in comfort for the first nine months, you will face many things, make many independent decisions, go through many trials and possible suffering before you depart this earth.

  

Can you picture yourself in the

shoes of this nobleman?

 

As he pleads with Jesus to heal his son. Nothing can shatter a parent’s joy more quickly than having a sick or hurting child These are shattering moments for any Parent, at any stage of their child’s life. These are moments that make you feel utterly helpless, and desperate for someone to take your babies pain away and make them better. BUT! I truly believe it’s in these moments where God does His greatest work, not just in our children, but in us more so. I believe it’s these moments where God reveals His grace and mercy, even if the results don’t end in our favour.

 

Not every situation of affliction has a fairy tale ending because death was knocking on his door and it’s been said that when this happens "The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man while he lives."

 

I’m sure this was the heart of the nobleman when he looked at his son, who was slowly dying before his very eyes and realizing there was nothing, he could do to stop it.

But, before this encounter we read that Jesus knows the prophet has no honor in His home town, since the people in Judea were very hostile towards Jesus. (Read v43-v54) We know that He was beloved by the Samaritan people when they asked Him to stay two days. Jesus sets out for Galilee realizing that a prophet is not honored in his home town. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but he spent most of His life growing up in Galilee. Now, this is not a contradiction even though we read they welcomed Jesus. (v45) They welcomed Him, but showed Him no honor for who He is, God. They sought Him as a miracle worker and that is evident in the remaining verses of this chapter. They were hoping to see another one, we read that the Galileans wanted to see signs and wonders and we are told “there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum” (v46)

 

There are some practical lessons we can learn for this encounter with Jesus and the nobleman. This narrative illustrates the rise and progression of one’s faith, even when they are blinded by circumstances. This is Jesus’ second recorded miracle that John pens, which demonstrates Jesus’ sovereignty, His supreme power over time and space. This encounter also reveals that this should be our prayer for anyone outside of Christ. Not just for their physical healing, but ultimately their spiritual healing in salvation. Death has been appointed to everyone of us, so this request could be made for anyone outside of God’s saving grace. As parents we should always be praying for our spiritually dead children for their salvation. We need to pray and faithfully leave the rest with our sovereign God who is the Great Physician. This man came looking for the miracle maker and he left full of faith in joy in Christ alone as well.

The first lesson we learn about this encounter is……

 

SICKNESSES AFFLICTS US ALL (v46)

“an Official (Nobleman) whose son was ill.” We read the Nobleman is in deep anguish over the fact his son is sick and is going to die. “Nobleman” is someone who is a Royal Official, someone who officially attached to the service of King Herod Antipas, who was a terrible and ruthless king. He would have been a man of great influence and power; he also would have been a man of great wealth. He obviously had the means to bring in the best physicians to treat his son but none could help him. All his power and prestige left him helpless, exhausted, or disheartened.

 

But unlike this man the believer knows this all to well, as Paul wrote our affliction is light and its preparing for us something greater. “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Cor 4:16-18

 

This man couldn’t see anything in the moment other than his son, and I sympathize with him, but if that is all you see in tragedy, you’re missing the greater picture of grace that God produces. We are to never think for a moment that our financial status, church attendance, our giving, our vibrant spiritual walk, will protect us from affliction or possible death. Sadly, the one thing it might do is it make us arrogant and blind to our own spiritual condition like this man who stands before Jesus. One Theologian said “It's a disease that's rampant in the culture and in the church. People are drowned with messages from powerbrokers, media, entertainment, TV evangelists and bestselling authors that say joy is intimately bound up in material prosperity, physical health, relational success and all the comforts and conveniences Western society provides. For most people, joy and suffering are incompatible. Thus preachers have a difficult task at hand in communicating to such a culture a genuine joy found in Christ.” The idea that the Christian is immune to suffering and affliction is untrue. The apostle Paul wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Rom 8:18

OUR LACK OF FAITH IS ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY FEAR (v47-v49)

“he went to Him and implored Him to come..” “Implore” means to ask, beseech, desire, entreat, pray, this gives the idea that he repeatedly begged Jesus to come home with him out of fear for his son. His need was so great for his son that it consumed his life, “Please come with me Jesus!” His approach was out of desperation and urgency, his son was dying and there was nothing he could do to stop it if Jesus didn’t come. This is something that every parent tries to block out, or would rather not talk about. We have a tendency to shut our eyes to the plain facts, and act as if the young will never die. The idea “My child will never die before me.”

 

Look throughout history there has been many sorrowful occasions due to the loss of a little ones or young ones. Aaron lost two sons at once found in the Book of Leviticus in chapter 10. We read there is a prostitute who accidentally rolled over her baby while sleeping and the baby died. 1 King 3:16-28. David a man after God’s own heart lived long enough to see three children buried, even one die at birth as a reminder of his own fallen disobedience and wrong choices in life. Job lost all his children all in one day.

 

This nobleman’s faith was so feeble that he limited

the power of Jesus to his local presence.

 

What was Jesus’ response? “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” (v48) The man pours his heart out to Jesus; and it seems that in return Jesus throws a cup of cold water in his face. But that’s not so! Jesus said “unless you people” this is plural, referred not only to the Nobleman but also the people of Galilee. Which reveals they did on honor Him as they should. What Jesus is doing is pointing out the weakness of the people’s faith. You always need to see the miracle in order to believe. It’s the idea that says “I’m not going to believe or trust myself to Christ unless I see Him work wonders with my own eyes.” This is true in a great number of so-called churches like Bethel Church claiming angel feathers falling from the ceiling, to every other Charismatic felt needs so-called church who want signs and wonders, but don’t truly want The Christ of the Scriptures. The only reason you follow after Jesus is for Him to perform His miracles as some religious sideshow. It’s that idea “Hurry, Hurry don’t miss the latest miracle, so get your popcorn ready because we are about to have a spiritual experience.” This was not a rebuke to the Nobleman, but to the people of Galilee, but this was also the beginning of grace in his life as his faith is strengthened by what Jesus says to him.

 

WHAT BENEFIT SICKNESS CAN BRING TO THE FEARFUL SOUL (v50)

“Go your way; your son lives” Sometimes pain and suffering play a greater purpose in our lives, then the one who is ill or dying. Those who have endured such a horrific loss, we can certainly sympathize with what they been going through. Yet it is at times such as these that we are all reminded of the hope that we have in the Lord. Jesus told his disciples he would soon leave them, and as bad as it seemed, it was for the best. Jesus says, “But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:5-7

 

Jesus also went on to say “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33. Affliction in this life always has a reason, though we may not understand why. Sometimes we may never understand or get an answer to why! But God knows what He is doing! One thing we see here in this passage is that Jesus is demonstrating sympathy and graciousness despite such faithless demands for miracles.

“Your son will live.” What Jesus is saying, “Go your way. Your son is fine, but I am not going with you, everything is going to be good, now go.” There must have been something that Jesus said, or the way He said it, that made the father go back to his son emptyhanded. Something that served to strengthen the Nobleman’s faith, as he headed home, relaxed and trusting in what Jesus said. What Jesus said this must have changed this man who was seconds ago panicking and begging Jesus to come with him. I say this because what do we read in (v50) He doesn’t argue, there is no pleading with Jesus, or forcing Jesus to come with him. Remember he is a Kings official and he has certain kingly power. The Nobleman doesn’t once go and say “Now listen here, this boy is royal blood you better come we me or else.” No! Something radically was happening to this man from the inside, as he turned and made the 15-mile journey home to his son in silence to the words of Christ. 

This man stops pleading and took Jesus at His word. The Gospel calls us to take Jesus at His word, the Christian life, calls us, to take Jesus at His Word in every avenue of my life. The nobleman in the midst of despair heard the promises of Christ and he believed. Can God really use my painful situation for my good? Can God really bring beauty from my brokenness and shattered faith? The Scriptures reveal to us the answer is yes. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28.

A beautiful promise we can take out of afflictions despite the outcome…..that is our affliction is always for our good and for God’s glory. This encounter was another way of showing this helpless man that there is hope, but it only comes from believing in Christ alone. The Lord graciously performed the miracle, which consequently draws the official’s faith to a higher level. By healing his son physically, the Great Physician moved to heal the father spiritually. This man realized his blindness like the woman at the well, was removed to see who Jesus really was! God incarnate deity! (v25, v42) All great encounters throughout the Lord Jesus’ ministry were to confirm this truth! God in the flesh! God came in the flesh and dwelt among us to show us His love for sinners who desperately needed to be saved.

All afflictions have a purpose in our lives whether

 you like it or not!

Affliction will either draw us closer to His sovereign arms; or it will draw us further away from His sovereign arms. Affliction will also reveal if your faith is real or fake as you face adversity for His glory and your growing good. Affliction will either soften our hearts or harden our hearts. Affliction will either grow us stronger in our faith, or reveal we have no genuine faith as we seek this world for comfort instead of a holy God who loves us.

 

CHRIST’S WORD IS AS GOOD AS CHRIST’S PRESENCE (v51-v54)

“Go your way; your son lives” This is something that we can take to the bank as we walk in this Christian life. God is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscience. He is sovereign over all things. That is very comforting for the believer especially when we know not every situation turns out like this Nobleman and his family. In this case Jesus granted the healing, but refused to follow the nobleman home. The only thing the man was left with was Jesus’s words “Your son will live." We see in God’s Word that we can find great comfort in times of our darkest hours. His word brings truth, joy, comfort, and peace, into our heart when we’re afflicted, confused, and desperate. It strengthens our weak and feeble faith at times to a stronger faith, as the nobleman took the next step and he enjoyed the amazing benefit that he had received from Jesus. He understood who Jesus was, The Christ who came to save sinners, and he believed, this is far beyond mere trusting in Jesus as a miracle worker. (v51-v53). The nobleman came to possess nothing less than saving faith, which is the reason for John’s gospel letter. “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”  John 20:30-31

 

This puts us at the mercy of God and makes us vulnerable to realize we are not in control. This so true when someone we love is in so much pain and there was nothing, we can do about it. Seeking His face through prayer, and His word, is what comforts our hearts in the stormy trials of this life. Isaiah wrote this to help us understand who is sovereign, all- powerful, all-knowing and everywhere present. “Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:21-31

 

This is the same God who spoke to the nobleman and He is the same God who speaks to you and me today through the Scriptures. Though we may not have the same outcome as this man in the physical; you can be sure we can have this in the spiritual when we are lacking faith to see past our hurts. He is from everlasting to everlasting, and He is our God who is deeply in love with you and me. All He asks of His children is too simply believe in Him!

 

In those dark hours

In those lonely hours

In those struggling hours

In those desperate hours

In those good and the bad hours.

 

Why? Because Isaiah said it best “He does not faint or grow weary” God, who has formed and sustained all things. He is not exhausted in His powers that He needs to rest and be left alone. He is not weary in continuing and preserving His creation. He is not weary of hearing the prayers of the saints or the repentant sinner. He is never weary of pardoning repentant sinners. He is never weary to teach and draw sinners to Himself, as He reveals into our hearts that we are to put all our faith in Him always. This is the promise this father received as we see at the end of the story that John penned in (v53). For the first time, he realized that Jesus wasn’t some side show miracle worker, so people could turn His abilities into idolatry. Jesus did many amazing things to point to His Divinity, so that people would find salvation and grace through Him. This miracle encounter helps us to see how our faith is strengthened though trails of life in Christ alone. As James said “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” James 1:2-3

 

Trails of various kinds in life are not in the way of God's glorious plan;

they are part of God's glorious plan.

 

We are to wait for divine intervention despite the outcome. “Divine intervention” simply means entrusting God to do what only God can do. Turn to Him with all your cares, and watch Him do a mighty work in your life, by strengthening your faith in Him alone. God’s Word brings life out of death, safety out of danger, healing out of disease, salvation out of lostness. This is our Jesus, in whom we believe He is the all-powerful, all- knowing, everywhere-present God. A dying boy healed with a word, over distance, at once. This only possible by a God who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere-present. Such is the power of Jesus……”Grace and power. Mercy and might.”