A Father's Plea Ends in Faith | Sermon 01/22/2023

John 4:43-54

After the two days Jesus spent in Samaria among new believers, He continued on with His original intent in going to Galilee. John brings up a proverbial saying of Christ that was spoken in the Synoptic Gospels that a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown. Now what John is trying to accomplish is developing a contrast between Jesus’ own Jewish people of Galilee and Judea opposed to the people of Samaria. The Jews saw Him as a signs and wonders miracle worker but didn’t fully believe in Him. The Samaritans believed Jesus based off His word, not a sign, and confessed that He is Savior of the world. The difference is striking. As John said in the Prologue, He came to His own but His own didn’t receive Him but to as many as received Him, He gave them the right to become children of God. This is the theme woven through John’s gospel. The Galileans (His own), received Him shallowly on the basis of the signs He did at the feast in Jerusalem.

And while He was back in the region a royal official of Herod Antipas heard of Jesus’ miracles and came to Cana to ask Him to heal his son. We see desperation in the efforts and words of this man. He would do anything it took to save his son. He didn’t realize Jesus could even grant eternal life to avoid the clutches of death altogether. He see only the temporal need. At the imploring to save his son, Jesus gives a rebuke not just meant for this royal official but for the Galileans too: they don’t truly believe in Him because they believe on the basis of supernatural signs. But the man begs, calling Jesus “sir.” The roles have been reversed. Jesus is the true Royal Official, in fact, He’s a King. The man humbles himself believing only Jesus can remedy this but he still thinks Jesus needs to perform it in person. Unlike the Centurion of Matthew 8 who knew the power of Jesus. He can command healing even miles away; He is not bound by the creation He made.

Jesus makes an imperative for the father to “go” and travel home. Here is the start of the man’s change. It says he believed the word of Jesus. That’s essential. While the father was traveling back, his slave came to him saying his son was well. Wanting to confirm in his heart that it was indeed Jesus as he is believing the slave gave the exact hour of the son getting well as when Jesus declared it. This royal official, this father, this man became a follower of Christ and told his whole family to believe too. And they did. The point is believing goes beyond what we can see and must be in what Christ has spoken. That is true faith.