Believing is the first step to the blessed life.
John 4:43-54
INTRO. This morning, I want to talk about what believing looks like in real-life.
A Little Background: Cana was the first place where Jesus did a public miracle (a town 20 miles east of Capernaum), a little town where the royal official in the story lived. It was here that Jesus turned water into wine (his first miracle). And at first glance it appears that the town is full of believers, but Jesus seems to suggest otherwise: “a prophet is not honored in his home country.”
This statement was also made in Matthew and Mark’s gospels. This statement is an idiom that implies that people often find it difficult to accept greatness or authority from those they know well and see as equals.
People in the region were familiar with Jesus and knew him to be a local carpenter from Nazareth, another small town in Galilee (Matt. 13: 53-58 & Mark 6:1-6). And for this reason they struggled with saving faith. They were impressed with his wisdom and powers but not so much as to believe him to be their Savior and Lord.
Many want to witness a miracle but others come in need of one.
There was one man however in the crowd that was ready for more than ready to witness a miracle, a man in need of one and received one because he took Jesus at his word. .
From this ancient and true story, I hope you will see the relevance of this story to your own life. The first step in our faith is taking Jesus at his word. And with this said, I want to share three things worth your consideration:
1. DIFFICULT CREATE FOR FAITH TO BE .
Setbacks are often setups in disguise.
The Royal Officials son was dying back in Capernaum (20 miles away from Cana). He apparently traveled to Cana in hope of convincing Jesus to come to his dying son’s aid. He wasn’t in need of a doctor; he was in need of the divine healer. Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals you. (Ex. 15:26)
- Often, trials create an environment that fosters our need for faith.
- Begging wouldn’t have been something this “royal official” was known for.
- This man’s faith was in the incubation stage.
Story:
In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. Psa. 18:6
2. TAKING JESUS AT HIS WORD IS THE STEP IN OUR STORY.
“God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
- The Apostle John in his opening chapter proclaims Jesus to be THE WORD THAT BECAME FLESH AND MADE HIS DWELLING AMONG US. (John 1:14)
- The Apostle John also informs the reader that his own people would not receive him-believe in him.
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, BUT his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:9-13
- In the crowd this day was a man who chose to Believe Him. A man whose faith led to his blessings.
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10:17
- The Bible tells us that Abram believed God and his faith was credited with a right standing before God. Genesis 15:6, Rom. 4:3, Gal.3:6
- Those who mix faith with the words of Christ are the people who are really blessed.
Believing is the first step to blessing and not the other way around.
3. TAKING JESUS AT HIS WORD OFTEN IN REDEMPTIVE BEYOND .
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psa. 103:1-5
The Apostle John could have closed the story with the boy receiving his healing with a period at the end of the sentence, but he doesn’t stop there. No, he informs the reader that this man’s decision to take Jesus at his word leads to his son’s healing and more. Taking JESUS AT HIS WORD Leads to the salvation of his whole family. V.53
- Healing the man’s boy was great, but greater still was the faith development of an entire family.
- The Women at the Well’s faith story ends with friends coming to faith in Jesus.
- The Philippian jailer’s family came to faith as a result of his faith story.
How we respond to life’s challenges may have a greater impact on our loved ones that we could even imagine.
LET ME WRAP THIS MESSAGE UP WITH A FEW TAKEAWAYS:
- Taking Jesus at his word is the first step on your journey of faith. If you have yet to accept his words, his truth, his person perhaps today, if you hear his voice you will make the choice.
- Remember that Jesus is a prayer away. 20 miles or 20 million miles means nothing when we cry out to God for help. The door into the Presence of Jesus is open to all in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
- Remember that those who choose to take Jesus at his Word are blessed with benefits beyond ourselves.
CLOSE WITH OUR NEXT 3:16 MEMORY VERSE:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Col. 3:16