Exercise the Faith

DATE: APRIL 26, 2020

TOPIC: "Exercise the Faith" John 4:46-54 Vs. 46 “And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.” This man was a high-ranking officer in King Herod’s court. Because of his job and position, he was someone who enjoyed good doctors, money, and well-being in everything. But HE KNEW OF JESUS! In his desperate thought he sought the best to heal his son. Among all the alternatives he had, whether it was because of his position, well he enjoyed privileges, only one thought remained: JESUS! Although he could have had more alternatives and have them closer, THERE WAS ALREADY FAITH IN HIM BECAUSE HE KNEW JESUS!

I. This man was courtier to King Herod.

A. He was a high official, a high character.

1. For what Jesus says to the officer He seemed to be an Israelite (Vs. 48 "Unless you people miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe."). What those of Israel were looking for was signs and Jesus quotes these words just as He did to the people. It is like saying: You come seeking miracles to then believe?

2. It was that the son of this king's officer was seriously ill and they lived in Capernaum.

3. (Vs. 47) Th officer had heard that Jesus had been in Judea and had now returned to Cana from Galilee.

4. This man, who was in need of a miracle for his son, SHOULD ALREADY HAVE HAD SOME FAITH IN THE JURISDICTION (in power, in authority, in dominion) OF CHRIST TO HEAL.

5. He himself went directly to Jesus and begged him to come down and heal his dying son!

6. He immediately went to Jesus; he did not want to see his son die!

7. HE TRUSTED JESUS MORE THAN HIS BEST DOCTORS!

8. In his love, to do good to his son, he thought that who could surely do the miracle was: JESUS!

9. Cana was about 25 km. away from Capernaum. This officer humbled himself because, despite his high rank, he prepared to go personally from Capernaum to Cana to ask Jesus to heal his son.

10. He showed great respect for Jesus; he did not send a servant to beg him to come but rather he went himself WITH ENOUGH FAITH believing that Jesus had the power to heal his beloved son.

11. (Vs. 48) Before anything else, Jesus spoke to him of those who seek to see miracles before believing.

12. It is that the Lord humiliates man first IN ORDER TO READY THEM TO RECEIVE HIS MERCY. The Lord does this with those who come to beg him for help in cases of distress.

13. What Jesus did was a reproach, because the people liked the signs and the wonders.

14. Signs are miracles that have a deep sense or meaning, and wonders are miracles that lead men to be astonished for its supernatural qualities.

15. (Vs. 49) The king's officer knew that Jesus could do his son good and wanted a visit from the Lord on top of everything else! Impatient, but respectfully, he pleads the Lord to hurry down from Cana to Capernaum before his son dies.

16. (Vs. 50) Here we see THE FAITH OF MAN GROWING! He exercised that faith he had and the Lord gave him more faith! Jesus sent him home with this promise: YOUR SON LIVES!

17. The son had been healed! Jesus had ordered healing with His word!

18. Without any miracle there present or any visible proof, that man BELIEVED THE WORD OF THE LORD JESUS and made his way back home!

19. THIS IS FAITH IN ACTION!

20. Put your faith into action and what you ask of the Lord will be done!

21. "Go, your son lives." Jesus says "Go", and he obeyed!

22. He believed the word; he had not yet seen the miracle but he acted believing in faith!

23. He had gone to Jesus because he knew that Jesus had more authority than anyone on earth, because he knew what it was to use authority and to give a word that had to be fulfilled.

24. Jesus being the one he had heard about and seen he knew that he had to believe him; that is why he went looking for him from Capernaum to Cana in Galilee.

25. (Vs. 51) His servants came out to meet him when he was descending home with the happy news that his son was alright!

26. The man was not surprised at all by this matter, HE WAS ALREADY A MAN OF FAITH WHO HAD FOUND JESUS! HIS WONDERFUL LOOK HAD REACHED HIS HEART AND HE ALREADY KNEW HIM!

27. He had believed Jesus’ promise! Now he could see the evidence of healing before his eyes.

28. (Vs. 52) He inquired as to the time when his son got better.

29. Their response revealed that his healing had not been gradual, IT HAD OCCURRED INSTANTANEOUSLY!

30. (Vs. 53) When they told him, he knew that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him: Your son lives! SO, HE AND ALL HIS HOUSEHOLD BELIEVED!

31. This was the same time when the son in Capernaum had been healed and his fever had left him!

32. It was not necessary for the Lord Jesus to be physically present to perform a miracle or answer a prayer!

33. YOU SERVE A POWERFUL GOD WHO HEARS OUR REQUESTS AND WORKS HIS PURPOSES IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD!

34. He believed together with all his family!

35. It is not His will that there be divided families in heaven! This man’s entire family of faith also believed in the Son of God! Amen.