Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 13 June 2021

Text: John 4:46-54

Subject: Evangelism

Focus: Believing without signs and wonders

INTRODUCTION

1. Many struggles with the problem of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ

2. Common problems

a) Lack of knowledge

b) The problem of Sin

i) No recognition

ii) No repentance

c) Prejudices

d) Misgivings

THE STORY OF A NOBLEMAN IN CANA OF GALILEE

1. Cana is in Lower Galilee

2. The Lord Jesus had returned there from Judea

3. A nobleman sought the Lord Jesus to ask Him to heal his son in Capernaum

a) His son was at the point of death

b) He implored the Lord Jesus to go to Capernaum to heal him (John 4:47)

4. Cana was 26.5km from Capernaum

THE RESPONSE OF THE LORD JESUS

“Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will be no means believe.” John 4:48

1. A word to the nobleman

2. A word to all who were there

a) “You” (Plural)

b) “You people” (translated) John 4:48

3. What this Response does not mean

a) It is not a response of irritation

b) It is not a response of fatigue

c) It is not a response of unwillingness

d) It is certainly not a response of inability to help

4. What this Response means:

a) Assessment

i) Accurate

ii) Astute

b) A common problem

i) No belief unless

ii) Is this kind of “belief” good or even true?

THE RESPONSE OF THE NOBLEMAN

1. “Sir, come down before my child dies!” John 4:49

2. What this statement means:

a) He did not understand what the Lord Jesus was saying to him

i) About signs and wonders

ii) About believing only when there are signs and wonders

b) All he was concerned about

i) The Lord Jesus must come

ii) His son would die otherwise

THE PLAIN WORD TO THE NOBLEMAN

1. “Go your way; your son lives” John 4:50a

2. The Lord Jesus was NOT going to Capernaum with the nobleman

THE CROSS-ROADS 

1. To be angry

a) The Lord would not accede to his request to go to Capernaum

b) That his son might die

2. To believe

a) “The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him” John 4:50b

i) The Lord Jesus gave him a word 

“Your son lives” John 4:50a

ii) That would have to be enough

b) “And he went his way” John 4:50c

i) He could not force the Lord Jesus

ii) He made his way home to Capernaum with the word of the Lord

c) He made a choice

i) To believe

ii) No sign or wonder to aid believing in the Lord Jesus

THE JOURNEY FROM CANA TO GALILEE

1. His servants met him (John 5:51a)

2. They had a word to share with him

“You son lives” John 4:51b

THE INQUIRY OF THE NOBLEMAN

1. He inquired of them the hour when he got better (John 4:52a)

2. The reply

“Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him” John 4:52b

THE FAITH OF THE NOBLEMAN CONFIRMED

1. Knowledge

The father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him

“Your son lives” (John 4:53a)

a) His faith in the Lord and His word was confirmed

b) He must have been glad that he chose to believe when he did

2. Believing in the Lord

a) “He himself believed” John 4:53b

i) A tentative faith becomes a firm one

ii) A firm one becomes an even deeper one

b) And his whole household believed

i) Initial faith

ii) Genuine faith

ENCOURAGING THE SEEKING OF A GENUINE FAITH 

1. There is Faith because of signs and wonders

2. There is Faith that exists without signs and wonders

3. Both are valid

4. But we are not able to do the following:

a) Demand signs and wonders

b) Determine them

5. The Challenge is to find a Genuine Faith that does not depend on signs and wonders

a) God’s wisdom is to withhold the giving of signs and wonders

b) Man’s wisdom is to understand and to build faith on God’s word

c) A faith that is not built on signs and wonders is a stronger/ deeper faith