ST. CHARLES | BOB INGLE

March 30, 2025
John 4:43-54

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31 (NIV)

“Affliction may be the black horse that mercy rides to your door.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

“After the two days he left for Galilee. (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there. Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.” John 4:43-54 (NIV)

1. Superficial Faith EXPECTED.

“After the two days he left for Galilee. (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there. Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine.” John 4:43-46a (NIV)

“Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.” John 2:23-24 (NIV)

2. Superficial Faith EXPRESSED.

“And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.” John 4:46a-47 (NIV)

-> Surprising Truth #1: Anything that drives you CLOSER to Jesus is a BLESSING.

“Had he been without trial, he might have lived forgetful of his God and Savior; but sorrow came to his house, and it was God’s angel in disguise.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

3. Superficial Faith EXPOSED.

““Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” John 4:48 (NIV)

-> Surprising Truth #2: Jesus is more focused on SAVING people than HEALING people.

4. Superficial Faith EXCHANGED.

“The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”” John 4:49 (NIV)

““Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”” John 4:50a (NIV)

-> Surprising Truth #3: God always answers prayer His WAY for His REASONS.

“The man took Jesus at his word and departed.” John 4:50b (NIV) “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 (ESV)

“While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.” John 4:51-53 (NIV)

“This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.” John 4:54 (NIV)