Greater Expectations: A Miracle of Healing

Greater expectations arise when people hear of Jesus.

47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. 

46 Jesus returns to the location of His first miracle.  His first miracle was somewhat hidden in water pots but enjoyed by many who did not know or appreciate the miracle.  This miracle was in the same location, but it was uniquely different.  This was a miracle of healing.  This is probably the most sought after miracle of today.  When we think of miracles, many times our minds immediately go to miraculous healings.  That’s exactly what this miracle is in today’s message.  The sick son was in Capernaum while Jesus was in Cana. Obviously, the boy was too sick to make the 20 mile walk.

             Hearing requires someone speaking.

            Hearing requires someone listening.

            Hearing occurs when someone is hurting.

Greater expectations occur when people seek Jesus.

49 The royal official *said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

 47 The nobleman heard about Jesus.  It is interesting that this is early in Jesus ministry, but already people knew about Him.  It was before Twitter, Facebook, etc.  Someone told someone else what Jesus does and it got to this nobleman somehow.  This man tried to persuade Jesus to come to Capernaum to help his son.  That makes sense to us.  We even see that happen in other cases like when the four friends brought the paralytic to Jesus and lowered him through the roof, going to great extremes to get their friend into the very presence of Jesus.  We also know that later Jesus delayed Himself to not be present when Lazarus died.

            Desperation can cause people to seek Jesus

Old Hee Haw song Gloom, despair and agony on me, deep dark depression, excessive misery, if it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all, gloom despair and agony on me.  You can sing a song about misery or you can seek Jesus.

            Calling from God causes people to seek Jesus  John 6:44 

Greater expectations are realized when people believe Jesus.

50 Jesus *said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. 51 As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living.          52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”   53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household.

48-49 This is a perplexing statement about seeing a sign in order to believe.  We actually know that these “signs” or miracle were for the purpose of causing people to believe (John 20:30-31).  But we also know that Jesus said that it is sinful and adulterous generation that seeks after a sign.  We know that Jesus is about to heal this man’s son, so we could assume that it is just a factual statement of the role of the miracle in leading to belief.  But we are to be aware and cautious to not be a sign seeking people but rather a Jesus seeking people.  The nobleman’s response to Jesus’ statement was continued pleading for Jesus to come to Capernaum where his son was.

50 Jesus declares that the man’s son lives. The man believed when he heard the words of Jesus.  Jesus did not have to be in the close physical location of the son to cause healing to take place.  Upon hearing and believing, he departed from Jesus demonstrating confidence in the words of Jesus.  He acted like what Jesus said was true.

51-53  He was met by his servants who told him what Jesus had already told him.  He verified the time the fever left as the exact time Jesus spoke.  The result was again that this man believed then his entire household.  Believing is not a one-time experience, but rather it is an ongoing experience.  That’s saving belief and here the healing belief.

            Belief in Jesus changes everything.

           Belief in Jesus influences others.

Jesus returns to Cana.  He performs the second sign.  Remember the significance of the signs was so that people would believe.  Jesus also rebuked people for seeking signs.  But then he healed the boy without even going to him. Jesus is not limited in any way. Not even our faith or lack of faith can overcome divine sovereignty. 

Pray and believe, and you will receive. Pray and doubt , and you will do without.”

Jesus did miracles and never advertised them.  People today advertise miracles but never do them. 

Charlotte Elliott wrote Just As I Am.  Struck with an illness at 30 years old that caused her to be an invalid the rest of her life.  Caesar Milan, a well-known Swiss evangelist visited her.  Sensing her distress, he appealed to her to come to Jesus, just as you are, a sinner to the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  She lived until 82 with a new joy and peace.

The nobleman had a problem that he had neither the power nor wealth to solve. His son was dying. 

His faith was second hand.

His faith was sign demanding.

Matthew 12:39  An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign..

The problem has never been a lack of believable signs.  It is a demand for performance.

His faith was self-centered.

His faith was strong willed.

The solution is

Hearing the Word

Believing the Word

The person who doesn’t believe has moral problems, not intellectual problems. They have problems of the heart, not the head.

Hebrews 3:12  Take heed. . .lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief.  Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.   People choose to not believe.  Not believing is not a weakness, it is wickedness.

Rev. 21:8  But the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers, and immoral persons and sorceries and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. 

This man believed God before he saw his son healed.  He believed in Jesus and His word

The solution is also

Obeying the Word

Resting in the Word

He was twenty miles away.  He did not stay with Jesus and keep pestering Him.  He began the walk home.  It appears that he did not hurry home.

Jesus wanted to save this man and his entire family, not just heal the boy.

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