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TRUE MIRACLES – Studies in the Gospel of John for the True Man
2. The Healing of the Official's Son - John 4:43-54
Introduction
After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the Church's pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave
his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening. In the introduction, the pastor
told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few
moments to greet the Church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service. With that, the elderly man stepped
up to the pulpit and began to speak.
"A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm blocked any
attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not
keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized."
The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began,
looking somewhat interested in his story. The aged minister continued with his story, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to
make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy he would throw the other end of the life line. He only had seconds to
make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son's friend was not. The agony of his
decision could not be matched by the torrent of the waves. As the father yelled out, 'I love you, son!' He threw out the life line to
his son's friend. By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging
swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."
By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old
minister's mouth. "The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought
of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son's friend. How great is
the love of God that He should do the same for us. Our Heavenly Father sacrificed His only begotten Son that we could be saved. I
urge you to accept His offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line He is throwing to you in this service."
With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit
and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the end. However, no one responded to the appeal. Within minutes after the
service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely stated one of the boys, "but I don't
think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."
"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, he
once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that story gives
me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me. You see --- I was that father and your pastor is my
son's friend."
What would we do for our sons? What has God done for us through His Son?
This second study in our series of looking at the miracles of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John involves Jesus, a father and a son.
This miracle account has several different things in it that I believe impacts us as men in today’s world. It deals with faith. It deals
with the Father-Son Relationship. And it deals with Jesus and His relationship with us.
Part 1—Band Wagon Faith
John 4:46-54
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 miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never
believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus replied, “You may go. 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, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” Then the
father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed.
This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee. “Unless you people see miraculous
signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
Nothing gets by Jesus. He sees into the heart of this request, for there is more to it than just what we see on the surface. Jesus
knows who this official is – where this official is coming from in regards to faith in who Jesus is. This official is one of the “many” that
are mentioned in chapter 2, who believe only because of the signs they saw, but whose faith stopped with the signs. These people
we might call “band wagon” believers. They only believed in Jesus because of the results of what Jesus did. They did not stick around
to hear from Jesus about who He was and why He had come.
It is easy to “jump on the bandwagon,” isn’t it? This happens to successful sports teams. Last year it was “fashionable” to be a
Chicago Cubs fan. But those of us who have followed the Chicago Cubs through all the ups and downs have little use for those who
count themselves a fan just because they came 5 outs from going to the World Series last year.
This is not the kind of faith in Jesus that we are to have. While it is a good start, we are not to remain a believer merely as long as
Jesus provides miraculous evidence of who He is.
Jesus is not satisfied with the faith of these “many.” But notice that He doesn’t dismiss this official or others who have a “band
wagon” faith. Jesus still goes after them and calls them to step up to a deeper faith.
“Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
Jesus is really emphasizing “see” as he’s talking about “signs and wonders.” The point of Jesus’ complaint is not the fact that he is
asked to come down to Capernaum and to do the miracle where the man could see it done, but the fact that the kind of faith
represented by this man can be kept alive only by means of miracles.
This man’s “band wagon” faith doesn’t allow him to understand that Jesus could heal at a distance. Asking Jesus to “come down” is
only incidental to the real request, which is to heal his child.
It is this that we can most readily identify with. A very popular song for the last couple of years has been He's My Son by Mark
Schultz.
I'm down on my knees again tonight
I'm hoping this prayer will turn out right
See there is a boy that needs Your help
I've done all that I can do myself
His mother is tired
I'm sure You can understand
Each night as he sleeps
She goes in to hold his hand
And she tries not to cry
As the tears fill her eyes
Can You hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can You make him feel all right?
If You can hear me
Let me take his place somehow
See, he's not just anyone
He's my son
Sometimes late at night I watch him sleep
I dream of the boy he'd like to be
I try to be strong and see him through
But God who he needs right now is You
Let him grow old
Live life without this fear
What would I be
Living without him here
He's so tired and he's scared
Let him know that You're there
Can You hear me?
Can You see him?
Please don't leave him
He's my son
(c) Myrrh
This father who approaches Jesus had this type of plea, didn’t he? And Jesus comes through in a miraculous way. That’s part of
what this text is all about. However, there is more to it than this. There is something missing in this father and Jesus loves not only
the little boy but also the father so much that he’ll provide what is missing.
The complaint of Jesus is that so many would cease to believe in any manner, or would never believe even as they did unless he
furnished them miracles on which to rest this faith of theirs. A faith based on miracles will fade away and die when the miracles are
through.
As Max Lucado put it, Jesus loved this guy where he was but “refused to leave him there.” Jesus calls this father up into an true
faith that will change his life forever. Jesus does this by refusing to hurry to Capernaum and work the miracle in person.
The complaint is that these people have to see “signs and wonders.” These people do not read the “signs” and see their true
significance, that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God, and that these “signs” seal him as such; they only want to marvel at the
wonder of them. Thus they avoid the true purpose of the signs. Jesus does not deny the poor faith which this official had but
declares that this is not enough. Jesus calls for and provides the power for a better faith, one that is real.
Part 3—Faith for Transformation
This account of Jesus second miracle (in John, at least) has three lessons for men today.
Faith
Our faith is important. But it is more complicated than just saying it is “believing in Jesus.” It is a gift of the Holy Spirit – given
through Word Sacrament (the Sacrament of Holy Baptism – Mark 16:16).
But just like a three-year-old is the same biologically as a 63-year-old but there is a world of difference as well – so it is with faith in
a person. The Holy Spirit gives us this tremendous gift of faith. But it also needs to be cultivated and grown through the same
means that created it – Word and Sacrament.
The power of the Holy Spirit is not just for salvation, but transformation, a process that might be slow and gradual. The difference
might look like this: You can take ten gallons of gasoline and release a tremendous amount of power and energy by just dropping a
lighted match into it. It makes a dramatic onetime impact. But there is another way to release the energy in that gasoline. Place it in
the fuel tank of a new Honda, designed to get 30 miles to the gallon. The high tech engine will use that ten gallons of gasoline to
take a person 300 miles or more. Explosions may be spectacular, but the sustained, controlled burn has staying power. You
don’t want to be a flash in the pan, you want to make a difference in this world over time. You want to last for the long haul. You
don’t want the Holy Spirit to just save you for heaven, you want Him to use His power to transform your life. You want Him to use
you in this world for kingdom purposes.
Father-Son Relationship
The second lesson is about the Father-Son relationship and it is this: as a father, we should be willing to do anything for our kids.
That’s nothing new for you, I’m sure. But think about the radical thing this father did for his son. He went to Jesus for his son. How
many fathers do that today? Of course, not all sons are on their death-beds like this son was. But all sons sit on death-row and
death without faith in Christ is permanent damnation. How many of our Christian fathers know that but still don’t come to Jesus
where Jesus is – in Word and Sacrament (worship)?
Jesus and His relationship with us
Jesus loves us right where we are. But He refuses to leave us there. Jesus came to us where we were. He became human. But he
didn’t leave us here. He died and rose and gives us new life.
Jesus calls us into a deeper and significant faith life. Purpose and significance can be yours and it happens through God’s Word and
Sacraments.
© 2004 True Men Ministries
2. The Healing of the Official's Son - John 4:43-54
Introduction
After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the Church's pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave
his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening. In the introduction, the pastor
told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few
moments to greet the Church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service. With that, the elderly man stepped
up to the pulpit and began to speak.
"A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm blocked any
attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not
keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized."
The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began,
looking somewhat interested in his story. The aged minister continued with his story, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to
make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy he would throw the other end of the life line. He only had seconds to
make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son's friend was not. The agony of his
decision could not be matched by the torrent of the waves. As the father yelled out, 'I love you, son!' He threw out the life line to
his son's friend. By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging
swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."
By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old
minister's mouth. "The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought
of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son's friend. How great is
the love of God that He should do the same for us. Our Heavenly Father sacrificed His only begotten Son that we could be saved. I
urge you to accept His offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line He is throwing to you in this service."
With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit
and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the end. However, no one responded to the appeal. Within minutes after the
service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely stated one of the boys, "but I don't
think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."
"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, he
once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that story gives
me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me. You see --- I was that father and your pastor is my
son's friend."
What would we do for our sons? What has God done for us through His Son?
This second study in our series of looking at the miracles of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John involves Jesus, a father and a son.
This miracle account has several different things in it that I believe impacts us as men in today’s world. It deals with faith. It deals
with the Father-Son Relationship. And it deals with Jesus and His relationship with us.
Part 1—Band Wagon Faith
John 4:46-54
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 miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never
believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus replied, “You may go. 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, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” Then the
father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed.
This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee. “Unless you people see miraculous
signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
Nothing gets by Jesus. He sees into the heart of this request, for there is more to it than just what we see on the surface. Jesus
knows who this official is – where this official is coming from in regards to faith in who Jesus is. This official is one of the “many” that
are mentioned in chapter 2, who believe only because of the signs they saw, but whose faith stopped with the signs. These people
we might call “band wagon” believers. They only believed in Jesus because of the results of what Jesus did. They did not stick around
to hear from Jesus about who He was and why He had come.
It is easy to “jump on the bandwagon,” isn’t it? This happens to successful sports teams. Last year it was “fashionable” to be a
Chicago Cubs fan. But those of us who have followed the Chicago Cubs through all the ups and downs have little use for those who
count themselves a fan just because they came 5 outs from going to the World Series last year.
This is not the kind of faith in Jesus that we are to have. While it is a good start, we are not to remain a believer merely as long as
Jesus provides miraculous evidence of who He is.
Jesus is not satisfied with the faith of these “many.” But notice that He doesn’t dismiss this official or others who have a “band
wagon” faith. Jesus still goes after them and calls them to step up to a deeper faith.
“Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
Jesus is really emphasizing “see” as he’s talking about “signs and wonders.” The point of Jesus’ complaint is not the fact that he is
asked to come down to Capernaum and to do the miracle where the man could see it done, but the fact that the kind of faith
represented by this man can be kept alive only by means of miracles.
This man’s “band wagon” faith doesn’t allow him to understand that Jesus could heal at a distance. Asking Jesus to “come down” is
only incidental to the real request, which is to heal his child.
It is this that we can most readily identify with. A very popular song for the last couple of years has been He's My Son by Mark
Schultz.
I'm down on my knees again tonight
I'm hoping this prayer will turn out right
See there is a boy that needs Your help
I've done all that I can do myself
His mother is tired
I'm sure You can understand
Each night as he sleeps
She goes in to hold his hand
And she tries not to cry
As the tears fill her eyes
Can You hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can You make him feel all right?
If You can hear me
Let me take his place somehow
See, he's not just anyone
He's my son
Sometimes late at night I watch him sleep
I dream of the boy he'd like to be
I try to be strong and see him through
But God who he needs right now is You
Let him grow old
Live life without this fear
What would I be
Living without him here
He's so tired and he's scared
Let him know that You're there
Can You hear me?
Can You see him?
Please don't leave him
He's my son
(c) Myrrh
This father who approaches Jesus had this type of plea, didn’t he? And Jesus comes through in a miraculous way. That’s part of
what this text is all about. However, there is more to it than this. There is something missing in this father and Jesus loves not only
the little boy but also the father so much that he’ll provide what is missing.
The complaint of Jesus is that so many would cease to believe in any manner, or would never believe even as they did unless he
furnished them miracles on which to rest this faith of theirs. A faith based on miracles will fade away and die when the miracles are
through.
As Max Lucado put it, Jesus loved this guy where he was but “refused to leave him there.” Jesus calls this father up into an true
faith that will change his life forever. Jesus does this by refusing to hurry to Capernaum and work the miracle in person.
The complaint is that these people have to see “signs and wonders.” These people do not read the “signs” and see their true
significance, that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God, and that these “signs” seal him as such; they only want to marvel at the
wonder of them. Thus they avoid the true purpose of the signs. Jesus does not deny the poor faith which this official had but
declares that this is not enough. Jesus calls for and provides the power for a better faith, one that is real.
Part 3—Faith for Transformation
This account of Jesus second miracle (in John, at least) has three lessons for men today.
Faith
Our faith is important. But it is more complicated than just saying it is “believing in Jesus.” It is a gift of the Holy Spirit – given
through Word Sacrament (the Sacrament of Holy Baptism – Mark 16:16).
But just like a three-year-old is the same biologically as a 63-year-old but there is a world of difference as well – so it is with faith in
a person. The Holy Spirit gives us this tremendous gift of faith. But it also needs to be cultivated and grown through the same
means that created it – Word and Sacrament.
The power of the Holy Spirit is not just for salvation, but transformation, a process that might be slow and gradual. The difference
might look like this: You can take ten gallons of gasoline and release a tremendous amount of power and energy by just dropping a
lighted match into it. It makes a dramatic onetime impact. But there is another way to release the energy in that gasoline. Place it in
the fuel tank of a new Honda, designed to get 30 miles to the gallon. The high tech engine will use that ten gallons of gasoline to
take a person 300 miles or more. Explosions may be spectacular, but the sustained, controlled burn has staying power. You
don’t want to be a flash in the pan, you want to make a difference in this world over time. You want to last for the long haul. You
don’t want the Holy Spirit to just save you for heaven, you want Him to use His power to transform your life. You want Him to use
you in this world for kingdom purposes.
Father-Son Relationship
The second lesson is about the Father-Son relationship and it is this: as a father, we should be willing to do anything for our kids.
That’s nothing new for you, I’m sure. But think about the radical thing this father did for his son. He went to Jesus for his son. How
many fathers do that today? Of course, not all sons are on their death-beds like this son was. But all sons sit on death-row and
death without faith in Christ is permanent damnation. How many of our Christian fathers know that but still don’t come to Jesus
where Jesus is – in Word and Sacrament (worship)?
Jesus and His relationship with us
Jesus loves us right where we are. But He refuses to leave us there. Jesus came to us where we were. He became human. But he
didn’t leave us here. He died and rose and gives us new life.
Jesus calls us into a deeper and significant faith life. Purpose and significance can be yours and it happens through God’s Word and
Sacraments.
© 2004 True Men Ministries