Faith that Grows

Faith that Grows John 4:46–54 Context • John’s goal: Jesus is the Messiah who gives life (20:31). but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31 Context • John’s goal: Jesus is the Messiah who gives life (20:31). • Jesus at the beginning of his ministry (2:11; 4:54). • Jesus has returned from Jerusalem. Jesus, the Last Hope (46–48) A Capernaum official’s son is ill (46) • He was likely a Jew (Capernaum was a Jewish town). • He was likely employed by the king, Herod Antipas. He goes to Cana to to beg Jesus’s help (47) 16.5 Miles Jesus, the Last Hope (46–48) A Capernaum official’s son is ill (46) He goes to Cana to beg Jesus’s help (47) • He asks Jesus to come down(hill) to Capernaum. • His son is about to die (not only “ill” as in 46). Jesus discourages faithless following (48) • You is plural (NIV: “you people”) • Raw interest in signs is spiritually dangerous (2:23– 25; 6:26) Jesus, the Living Hope (49–54) Jesus draws out faith from desperation (49–50) • The official responds in desperation: “little child” • Jesus declares healing without sight: “go…your son lives!” • He believes the word without seeing “signs and wonders” Jesus confirms faith and grows faith (51–54) • Servants confirmed his son “lives” • The official asks the confirming question: “what hour?” • Believed “the word”…“he himself believed” (cf. 2:24, 4:48) Applications • Faith places maximum value on the words of God. • Signs point to Truth himself, so an unhealthy obsession with experiences misses the point (cf. Lk 2:23–25; 6:26). • Faith moves in stages, so respond to each with faith.