The Giver and Gift of Life

This morning, if you have your Bibles, please turn to the John 4:43 as we finish this chapter looking at Jesus moving from Sychar in Samaria north to Cana in Galilee.  You can locate these places on one of the maps in the back of your Bible.

 

Remember, the last time Jesus was in Cana, He helped a young, newly-wed couple avoid social catastrophe by turning water into wine when the wine had run out at their wedding reception.  He left this area and went to Jerusalem, and then while traveling back, He stopped in Sychar in Samaria before coming to Cana of Galilee.

 

I want to share a sermon with you this morning from John 4:43-54.  It is entitled, “The Giver and Gift of Life.”

 

 

Notice in verse 43 John’s editorial comments specifically about Jesus, the Samaritans, and the Galileans.  Jesus spent two days in Sychar.  That fact corresponds with 4:40. 

 

40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.

 

He then left and was on His way to Galilee, which is north.

 

In verse 44, John repeated something that Jesus had said.  Jesus knew that a prophet was without honor in his own country.  Jesus’ home town was Nazareth of Galilee, and it was there that He had some of His greatest challenges, and John’s inclusion of this proverb foreshadows some experiences to come. 

 

BTW, I can testify to this reality as well.  Some of my greatest challenges in my ministry have come from my family members.  Sometimes, they are some of least receptive of me. 

 

At the same time, can I encourage not to take for granted your family of believers if that is true of you.  So many families are divided spiritually, and I am so thankful that my immediate family is not.  However, many are, and their lives are a living hell every day and every weekend and every holiday.  Don’t take your believing family for granted.

 

The oddity of this verse is its placement.  Why would this verse be placed between two verses that speak of Jesus returning to Cana?  Why would this proverb seem to be speaking of Cana?

 

That truth is that Jesus was well aware of how He would be treated, but He also knew that some in Galilee would receive Him and believe in Him.  Therefore, He went.

 

When Jesus arrived in Cana, He did receive a favorable welcome, but it was superficial.  The Galileans were hoping that He would perform some signs and miracles as He did in Jerusalem.  They were attracted to Him for the show not as their Savior.

 

 

1. Desperation for a Son, John 4:46-49

46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”  49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”

 

In 4:46, we see that when Jesus came back to Cana, He was met there by a nobleman, or your translation may say “royal official.”  This man was probably an official in King Herod’s court, and he had a son who was sick about 15-20 miles away to the east in Capernaum. 

 

Evidently, he had heard about Jesus and His miracles and was desperate for Jesus to heal his son.  You can be sure that because of this man’s position, he had significant financial resources.  However, those must have been exhausted, and his son was in dire straits as he came to Jesus.

 

The end of 4:47 says that he came to Jesus imploring Him to come down to Capernaum and heal his son.  He was close to dying. 

 

That word “implore” is translated in other versions as begged.  He begged and pleaded over and over again for Jesus to come and heal his son.  The wording of the original language also indicates that he followed Jesus around begging and pleading for help.  Otherwise, he would die.

 

BTW, as this boy was on the verge of death and doctor’s had done all they could do, Jesus turned to Jesus.  Medicine could do more.  Therefore, this man went to Jesus and implored Him, begged Him, pleaded with Him over and over again to make his son well. 

 

Is this how you pray?  Isn’t that how we should pray?  See Luke 18:1-8.

 

1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”  6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

 

At first glance, Jesus’ response in 4:48 seems harsh, but understand that Jesus was making a point to all of the Galileans who had gathered.  Jesus wanted the people to believe without having to see a miracle. 

 

Then in 4:49, the royal official pleaded with Jesus again to come down to Capernaum and heal his son before he dies.  Down is a reference to elevation not direction.

 

 

1. An Illustration of the Supernatural, John 4:50-51

50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”

 

In verse 50, we find Jesus’ unusual response.  Rather than obliging the official and going to Capernaum, Jesus simply and calmly said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” 

 

According to the text, that is the end of this conversation.  Jesus doesn’t say anymore.  The official doesn’t argue with Him or debate what Jesus said.  Verse 50 just says that he believed what Jesus said and started off on the journey home.

 

In verse 51, as this man was on his way back to Capernaum, he was met by one of his slaves saying that his son was living. 

 

BTW, Don’t miss the fact that this miracle was accomplished when Jesus spoke.  He didn’t have to touch or even physically see this boy.  Because He is God and all-powerful or omnipotent, Jesus spoke, and this boy lived even though he was some 15 miles away.

 

 

• Confirmation of Salvation, John 4:52-54

52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.  54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

 

In verse 52, after hearing from his servants that his son had been healed and was alive, the father asked his slave at what time did this take place.  The servant responded that his son’s fever left him at the seventh hour or 1 PM, and the father knew that it was the same time that Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” 

 

When the father put two and two together, he believed in Jesus as Lord and Savior as well as his entire household.  Earlier, he had believed what Jesus said.  Here, he believed in Jesus for salvation. 

 

BTW, There are no coincidences in your life.  There is no such thing as chance or luck.  God is completely sovereign or in control of the smallest atom of the universe and every detail of your life. 

 

When Jesus spoke, this son was healed.  His fever left him, and he was no longer close to death. 

 

John concluded this chapter by telling the readers that this was the second sign that Jesus performed.  The first was turning the water into wine.

 

 

Conclusion

First, Jesus is the giver of life.  Jesus gave live to this son. 

 

Consequently, if Jesus is the giver of life, stuff is not the giver of life.  The story of the rich young ruler teaches us that.

 

Sex is not the giver of life.  The story of the woman at the well teaches us that.

 

Sports is not the giver of life.  Kids all over our country, all over our state and this county and even in this church are being sacrificed to the idol of youth sports. 

 

Parents, when your children leave your house, they are going to have lots of medals and rings and team pictures.  However, they are going to be spiritually dead because you allowed them to think and even supported the idea that youth sports is a greater priority that Jesus and His bride. 

 

Second, not only is Jesus the giver of life, He gives the gift of life.  Notice a statement that is found three times in this story.  It is “your son lives.”

 

Why did this son live?  He lived because Jesus gave him the gift of life.  Yes, Jesus healed in physically.  However, that truth serves to point us to a greater truth, and that is that Jesus heals spiritually. 

 

Jesus wants to give you the gift of abundant life.  See John 10:10.

 

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

 

Jesus wants to give you the gift of eternal life.  See John 11:25-26.

 

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

 

Finally, do you believe Jesus?  Like the royal official, we need to believe the words of Jesus without argument and even without evidence or proof. 

 

This man had two options when Jesus told him to go because his son lives.  He could either not believe Jesus and allow his son to die or he could trust Jesus and return without any proof that Jesus was telling the truth. 

 

When Jesus said He was the only way and the only truth and the only life, we need to believe Him call on Him to save us.  Will you do that this morning?