Sunday's Manuscript

A Father’s Plea
John 4:46-54

The very nature of Christ is astounding. Here in the pages of the Bible we find time and time again, how Christ heals the sick, the lame, the blind. To see Christ act in the compassion that only God can demonstrate is indeed something to take note of. In today’s passage, Christ is asked of an important official from the town of Capernaum to heal his son. We can assume from scripture that since the first sign in Cana of turning water into wine and also from the signs that were done while Christ was in Jerusalem, many people have heard about the great things that Christ has and was doing.

Much is made about sight by Christ. Even though many of us see, we do not see. Jesus points this out many times. In Matthew 11 Christ tells the disciples of John the Baptist to “Go and tell what you hear and see” to John. Even though John himself saw heaven opened and the Spirit descend like a dove on Christ, he did not see. Later here in Chapter 10:37-38 of John, Christ tells the Pharisees that “You do not believe me, so believe the works”. They saw the works of Christ, but did not believe his testimony. John also later explains this as he quotes Isaiah 6 and 53 in John 12:38 and 40.

Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”


“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”
How is it that they can see but remain blind? They do not believe. What did they not believe? Did they not believe the lame man walked or the possessed made well? Of course they did. What did they not believe? “I know that Messiah is coming, he who is called Christ. When he comes, he will tell us all things. I who speak to you am he.” Jesus is Christ! Jesus is Messiah! Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Savior! Jesus is God!

After the wedding feast in Cana, other than Nicodemus, I wonder how many people truly came to Christ about spiritual things. Even those that seem to be spiritual have an undercurrent of personal gain in their requests. Even here today, an important official come to ask of Christ to heal his son. Christ’s response is that “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe”.

Now this official, being a father, is also compassionate. Some will consider this to be a very Christian act on behalf of the father. He cares deeply for his sick and dying son. He cares so much for his that he does not send the servants to inquire of Christ, but rather he himself goes to Cana to beg and plead of Christ to come to Capernaum and heal his son. He demonstrates a love that we might tend to applaud as if it is out of the ordinary for a father to do. But friends, do not mistake this as spirituality. Is this what any father would do for their child? Of course we would seek their welfare and benefit if it was in our power to do so. But as Christ explains in Luke 11:9-13

What father among you, if his son asks for£ a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”


How many of us would consider this man as “noble” or of “good Christian” example? One that we should imitate in order to demonstrate our love for our children? Perhaps this is why Jesus would say “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe”. Let me ask you at what point has this Official demonstrated faith? At what point is this father calling upon the Name of the Lord? At what point is he seeking the kingdom of God? No to this man, Jesus is simply a doctor who can heal a physical sickness and is probably the last resort taken to heal the young boy. Is there any wonder why Jesus would say “Unless you see signs and wonders” to this man?

Believing in Christ was not even a thought as the man traveled to Cana from Capernaum. He simply wanted his son to recover from his illness. Jesus tells him “Go home. Your son will live”. Notice the difference between the belief found in verse 50 and the belief in verse 53. The official goes back to Capernaum “believing the word that Jesus spoke to him”. No more. No less. He, at this point, only believes that his son will live. He will be healed.

Do not neglect the infinite wisdom of God in this action. Christ sends the father away with out performing a visible sign for him. This, points us to a truth that many of us fail to realize; That the Word of God is sufficient for faith! Far too many “Christians” can not and do not stand or live as if the Word of God is sufficient in their lives. It is merely a supporting crutch that they may carry from time to time but not the building block of faith that it truly is. Too many rely on a “Christian experience”; that mountain top high; emotion that comes and goes and is mistaken for the moving of the Spirit and not on the solid meat found in sound doctrine and holy living. They do not live as part of the promises of God. They do not live as people grafted into the covenants God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They do not even live as people of the New Covenant of Christ who purchased their redemption by His blood!

Not only is the Word of God sufficient for faith it is necessary for faith. Before Isaac was ever born, God promised Abraham that he would have a son and that the nations would be blessed through him and his offspring. Before this took place, Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:3). Abraham also believed simply the Word of God. Romans 4:21-22 says that Abraham was fully convinced that God was not only able but would do as he promised. This faith was counted as righteousness. In order to have faith we must have the promises of God to believe in. And now we have the promises of forgiveness and salvation through faith in Christ. Being justified, we now have peace and access into the grace in which the believer stands. What a demonstration of the grace and mercy of God!

Now we know that God accompanies his message with signs and miracles (Hebrews 2:3-4). However, faith comes through belief in the word first. Take note our official. He did not come looking for faith. He did, however, believe the spoken word of Christ. The next day as he approached his hometown, he was greeted by one of his servants and given the news that the day before the fever left his son at the same hour the father was speaking with Jesus. Much the same as Abraham there was a promise followed by belief in the word. Then there was fulfillment of the promise followed by belief in the One who made the promise. The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. The Word, belief in it, fulfillment, belief.

This leaves us with two questions that must be settled today. The first being “What if God did not give the signs”? The second being “Do you see the responsibility God gives in this passage”? Unfortunately, far too many of us deny the Word of God and instead seek signs only. Many of us are just like the Pharisees that are spoken of in John 10. We do not believe either the Word or the signs, yet we demand the signs time and time again. No wonder Christ says it is a wicked generation that demands signs. What if there were no signs? What if, when you prayed for healing for that family member, God’s answer was a resounding “No”? What if you were Paul and prayed three times for the thorn to be taken away (2 Corinthians 12)? Would God’s grace be sufficient for you? What if there was no emotional, life shattering experience from which you could point back to and say “That’s when Christ saved me”? What if you just knew the calm assurance that God was God and Christ is Lord and you have surrendered to him and live according to the promises found in scripture? Which is more Biblical, to jump from mountain top to mountain top? Or to run the race set before us? Enduring to the end? Persevering and having our faith proved by testing?

The second question was “Do you see the responsibility”? The father believed the promise of Christ and as a result, the entire household believed in Christ. How was it that the household came to believe in Christ? Because the father told the household about the promise of Christ! What a responsibility to lead your family to Christ! Fathers, do not neglect the spiritual well-being of your children. It is your duty to tell your children the promises of God even before the church does. The church is just to reinforce or supplement what you are supposed to be doing already. A more appropriate question would be “Do you take care of your spiritual responsibility to your children”?

I have heard many in church health circles say this; “This first generation loves the Gospel. The second assumes the Gospel. The third generation hates the Gospel.” The break down in Christian families takes place when that unfortunate generation assumes that their children will grow up “Christian”. They do not teach or follow Deuteronomy 6 on how a family is to have the Word of God central to family life. They leave much to the church in the way of teaching and hope for the best. I grew up as a part of the church that hated the Gospel. Praise God! He still speaks and works miracles and does signs that lead people to faith! The good news also found in the Gospel is that it is not too late to tell your children about the promises of God and all that he has done for you! The only question that remains is “Will you?”