Harvest is Here (John 4:45-54)

Harvest is Here
John 4:46-54

INTRODUCTION:
All of us tend to avoid pain. Sometimes, though, avoiding pain can lead to much greater suffering.
Consider the story of William “the Refrigerator” Perry. Perry was a colorful defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears when they won the Super Bowl back in 1985. His nickname fit him well, because he was big and wide. Perry was also a friendly man with a wide grin.
Unfortunately for his grin, though he was a mammoth man playing in the tough world of the football trenches, he apparently was afraid of the dentist—so afraid that he didn’t go to the dentist for twenty years. He didn’t go to the dentist even though his teeth and gums hurt terribly, even though his teeth began falling out. Eventually he had lost half of his teeth—some he pulled out himself!—and his gums suffered chronic infection. He was suffering!
Finally, as he neared age forty-five, Perry went to a dentist, who had to pull out all of his remaining teeth, insert screws in his jaw, and implant new teeth—all of which would have cost him $60,000, except the dentist donated the procedure (apparently for the free publicity).
Now there’s a story every mother will tell her son when she tells him he has to go to the dentist or brush his teeth. But this is also a story for all who avoid emotional and spiritual pain of any sort, for the body teaches you things about your soul. There are a lot of things that can cause pain to the soul but actually bring health—asking for help, hard work, repentance, looking honestly into our own souls, going to church, dealing with our problems, humbling ourselves, reading the Bible, listening to sermons, facing the truth. This list goes on. It takes courage to face pain. But as William Perry said of his new teeth, “It’s unbelievable. And I love them.… I got tired of my mouth hurting all the time.” —Craig Brian Larson, “ ‘The Fridge’ Gets New Teeth,” Preachingtoday.com; source: “A Story with Some Teeth,” Chicago Tribune (December 20, 2007).
Jesus is the one who heals our souls. He is the one who brings healing and help for people who hurt. But on what basis will we trust what Jesus says? We will not do what Jesus says until we trust the man Himself. On what basis will we trust Him? The account we’re going to look at in this study helps to answer that question: John 4:46-54.

BACKGROUND:
“Therefore” points us backward in the text… Most of John 4 is about the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. I want to direct your attention to Jesus' words in John 4:34-38.

In the context of that statement, "the fields are white for harvest," we read these statements in the next section: John 4:39, 41-42, 45. In other words, the nobleman in our text is another example of one who is a part of that "field white for harvest."

THE CALL FOR JESUS - 4:46-47:
John has told us in verse 44 that Jesus left Judea, the area of the Jews, and went into Galilee, the area where more Gentiles lived. He came to Cana of Galilee, the place where Jesus had turned water into wine back in chapter 2.

This time, the focus is on a "royal official.” This man was probably an official of some type in service to King Herod.

This official had a son who was sick, in Capernaum. It was about 20-22 miles from Capernaum to Cana and we see in verse 52 that there passed at least 1 day while the dad was traveling. The news that Jesus was in the area reached this official and he went to Jesus, notice the text says, “imploring Him” to come heal his son, who was at the point of death. This man seems like he was a good father; he was concerned about the health of his son. At the end of the account, we see that his whole household believed in Jesus (vs 53) which shows that he told them about the man who healed his son. This argues that the man was not only concerned about the physical health and welfare of his family but also the spiritual health of his family. Without even seeing Jesus, the man led his family to trust Jesus. What a great example to us as dads.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN “SIGNS" AND FAITH - 4:48-50:
Jesus rebukes the people for refusing to believe Jesus' message unless they see signs “and wonders” (only time the word is used in John). “Wonders” is a synonym for miracle as it expresses the result of a miracle; that is, we “wonder” at its unusual nature. The word “you” is plural so Jesus’ thoughts are directed at the Jews, not really at the dad. Over in 6:26, Jesus will again castigate His audience for having a shallow faith. Actually, the dad will stand as a rebuke to his fellow Jews because he will actually express a belief without seeing the sign…

The apostle John uses “sign” some 17 times in his gospel. The statement in 2:11 was the first time. The last time will be in 20:30-31.

This dad does not get into a theological discussion with Jesus. He is more interested in the practical matter of his son's health: "Sir, [Lord] come down before my child dies.” He expresses faith in Jesus' power to heal. Notice in verse 50, Jesus acknowledges that faith:

“Go; your son lives." Notice the three times reference is made to the son living: vss 50, 51, 53. And the man believed the word Jesus had spoken and he turned to go back home. I suggest to you that the moment this dad believed the word of Jesus, the moment he turned around to go back home was the moment his son was healed. It was at that moment that Jesus blessed his faith and healed his son. In 10:38, Jesus will tell the Jews, “if I do the works of My Father, though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”

Again, in 14:11, Jesus says, “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”

Now, Jesus had rebuked the Jews' desire to see a sign before they believe in verse 48. But we see this dad expressing trust in Jesus before he actually sees the “sign."

THE BOY IS HEALED - 4:51-54:
When the dad was on the way home, some servants met him and informed him that his son was alive; he was healed. He was healthy. It might have been out of curiosity; it might have been motivated to confirm his beliefs. But the dad asked at what hour his son began getting better. The servants responded that it was at the 7th hour, which would be either 7 PM the ways the Romans kept time or 1 PM the way the Jews kept time. The latter would be counting from sunrise.

Lo, and behold, that was the hour that the dad had spoken to Jesus! John writes that the dad believed (again) along with his whole household! This is the sixth reference to someone believing in Jesus since verse 39. We also show our faith in Jesus when we obey what Jesus tells us to do. Our faith is justified by our works of obedience (James 2:24).

As a historical note, John writes that this is the 2nd miracle Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee. Turning water into wine was the first sign back in chapter 2. The reference here suggests we take a look at Jesus’ first miracle, back in chapter 2, and the reference there to it being Jesus’ first miracle. Verse 11 (2:11) said that the turning water into wine was the first sign Jesus did and “manifested His glory” and His disciples believed in Him.

In other words, the signs were revealing the nature of Jesus, His divine nature, His status as “God in the flesh.” The key word “glory” (used 19 times in John) in 2:11 directs us back to 1:14 where John writes that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. So “glory” refers to Jesus’ divine nature and the “signs” were directing people to recognize that glory. In chapter 2, it was His disciples who saw His glory and believed. Here, it is someone outside of His disciples who see His glory and believe in Him.

CONCLUSION:
At the end of the Gospel of John, Jesus has the interaction with Thomas Didymus (“Doubting Thomas”). In that conversation, Jesus says, “Because you have seen me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed” (John 20:29). You and I have not seen any of the miracles Jesus performed. But we believe in Him. Why? Because of the record of these events like we have studied today.

What do we believe because Jesus said, “Your son lives”?

1. Jesus is not limited in space.
2. Jesus can heal the sick.
3. Jesus can provide spiritual bodies not susceptible to sickness.
4. Jesus responds to prayers.
5. Jesus loves people.
6. Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35).
7. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12).
8. Jesus is the door of the sheep (John 10:7).
9. Jesus is the good shepherd (John 10:11).
10. Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).
11. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
12. Jesus is the true vine (John 15:1).
13. We believe Jesus when He tells us what to do to be saved.
14. We believe Jesus when He tells us how we ought to worship the Father.
15. We believe Jesus when He tells us how to live our lives as Christians.
16. We believe Jesus when He promises to be with us until the end of the age.
17. We believe Jesus in all that He tells us.

Why? Because He said, “Your son lives” and the boy was healed at that very moment.

During that first miracle Jesus did in John 2, Jesus’ mother, Mary, told the servants at the wedding: “Do whatever He tells you!” (2:5) The same thing is true today. Let’s do what He tells us; He has proven that He is the Son of God.

Take home message: Jesus has proven He is worthy of our highest commitment and deepest trust. Let’s trust Him and do what He tells us to do.