Today's scripture is John 4 verses 43 through 54. After the two days, he departed for Galilee. For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown. So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Feast. For they too had gone to the Feast. So he came to get to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. In that pertinum, there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe. The official said to him, sir, come down before my child dies. Jesus said to him, go, your son will live. The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked him the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, yesterday at the 7th hour, the fever left him. The father knew that that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, your son will live. And he himself believed in all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and the hearing of his words. In the late 80s, a popular rap group titled a song, which then popularized the phrase, don't believe the hype. So this idea, this phrase kind of took on then a life of its own, where the idea was that sometimes things that you experience, sometimes things that people hype up aren't all what they're cracked up to be. Don't believe all the hype that people give it. This is true for me. This phrase became something that I could hold on to when I visited Hollywood, California. Now, you know, all this hype around Hollywood and California and everything. It's a great place you got to go and you got to see it. And when I finally got to visit, it was like, and you know, and if you're from California, no offense at all. I understand people have different tastes and everything like that. And that's okay, that's okay. But for me, I thought about this phrase, don't believe the hype. There are some things, though, however, that live up to the hype. Where it's popularized, it's people encourage you to go see it, people encourage you to experience it, and it does live up to the hype. For me, that was the play Hamilton. Now, I didn't get the chance to see it in person, but I did watch the thematic version that was on Disney, right? And so everybody who told me, look, you got to see the show, you got to see it, and I saw it, and I said, you know what? This actually lived up to the hype. Now, very rarely, very rarely do things exceed the hype. They exceed the hype. For me, it was when I stepped on the grounds of Augusta National in Augusta Georgia where the master's is played. Everybody would say, oh, you got to get to Augusta, you got to get to Augusta. I said, yes, I want to get to Augusta. And when I finally got to Augusta, it didn't just live up to the hype. It exceeded the hype. Now, that's true for very few things. But in our text this morning, we will see that not only is Jesus more than the hype, he calls men and women to believe more than the hype, to believe more than the hype. When we were last in the gospel of John, we spent a great deal of time looking at the woman at the well. But remember, Samaria was not a destination for Jesus. It was simply a stopover for a divine appointment that Jesus had in order to bring salvation to the woman at the well and many others in Samaria. Jesus had been on his way somewhere, returning from Jerusalem. And we learned this in verses one through three of chapter four. We are told where Jesus was headed. John four, one through three. Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing many disciples, then John, more disciples than John, although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples, he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. Well, after spending some time in Samaria, verse 43 of chapter four, tells us that Jesus is continuing on with his journey. Verse 43, after the two days, he departed for Galilee. Now in the region of Galilee was the town of Cana. A town that should be familiar to us all since Jesus had been there and we've covered Jesus' time in Cana. Cana was where the wedding feast took place and where Jesus turned the water into the wine. Well, Jesus returns to Galilee for a second time where from this point on in his ministry, John doesn't spend a lot of time but some of the other gospel in the synoptic spend a lot of time talking about Jesus' life and his ministry in the region. John tells us, however, that when he gets to Cana that upon his arrival, he is met by a man from Copernum. Now note, this is the third encounter flash conversation in a row that John records for us with an individual. Remember, there was Nicodemus, which we read about and studied when we were in John chapter three. Then there is the Samaritan woman who we discussed prior in the early part of chapter four. Now we have Jesus' encounter with this official from Copernum. All of these individuals, although different, had an encounter with Jesus that changed their lives forever. What is John's point in highlighting all these conversations? You see the three conversations right in a row. What is his point in highlighting these conversations? I believe John in repetitious fashion is trying to impress upon his readers that Jesus is the son of God. That Jesus, the word made flesh, is the difference maker. He's the difference maker. You don't encounter Jesus. You don't have a conversation with Jesus and leave the same. Either you will encounter him and recognize that he is Savior and Lord, like the Samaritan woman, or Jesus disrupts your thoughts and worldviews so much that you were either less discouraged, angry, or perplexed. Those are the only options because when you encounter Jesus, there is no indifference to it. I'll take them or leave him. No brothers and sisters, Jesus changes everything. You are going to leave him different. Now, the official from Kampurnum comes to Jesus. And unlike Nicodemus, who was a little skeptical about this Jesus and kind of questioned him a little bit, and unlike the woman at the well who was quite shocked that a Jewish man would even talk to her a Samaritan, this official comes to Jesus with a seed of faith. In other words, this official believed the hype. He believed the hype. John tells us that he had heard about Jesus. His fame had been spreading based upon the miracles that he had performed at the wedding and other signs that Jesus had performed while at the Passover feast in Jerusalem. Some Galileeans were at the feast and no doubt came back to the region of Galilee telling about all that they had seen Jesus perform at the Passover feast. This man comes to Jesus, not desiring that Jesus would perform some type of side show for him, but he needed Jesus to do something for him. Oh, there is a difference between brothers and sisters. There is a difference. There are many, and there were many then, and there are many now who just want to stand at a distance. They want to stand on the outside and watch Jesus perform miracles, do tricks for them. Why do you think this so-called phase healers pack out tents and other venues? They want to see a show. Oh, I know that's the extreme, but how about those who just want to watch Jesus clean up the lives of others, heal other people, but not want nothing to do with him themselves. Believing the hype, but only at a distance. Believing the hype, but only at a distance. But guess what? And guess what? That is a type of faith. That is a type of belief. It is not saving faith, but faith nonetheless. John has already told us that there were many, many who were in this category, who were believing the hype of Jesus. Remember in John 2, verses 23 through 25. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. These people believed in Jesus because of the signs and wonders, but Jesus was looking for a deeper faith. He knew what was in their hearts, but this was not the official. This is not the official when he came to Jesus. His faith went a little, little deeper. He believed that if this man named Jesus can perform all these miracles and wonders, then perhaps he can do a miracle for me. Perhaps he can do a miracle for me because you see he had a problem. He had a situation, he had a circumstance that was so pressing, so difficult, Jesus was his only option, solely option. He wanted you see, he came to Jesus wanting to believe more than the hype. Brothers and sisters, this man who encountered Jesus for the first time demonstrates more faith than some of us who have been walking with him for a minute. Listen to what he did, he had a problem and his solution was to go to Jesus. He wasn't supposed to go other places. He said, Jesus is my only option. Brothers and sisters, that is what Jesus desires, that we would come to him with our issues. All of them, big or small, significant or insignificant, whatever it is, Jesus says bring it to him. Oh, this goes for you too, unbeliever. For those who have yet to trust Christ, if you have not trusted in Jesus and you are dealing with an issue that you can't solve, can I tell you? Bring it to Jesus. Bring it to him. Perhaps you've heard about what he has done for others and you're wondering if you should believe the hype. Oh, trust me. Trust me. Believe the hype. Believe it. Bring your issue to him. You might not know him yet, but whatever you are dealing with, know Jesus wants to bring it to you. Come all you who are weary and heavy laden, bring it to Jesus. Come all ye who are hungry and thirsty. Bring it to Jesus. You see, even you unbeliever, that is what this official is in our text. He's an unbeliever. He's an unbeliever. He is not yet a Christ follower, but he had heard of Jesus and all that he had done and he had nowhere else to turn. You see, the official had a son who was ill and who was near death. So when he heard that Jesus was nearby and get this, nearby meant 15 to 20 miles away, no cars. When he heard that Jesus was nearby, knowing that he was his only hope, he went to him and asked Jesus to come and to heal his son. And Jesus responds to him in verse 48. We read, Jesus said to him, unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe. Now, something tells me that's not the answer or the response the man was looking for. That was not the response he was expecting and to hear. Did Jesus not hear what the man asked? Did he not care about his son? Of course he did. Of course he did. But you see, as the son of God, Jesus had multiple purposes intended for his questions. Multiple purposes intended for his responses and miracles. Jesus in his response was making a point to all those who would hear. Jesus was speaking to the official, but he was also speaking to all the Galileans who heard this man's plea and his request. When he says, unless you, he is speaking in the plural, unless you all see the signs and miracles, then you will not believe. Jesus is rebuking the selfish entertainment driven, superficial hearts of the Jewish people. For them, it was always about the signs and wonders, perform a trick for us, Jesus, and then we will believe, all throughout the gospels. That is the common theme from the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Show us a sign from heaven, and then we will believe. It's the same ask of many today. Many are looking for a sign, convinced that if they see a sign, then they will believe in Jesus, or listening to a debate between a Christian and an atheist. And the atheist took some antifreeze and he poured it in the cup and he says to the Christian, if you would just drink this antifreeze and not kill over and die, then I will believe. Still going on. Show me signs. Show me wonders. Then I will believe. That's not the belief Jesus is looking for, isn't it? Just because you believe the sign doesn't believe me and you will believe him. Jesus said the only sign that needed is the sign that I gave you in Jonah, which pointed to his death, burial, and resurrection. And you know what? Some saw that sign and still didn't even believe. All these people were looking for a sign and Jesus was rebuking this mindset. So Jesus's response was a rebuked to those looking in. But you know what else it was? It was a test of the faith of the man standing before him. Notice the official's response. Verse 49. The official said to him, sir, come down before my child dies. He's undeterred. He is undeterred. He doesn't even react to Jesus' comment. It's as if his response and by his response, he is saying, look, Jesus, I know. I know people come to you for the signs and the wonders. But that's not what I'm here for. I'm not here for the signs and the wonders. I am here for you. I am here for you. I believe you are the only one who can save my son. I am desperate. Jesus. I am at the end of my line. You are my only hope. Oh, that's faith coming to Jesus. We all need to come to Jesus that way. That is what desperation will do, won't it? It will cause you to see clearly with a singular focus. This official is not distracted. No changing the subject. Like the woman at the well did when confronted with an unexpected answer. No, no, no. This man was determined only you will do Jesus. I need you to come and heal my son, sir, he says, come down. Come down before my child dies. You hear the desperation in his voice. The desperation any parent would have with a son or a daughter or child who was at the point of death. There's a desperation. He goes to Jesus undeterred. Come down, sir, please before my child dies. In response to this desperation, Jesus performs a sign. A sign and we know it is a sign because John tells us so at the end of our text. In verse 54, he says, this was now the second sign that Jesus did when he came from Judea to Galilee. Second sign, the first sign we know was the sign that we that we went over at can at the wedding feast when Jesus turned the water into wine. Because John tells us this is a sign, then we are alerted to the purpose for it. For the signs that Jesus performed always had purpose. They always pointed somewhere and like the first sign, this sign revealed the glory and the power of Jesus, the glory and the power of Jesus. Second request of this man, this official, sir, please come down and heal my son. Jesus declares in verse 20, go, your son will live. Go, your son will live. In the Greek, it is, it is actually more infantic. It literally reads, go, he lives. It's done. In the Greek, it says go, he lives. Sight unseen in an instant, Jesus heals the man's son. Jesus manifests his glory by showing forth the power of his word. He is the son of God. He is the one who has authority as it was said. Oh, he had authority, all right, but not just that, his word carried power and it carried weight. His word, Jesus' word brought forth light out of darkness. It created from nothing the beauty that you and I behold every day and that Jesus upholds by the word of his power. That is the power that healed this official son in an instant, in an instant. Oh, brothers and sisters, you do see that this is the power of the word of Jesus. In an instant, it can heal, it can restore, it can fix. That is why you go to him. That is why we pray to him because only his words can do that. The issue is never can he but will he? And for this man, he did it. He did it. Jesus revealed his glory to this man and we see what happens when Jesus reveals his glory to men and women. You can't help but believe. You can't help but believe. Verse 50, Jesus said to this man to him, go, your son will live. The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. That's faith. That is faith. Brothers and sisters, a trust into and belief in not the miracles of Jesus, but the word of Jesus. The one to whom the signs point, you do understand that that word, their word is Lagas. We know who is the Lagas. The Lagas, the Lagas spoke the Lagas. Man, believe Jesus. He believed Jesus. When Jesus said, go, your son lives. The man didn't ask, well, are you sure? Do I need to go back home and check? And if it didn't work, do I need to come back and find you to try to do this again? No, no. No, it says that he believed, simply believed and he went on his way. I don't know about you, but that's shocking. Something happened there. Faith took root there. A belief there. Brothers and sisters, this is the power and surety of God's word. I say at 55 and verse 11 says, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth. What it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that for which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. This is why you do understand that we can trust the scriptures. We can trust the Bible. It is not the words. The Bible is not the words of fallible men. The Bible is the infallible word of an all-powerful God who delights to use his word to change things.
Jesus, the word made flesh changes things. We see this throughout all the scripture. His word, his word, stopped death in its tracks. And we see it coming here, but with the Centurion Son in Luke 7 and 7 who didn't need Jesus to come to heal his six servants, but said Jesus, if you just say a word then I know you will heal my servant. seven and seven, therefore I did not presume to you, to come to you, but say the word and let my servant be healed. He believed that Jesus' word was powerful enough to heal his servant in an instant. Jesus' word called men to life. It called men to life when he stood outside the tomb of Lazarus. And in John 11, 43, when he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice. Lazarus, come forth. That was the power of his word and Lazarus got up out of that grave and he came forth. I've heard it said that it's good that Jesus was specific because if he had just said come forth, everybody in that grave site would have come forth at that very moment. Because that's the power of God's word. Here's the power to cast out demons, setting free that which was bound. We learned that in Luke 435 when Jesus met a man with a demon. But Jesus in verse 35 rebuked him saying be silent and come out of him. And when the demon had thrown down, thrown him down in the mess, he came out of him having done him no harm. He has the power to cast out demons with a word, setting people free that were bound. This is word. Has the power to forgive sins. You remember those good friends who took off the roof, that home, to lower their friend so that he could get to Jesus who was a paralytic. And in March 2, we read, 2 verse 5, we read, and when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, son, your sins are forgiven. His word has the power to forgive sins. When this official heard Jesus speak, he believed in more than the hype. He believed in the word of Jesus. That is the power of the word of Jesus. He doesn't just heal people physically, but he heals them spiritually as well. Jesus manifested his glory to this man. And the eyes of his heart were enlightened and he no longer just saw the signs but he saw his savior standing right there before him. And we know that is what happened because of what John tells us next. The man believed the word of Jesus and his faith began to grow and so did his testimony. His testimony grew as well. We learned from the text the following day as he was returning home. His servants greeted him along the way to tell him the good news. Your son, he healed. The fever that he had has left him inquiring of his servants. When did this happen? When did it take place? They told him yesterday at the 7th hour and immediately he knew. He knew it was the same hour Jesus spoke the words he lives. What a boost and confirmation of faith that would have been for the man. He believed when Jesus spoke it. But this confirmation was all the more assuring. He did indeed believe. Jesus is who he said he was. He is the son of God. He does have all power in his head. His word can stop death in its tracks. And the confirmation of the word which resulted in deeper trust and belief led him to testify to all that Jesus had done. For we learn that his household, all of his household believed it says. This man was changed. He had an encounter with Jesus and believed more than the hype. And he needed to tell those who would listen to him. So just like the Samaritan woman. In others in the Bible that we read about. He had an encounter and we're changed by Jesus. He went home and told his family and they too believed. Isn't that wonderful? An encounter with Jesus led others to have a life changing encounter with him as well. A life changing, life changing encounter with Jesus. That's what genuine faith does. It leads to a desire to tell others all when people see Jesus in the scripture. When they are changed by him. They can't help but run and tell others about all that Jesus has done. Because you do see Jesus is more than the hype. He's more than the hype. He is the son of God who came to manifest his glory and to die for those he came to save. That those who believe in him would have eternal life and they would then tell others about this Jesus who changed their lives. A brother's sister. Oh, we as Christians. Listen, we don't just believe the hype. We don't just believe the hype. We believe in more than the hype. I urge you if you're here today and you have not trusted in Jesus. I urge you to come to him and to trust him. He is the one who went to the cross, bore our sin, who died was raised three days later and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. All those who believe and trust in him will have eternal life. Our brothers and sisters, that's not hype. That is truth. And Jesus calls us to believe, believe that truth. So trust him today. And if you trust him, and if you are trusting him, oh, then tell others about this Jesus, who you have encountered, who encourage you to believe more than the hype. And you do. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we do thank you. We thank you for your word. Thank you for recording this encounter of Jesus with this official from Capernaum. We thank you that you saved him and his household. We thank you for saving us. We thank you for the wonderful, wonderful truth of Jesus. That those who trust in him will have eternal life. I pray if there are those here that have not heard of Jesus. We have not trusted in him. We have not turned from their sins. If there are any here in this place, if there are any of those watching online, I pray that they would trust you this day, cause them to have a life-changing encounter with the one who created all things, and may be saved. And go and tell others of Jesus. We thank you for this time. Continue to bless your word for your glory. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.