Hope for the Desperate – John’s Gospel chapter 4 verses 43 to 54
Hope for the desperate.
The twin themes of desperation and faith.
The superficial faith of the curious crowd
They were there to see His miracles.
43 After the two days he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honour in his own country.) 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there.
John 4:43-45
The saving faith of a desperate father
A royal official (perhaps a Roman) under King Herod. Rich and influential, but now a desperate father.
Like the crowd, he came with faith in the miracles of Jesus.
46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” 49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
John 4:46-49
He went away with faith in the words of Jesus
50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed.
John 4:50
He came to faith in the saving work of Jesus
His faith progressed to faith that saved his whole household. What caused this? Desperation led the way. Affliction grows us. “Affliction is one of God’s medicines.” (J.C. Ryle)
51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. 54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.
John 4:51-54
