Sermon Study Guide

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Fortifying Your Faith in the Author of Life “Learning Jesus” (The Gospel of John) John 4:43-54

February 10, 2019 BIG IDEA Today we’ll see a miracle that was triggered by desperation. A man’s sole concern was for the life of his son and he turned to the famous healer to help him, and Jesus did. I hope that the incredible events that you are about to witness will secure, reinforce, and fortify your faith in Jesus—the Author of Life.

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE Context: This is the second of seven signs that Jesus did in order to prove that He is who He said He is. The Seven Signs Changing water into wine at the wedding at Cana (Jn. 2:1-11)  Healing the royal official’s son (Jn. 4:46-54)  Healing the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem (Jn. 5:1-15)  Feeding the 5,000 (Jn. 6:5-13)  Walking on water (Jn. 6:16-21)  Healing the man born blind (Jn. 9:1-7)  Raising Lazarus from the dead (Jn. 11:1-44) 

Cana was a village located about eight miles from Nazareth (Jesus’ birthplace). The Lord had been in Samaria in order to meet the despondent woman at the well. Based on her testimony, the people in Samaria believed. But Jesus faced unbelief when he returned to His own people. Thus, the second sign was meant to challenge unbelief and elicit faith. John 4:43-54 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed

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him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. 46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 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. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 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. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

DISCUSSION & APPLICATION 1. The Sign Confronted A Jewish Audience Regarding Unbelief John 4:43-45 – After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 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. Ironically, Jesus had been warmly received in Samaria. Not so at home. That famous phrase in verse 44: “For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown,” is likely aimed at Israel itself and not just a particular region. Given this interpretation, the setting and timing of the sign makes sense. The Galileans were just like others in that they were impressed by what He’d done in Jerusalem. He’d cleansed the temple and done other miracles. But they were intrigued by the wrong thing. The crowds misunderstood His Messiahship and many eventually abandoned Him. The sign was needed so they would believe. a. Where in the Christian culture do you see a quest to see Jesus simply as a miracle worker? Do you tend to think of Jesus in terms of what He can do for you or loving Him for who He is? What are the ramifications of each?

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b. It’s ironic that the people in hated Samaria believed in Him but Jews struggled to do so. What are things that happen in your life that make it hard to have fortifying faith? What steps can you take to restore your trust?

2. The Man Sought the Healer In the Place Where He’d Become Famous and His Motive Was Desperation John 4:46-47 – So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 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. The official knew the Lord’s reputation. His approach to Jesus was out of desperation, but he had little appreciation for who Jesus is. Apparently, the official’s motivation centered on the Lord’s status as a miracle worker rather than as Messiah. It is so vital that if we are to fortify our faith in Jesus, we must gain a proper understanding of who He is. a. The man was desperate. He didn’t completely understand Jesus, yet the Lord didn’t turn him away. What does this say about Jesus’ compassion towards those that seek Him?

b. When you seek the help of Jesus, do you feel as though He will turn you away? What does that feel like? Does that stop you from approaching Him? Do you think He really will turn you away?

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c. The man knew Jesus did miracles. Do you think that the evangelical world of today really understands the deep things of discipleship such as suffering, submission, being sold out, etc.? What would be different if each of us did see Jesus this way?

3. Jesus Rebuked the Galileans for Relying On Signs and Wonders John 4:48 – So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The rebuke isn’t just for the man. The “you” is plural. Jesus addresses these words to the Galileans as a whole. The perspective of the Galileans was fundamentally amiss because it disregarded the person of Christ and centered on the need for a constant display of miraculous signs. It’s important to understand Jesus. We call this the study of “Christology.” This is not a comprehensive list but it is a good start regarding the proper understanding of Jesus. Jesus is:       

The Eternal Son of God and Fully God (Jn. 1:1-2; 3:16) The Sinless God-Man; Born of a Virgin (Matt. 1:18; 24-25; 2 Cor. 5:21) The Substitute Sacrifice for Sin (Heb. 2:16-17) The One Mediator Between God and Man (1 Tim. 2:15) The Sole Redeemer (Jn. 14:6) Our High Priest (Heb. 2:18; 4:15-16) The Returning King (Rev. 19-21)

a. What dangers come with a faulty view of Jesus?

b. Is there anything on the “Christology” list that is new for you or surprised you? If so, how does this new revelation enhance your knowledge of Jesus?

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c. Knowledge should lead to love. Why does simple knowledge about Jesus come up short? What is Jesus asking for?

4. Faith Came Before the Miracle Was Completed John 4:49-54 – The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 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. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. Fortified and sustaining faith is that which doesn’t drift with the waves and swing in the wind. It is solid. It is predicated on the power of Christ, not on His ability to put on a show. Even if the outcome isn’t what we want, fortified faith still believes and is a steadying influence in the roughest of times. The official didn’t need to watch and be amazed. He believed. a. God doesn’t always do what we want. Sometimes we are called to believe and then just let it go. Do you find it hard to release concerns to God? Why is it hard? How can you learn to do that?

b. These Bible passages may encourage you to fortify your faith. Read them and write down what you feel God is saying to you. Isaiah 55:8 shouts – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. Remember the words of Joseph in Genesis 50:20 – “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…”

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c. There can be no doubt that Jesus is the Author of Life. Jesus healed from a distance and the healing was confirmed by members of the official’s household. Does the evidence of this healing help fortify your faith? Why or why not?

5. How Can I Build Fortifying Faith? Jesus is the Author of Life and He can heal you, too! He can heal you spiritually and physically. He has the power to do anything in His good pleasure. Now is your chance to build a fortifying faith! a. Look Past Circumstances To the Identity of Jesus To focus on circumstances will make it hard to obtain fortifying faith. Life will throw curveballs at you. People will hurt you. You will experience pain. Don’t assume that just because life hurts that God has abandoned you. Remember the identity of Jesus. b. Don’t Try To Manipulate Jesus Pray with all of your heart. But to think you can manipulate God by doing it just the right way will turn into bondage. You’ll blame yourself if God answers your prayer in a different way. Fortifying faith is a faith that believes that God cares, is listening, and that His timing is perfect. Rest in that! c. Pray for Faith! Faith is a gift from God. It is good to pray for faith! Paul wrote: Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God… Our response in the process of salvation is faith. But even faith is a gift. Pray for more. God will bestow a deeper faith to you so that you can find peace and joy, even during the hardest moments of life. d. Take a moment and pray. Ask God to provide the faith that you need to enjoy Him in a new and exciting way.

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PRAY Dear Lord, you are a wonderful Savior and King. Thank you for doing these amazing signs. Watching you work miracles helps me to believe at a deeper level. Please give me more faith through which I can enjoy you and love you more. Amen.

DIG DEEPER For further study this week:

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Hope In The Dark: Believing That God Is Good When Life Is Not – a book from Craig Groeschel Knowing God – a book from J.I. Packer

NEXT WEEK’S BIG IDEA Seven Signs Point to Jesus as Son of God; Sign #3 – The Healing of the Lame Man (John 5:29a)

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