John 4:46-54 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman… I. EVEN THE NOBLE HAVE THEIR TROUBLE. 1. No earthly dignity lifts above the reach of trouble. In the eye of God and in the operations of His laws all are alike. We need, therefore, never to expect to reach an estate free from trial. 2. But troubles are not always calamities. To the true hearted they are instruments of good. Nobility must suffer that it may become more noble. The fruitful branch must be purged that it may become more fruitful. II. EVEN THE BELIEVING NEED UNDECEIVING. 1. The nobleman was a believer. 2. There was strength and substance in his faith. It was not mere sentiment. Knowledge, however accurate, opinion, however orthodox, is not faith. But this man's faith had an active quality; it moved him to Jesus and to make every effort to obtain His help. True faith can never be idle (James 2:20). 3. But even with this living faith the nobleman laboured under misconceptions and infirmities. He located the Saviour's power too much in the outward. It was bent on signs and wonders. And just here believers have their greatest troubles. They go honestly and humbly to Christ, but unless they see signs they doubt whether all is right. Some change must be felt ere they can fully rest. But the requirement is to undoubtingly embrace Christ and leave Him to make all other things right in His own time and way (Romans 8:24, 25). 4. Here is the true consolation of faith; not that the sick child is healed, but that we have a competent Saviour, and in the meantime patience is the proper exercise of faith. III. WHEN MAN DESPAIRS THE LORD REPAIRS. 1. The manner in which he was received distressed the nobleman. He looked for Christ to accompany him, and when no signs of compliance appeared his heart sunk within him. 2. And yet this last flicker of perishing expectation was the signal of the greatest triumph. It was not according to Christ's method that His healing should come "with observation." His restorative energy is in His word, which is independent of distance or signs. Even His "Go thy way" is a benediction. While we are being wrung with disappointment grace is invisibly entering our house. IV. AS WE BELIEVE SO WE RECEIVE. A mere word had gone out. He went his way clinging to that word, and as he believed it was done unto him. He came believing Christ to be a wonder worker and he found Him one. He trusted in what the Saviour had said, and he came back to find the Saviour's word potent. What then if society, the Church, ourselves, our whole house are sick; if our movements are Christwards, His seeming repulse is but a preparation for a sublimer triumph. No honest attempt at faith is ever a mistake. (J. A. Seiss, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. |
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