2. Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31 ESV)

3. Healing the Official’s Son
John 4:45-54

4. So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine
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. 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.”

5. Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live
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 them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 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 (John 4:46-53 ESV)

6. The account of a real and growing faith
A motivating faith’
A persistent faith
A trusting faith
A rewarded faith

7. Why is this important to us?
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2 ESV)

8. Why is this important to us?
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)

9. THEIR faith needed to grow
“you” in in the plural form
“unless you people”
“you people must see”
Jesus was teaching the official, the crowd and us

10. The Official had a motivating faith
But not the faith of the centurion…
But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. (Matthew 8:8 ESV)
And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment. (Matthew 8:13 ESV)

11. 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.” (John 4:47-49 ESV)

12. The Official had a persistent faith
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” (Luke 18:1-5)

13. 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. (John 4:48-50 ESV)

14. The Official was led to a trusting faith
Jesus wants faith that does more than just motivate and persist
Wants faith that steps out and goes down the road where it is directed
Wants faith that goes beyond having to do it my way

15. The Official needed to grow in faith
From a motivating faith
From a persistent faith
To a trusting faith that stepped out
for we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV)

16. This testimony has been…
Heard
Witnessed
Verified
Proven
Recorded
And preserved

17. The result of his growing faith?
From a motivating faith
From a persistent faith
To a trusting faith that stepped out
The official was led to a REWARDED faith

18. “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. (John 4:50)
As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 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.” 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 (John 4:51-53 ESV)

19. Jesus was teaching us how to grow our faith
From a motivating faith
From a persistent faith
To a trusting faith that stepped out
The official was led to a REWARDED faith
…casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7 ESV)

20. But it shall not be so among you
But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant (Mk. 10:43)
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:37-40 ESV)

21. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)

22. Jesus was teaching us how to grow our faith
a motivating faith
a persistent faith
a trusting faith
a rewarded faith