Song of Invitation

0051 – Father of Mercies

A Noble Father

John 4:46-53

John 4:46-53Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe." 49 The royal official said to Him, " Sir, come down before my child dies." 50 Jesus said to him, " Go; your son lives." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. 51 As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. 52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives"; and he himself believed and his whole household.

• Christ Encountered a Royal Official (nobleman)– People of all ranks and stations need the

Savior– Jesus meets people where they are and

ministers to them

• A Loving Father Sought Help for His Son– Wise fathers know where to go when their

children are in need– Fathers who bring their children to Jesus

show their love for them

• How We Can Become Noble Father’s

A Noble Father Found Jesus(John 4:46-47)

• Jesus had been in Galilee and returned to Cana – Christ’s first miracle had been in Cana (John 2:3-9)– His return there caught the attention of the nobleman

• His Son’s sickness sent him searching for Jesus (Luke 11:9)– What good news it must have been for him that Jesus

had returned!– Leaving Capernaum, he headed for Cana to find

Jesus

Luke 11:9

"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you

John 2:3-9 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her, " Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." 6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." So they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it to him. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew)

John 4:46-47

So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

A Noble Father Found Jesus(John 4:46-47)

• Jesus had been in Galilee and returned to Cana

• His Son’s sickness sent him searching for Jesus

• What do you do when one of your children is in need?– Find Jesus and tell Him of the needs of your

children (Phil 4:19)– Expect the Lord to respond to your request

(Mark 11:24)

Phil 4:1919 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus

Mark 11:2424 "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you

A Noble Father Knows His Own Power Isn’t Enough

• There are times when earthy titles and power are inadequate (Mark 9:28-29)– Here is a titled and wealthy father who had a

dying son• He had the best money could buy• Everything he had tried failed

– His political and financial power could not save his son’s life

Mark 9:28-2928 When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, "Why could we not drive it out?" 29 And He said to them, "This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer."

A Noble Father Knows His Own Power Isn’t Enough

• There are times when earthy titles and power are inadequate (Mark 9:28-29)

• The nobleman invited Jesus to his house– This invitation seemed to be his only hope– Imagine his pleading effort to save his son

A Noble Father Knows His Own Power Isn’t Enough

• There are times when earthy titles and power are inadequate (Mark 9:28-29)

• The nobleman invited Jesus to his house• The nobleman didn’t know some things about

Jesus– He didn’t know that distance wasn’t the issue (Acts

17:27; Deut 4:7)– He didn’t realize the Lord’s Word was sufficient (Job

22:22)

• This was a learning day for a noble father

Job 22:22"Please receive instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart

Acts 17:2727 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

Deut 4:77 "For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?

A Noble Father Believes What Jesus Says (v. 50)

• “Go; your son lives”– Those words from Christ were enough for him– He believed the words of Christ and headed

home (he believed and obeyed)

• Each step toward Capernaum was a step of faith– His son had been healed the moment Jesus

announced it

• We must believe and obey God’s Word (1st John 5:13)

John 4:5050 Jesus said to him, " Go; your son lives." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.

1 John 5:13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

• Coming to Jesus It the Noblest Thing Anyone Can Do– How noble are you– Have you heard the Word– Have you obeyed the Word– Are you living by the Word