John 4:43-54 “Believing in Jesus”

Introduction: Without faith it is impossible please God. Jesus told Nicodemus that he that believeth is not condemned. He that believeth not is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Paul points out by the inspiration of God that it is by grace that we are saved through faith. In response to the Jailor’s question “What must I do to be saved?” Paul replied “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” God requires faith on the part of those who want to be saved. You have to trust in God. You have to believe in Jesus as the Christ the Savior of the world.

I. The Samaritan’s believed.

(John 4:43) Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.

The men and women of Sychar believed in Jesus. They believed Him to be the Christ the savior of the world. They believed not because of some spectacular miracle like the calming of a storm or the raising of the dead. They believed His word. They believed because of what the heard not because of what they saw.

Jesus would later tell Thomas “..blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed. Those who will take God at His word are more blessed than those who must have visible proof that Jesus is real. The age of miracles is over. According the book of Revelation, miracles will be done to deceive men and to get them to turn away from God. The two witnesses will come on the scene and will do miracles in the name of God and by His power but they will be rejected by men. We have the completed word of God and like Abraham told the rich man in hell “if they will not hear Moses and the Prophets neither will they believe though one rose from the dead.”

II. The Jewish leaders and the people of Nazareth did not believe.

(John 4:44) For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.

Jesus had just been in Jerusalem and had done marvelous things there. He had driven out the money changers and had healed the sick and done many marvelous works. In spite of these the Jewish leaders rejected Him as the Christ and began to seek ways to discredit and eventually to kill Jesus. In Jesus’ home town of Nazareth the people were saying “is not this the carpenter’s son.” They refused to believe in Him because they had seen Him grow up in their town. It was for this reason Jesus went to Cana instead of Nazareth when He returned to Galilee. It is sad to say that men of God are not respected by those who know them best. Jonah had great success when he preached to Nineveh but nothing is recorded concerning his reception among the Jews.

III. The Galilaeans believed.

(John 4:45) Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

The group of Galilaeans who had traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover had seen the wonderful things Jesus did there. These things fit the description of the Christ which was given by the Prophets of the Old Testament. They saw His authority in action and heard it in His teachings. They came away believing Jesus to be the Christ the Savior of men. Would they have believed had they not seen the miracles of Jesus? The miracles Jesus did were for the purpose of proving whom He was. His works testified to men like a witness in court. People would see them and know that He was indeed from God. These works had had this very effect upon Nicodemus. He said “We know that thou art a teacher come from God for no one can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with him.”

IV. The people of Cana believed.

(John 4:46a) So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine….

The people of Cana had seen Jesus do His first miracle. The saw Him turn water into wine. There had been no miracles for some four hundred years and now they got to see the first of many that Jesus and His disciples would perform. The draw of the miracles was powerful. People would begin to follow Jesus just to see Him perform miracles. They would later be put to the test by Jesus and told that they must drink of His blood and eat of His flesh and many would turn away from Him. They do not want to hear that they must believe without seeing for the best thing that Jesus does for mankind can not be seen with the eyes for it involves the heart.

V. A Nobleman believed.

(John 4:46b) .... And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

(John 4:47) When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

We are introduced to a man from Capernaum. He is a nobleman. The term nobleman means “a petty King.” He was the ruler over the town of Capernaum and got this privilege due to his relationship with someone in high places in the Roman Empire. He may have been kin to Harod Antipas who had John the Baptist beheaded. I suspect He was Jewish or may have been a proselyte Jew. Jesus had ignored the Canaanite woman who requested a miracle and did finally grant her request when He saw her faith. Would He not have also ignored this man if he had been a gentile? Jesus helped a centurion’s servant though he was a gentile and commented about his great faith. Faith pleases God.

This nobleman had heard about the miracles of Jesus. He believed the stories to be true. He made the long Journey from Capernaum to Cana because he believed. He was desperate. His son was at the point of death and he would do anything to save his son. I suspect he traveled just as fast as he could to get to Jesus.

VI. Believing in Jesus is based on trust.

(John 4:48) Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

I took a large object and placed it on the table and took off my wedding ring and asked my children if they believed that I could push that object through my ring using a pencil. They did not believe that I could do it. I told them that I could but they would not believe me. They had to see me do it before they believed that I could. I held the ring near the object and then passed the pencil through the ring and pushed the object with the pencil. They were amused but disappointed. They could have believed me saying “Dad, we believe if there is a way you can do it.”

Jesus is trust worthy. Every thing He says is true. Every promise He makes He keeps. Jesus has promised to save those who repent and ask Him for salvation and He will keep that promise. God is pleased when men trust in His word. Trust is an everyday occurrence. We trust in people and things every day. We trust in people we do not know. We trust in things we have never tested. I had a man repair the brakes on my car. I did not know him or anything about his skills. When he gave me the keys and said it was fixed I cranked the car and drove off without any hesitation. God is much more trustworthy than man. Job said “though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Put your trust in God and you will never be disappointed.

VII. Believing in Jesus is to admit there is no other hope.

(John 4:49) The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

I had to try it my way first. I thought I could be good enough to get to heaven on my own without God’s help. I was wrong. When I realized that there was no hope for me I believed in Jesus Christ. This nobleman knew there was no hope for his son if Jesus would not help him. In desperation we run to Jesus. When the doctors can do no more we run to Jesus. When works of righteousness fail we run to Jesus. This man desperately needed Jesus’ help. He did not argue with Jesus about his lack of faith and his stubborn need to walk by sight.

VIII. Believing in Jesus is needed when all seems impossible.

(John 4:50) Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

Jesus instructs the man to go home and informs him that his son lives. The man trusts Jesus’ words. He turns and heads home believing. A calm assurance comes over those who will believe the words of Jesus. When he says “thy sins be forgiven thee” you can rest assured that your sins are forgiven. Even if you have no outward sign or proof that your sins are forgiven you can have the assurance that they are when you believe the words of Jesus.

Believing in Jesus is demonstrated by obedience. If you believe in Jesus as your savior you will obey His command to be baptized. If you love Jesus you will keep His commandments. The only way others will know that you trust Jesus is for them to see your faith demonstrated in your actions. James said faith without works is dead being alone. When one truly believes in Jesus his life will reflect that belief.

IX. Believing in Jesus never disappoints.

(John 4:51) And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told [him], saying, Thy son liveth.

(John 4:52) Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

The man believed Jesus’ word and headed home but before he arrived home his servants met him with the good news “thy son liveth.” He believed and was not disappointed. He had made the long journey to see Jesus and received that for which he had sought. His son lived. Men may let you down but Jesus never will.

Notice that Jesus healed without having to be physically present. He has unlimited power to heal. He can heal when one is far away and when one is near. He can heal when the sick have great faith and when they do not. Like His healing power Jesus has unlimited power to save all those who come to him by faith. No matter what they have done and no matter where they are Jesus can save. I will one day stand on that street of gold and praise God almighty for all eternity because I believed in Jesus Christ.

X. Believing in Jesus affects those around you.

(John 4:53) So the father knew that [it was] at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

The fact that this man believed affected his whole house. Through his leadership and example his whole household also believed in Jesus. I suspect that those with whom the nobleman conducted business also had an opportunity to believe due to his testimony. This man became a fisher of men as a result of believing in Jesus. True believers desire to invite others to come and see Jesus.

I believe Jesus saves, I believe a crown of life awaits beyond the grave, I believe the path the saints have trod, that pray can touch the heart of God, I believe the old time way, I believe Jesus.

XI. Believing in Jesus is not blind faith.

(John 4:54) This [is] again the second miracle [that] Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

These miracles were recorded by John that we might believe in the only begotten Son of God and believing we might have life through His name. There is adequate evidence that Jesus came to earth and that He died. Most people believe at least this much about Jesus. Jesus also rose again from the grave and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father interceding for us. Jesus is waiting for lost souls to repent and believe in Him as their Savior. He came and by His works has proven that He is the Son of God the Savior of men. He fulfilled every prophecy made concerning His coming and will fulfill all the prophecies which concern His second coming.

It is up to you now to view the evidence and make a verdict. Will you believe in Jesus? Will you trust Him for salvation? Will you, child of God, believe His promises and obey His word? Do you believe Jesus is coming again? Are you ready?