John 4:46-54 A miracle is an event brought by the power of God that is a temporary exception to the ordinary course of nature for the purpose of showing that God has acted in history. Richard Purtill He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:2 46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” 49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. 54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee. John 4:46-54 Faith is bringing our to Jesus. v. 47 The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, and his compulsion is our liberation. C.S. Lewis Faith is refined by v. 46-49 God had one son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering. St. Augustine Faith what Jesus tells us to do. v. 50 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 The signs which are demanded as proof of authenticity are no part of the path to faith. Faith begins with obedience to the words of Jesus. But within a context of obedience discipleship Jesus does graciously grant signs which enable the disciple to go forward on the path of faith. Leslie Newbiggin Questions for Discipleship group and/or personal study: Opener: When you were a child, what was your most serious illness or injury? Go to the Source: Read John 4:46-54 Does it surprise you that the royal official would travel 32km to see Jesus? Why or why not? Put yourself in his shoes, how would you have responded to Jesus when told to go back home? Live it out: Share a time in your life when you just believed God at His word. Is there an area in your life now that God is calling you to obey? How can your group help?