Gospel of John Miracles | Healing the Official's Son: Believe – Part 3

Send us Fan MailHealing the Official's Son: BELIEVE – Part 3Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith StewartSunday, October 10, 2021The healing of the official’s son is a story of a desperate dad with a very ill son. Not only will you be challenged in how you see and define faith, but this miracle uniquely reveals Christ as you haven’t seen Him before. SERIES: BELIEVEThere is always more to miracles than what meets the eye. They weren’t intended to make us Oooh and Aaah. They’re intended to remind us of Who Jesus is. This is especially true when it comes to the Gospel of John. When John tells the story of Jesus, he intentionally selects 7 miracles – what he calls “signs” – because of the message behind these supernatural events. John wants us to see Jesus as we never have before so that we might BELIEVE and by believing, we might have LIFE in His name.Discussion Questions: 1. In the healing of the official’s son, we discover two things about the man. First that he is part of an administration that has been aligned against Jesus and second, when his need was desperate, he sought Jesus for help. What can you learn about how to treat an enemy from Jesus’ example? Can you relate to his feelings of desperation? Have you ever been desperate? What was that like? How did you pray? What were your expectations of God?2. Without a doubt, a significant takeaway from this miracle is clarification around the question of faith. The Galilean Jews welcomed Jesus but we discover really quickly that their need for Jesus was quite utilitarian. They wanted Jesus for what He could do for them, not for Who He is. The Official with the sick son begins in a similar place - desperation for Jesus to do something for his son. But unlike the others, his faith progresses. The first indication of a new level of faith is when he leaves based on the promise Jesus made (which is really where all genuine faith begins – faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God). Why is “word faith” superior to “sign faith”? If we want greater faith, we need a more thorough knowledge of God and His promises. What promises (what word) helps you the most to more fully trust in God? Describe a time when you saw no evidence of God working in your life but you were steadied by His promises.3. Real faith is contagious. The Samaritan woman led the townsfolk to Christ and the Official’s faith caused his entire household to follow in his footsteps. A recent study found that the single greatest cause of atheism among youth today is when they see inauthentic and incongruent behavior in their Christian parents. So in the same way that authentic faith is contagious and draws others, inauthentic faith actually pushes people away from God. Have you ever met or known a Christian whose relationship with God impacted you tremendously? Describe what that quality was and why it was so compelling?4. The Old Testament parallels with the story of Elijah and Moses are at the heart of why this miracle is called a sign. Together they make the case that Jesus is greater than the prophets (Elijah) and the law (Moses). Describe what you learned in this part of the message. For Further Study (optional):Look at the long conversations in John chapter 3 (Nicodemus) and John 4 (the Woman at the Well). Whenever a writer places two similar narratives back-to-back, it is to challenge us as a reader to compare and contrast both stories. Take some time on your own or as a group to read through both accounts. What is similar in both stories? What is different? What lessons can you draw from your observations?