Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Looking at people having life transforming experiences
• Today: looking at the life of a nobleman - not just him, but his entire household come to faith
• We have seen ordinary people come to the Lord Jesus
• We have seen a religious leader come to the Lord Jesus
• We have seen a Samaritan woman come to the Lord Jesus
• Now: a royal official (probably in Herod's court)
• Think of contemporary examples
• Have you found faith? Has your life been transformed?

A Sad Scene

• A prophet has no honour in his own country (v44)
• Compare with Galilee and Capernaum
• The people of Nazareth were unbelieving with hardness of heart
• Jesus asks if the nobleman is this type - hard hearted (v48)
• Jesus steps into the lives of significant people and performs miraculous healings
• He brings glory to His name
• These miracles were signs
• Nothing the nobleman could do, could stop the tragedy afflicting his family
• Sickness and disease affects all people
• Although he has wealth he is heartbroken that his son is almost at the point of death
• Adam's sin has brought death and sickness into the world
• Part of being in a sinful world - part of the fall
• Yet Jesus came to address this:
• First came to deal with our sins
• Came to conquer sickness - a new heaven and a new earth
• This situation was to be the nobleman's blessing
• Sometimes sickness is part of God's medicine
• Personal Example of Anthony Green

A Pathway to Faith

• Believing in Jesus' Miracles ... then Jesus' Word ... then His Person
• Jesus seems to put him off (v48) - He is asking the man to examine himself
• The nobleman is not put off (v49)
• Are we just concerned with miracles?
• Jesus treat the man's weak faith with compassion (v50)
• He encourages such from His word [the Bible]
• We want people to come - Jesus says 'go'
• Example of Miraclesnfrom heaven
• "The man believed the word that Jesus spoke" (v50)
• This is real faith
• We may not have a physical disease but we are all affected by sin
• 1 John 1:9
• Isaiah: Sins like scarlet ... be as wool
• Jesus assures the nobleman of his faith
• The servant meets the nobleman with the same words 'your son lives' (v51)
• He was healed at the same time Jesus spoke (v52-53)
• The nobleman believes all the more, trusting in Jesus' person
• Not just this, but all his household (v53)
• Similar pathway with Nicodemus

A Happy Scene

• Can you imagine the scene?
• Wouldn't it be wonderful if Christ was at the centre of our family?
• Examples: Lydia, Philippian jailer, Crispus
• Will you give up everything for Christ?
• Death and sickness can come at any time - trust in Christ now