The Authority of God’s
Word
How much authority does
God’s word have over you? Suppose
you have a regular physical check-up today. You go to see your doctor. You
undress yourself to show your body, even your private parts, so that the doctor
can examine whether you have any symptom of cancer, such as testicular cancer,
color-rectal cancer, and so forth. We give that much authority to a doctor,
because we trust their knowledge, skill and experience. For some, God’s word is
powerful and uncovers everything. Hebrews 4:12-13 says, “For the word of God is
living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to
dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes
of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is
uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” These
people allow God’s word examine their soul and spirit. They uncover themselves
before God’s word. But for some, God’s word is just the old saying and
basically powerless. They hear it, but they don’t understand. They see it, but
they don’t comprehend (cf. Isa 6:9). They don’t disarm themselves before God’s
word. They don’t allow God’s word examine their heart and mind. How much
authority do you give to God’s word?
Welcoming Without
Welcoming?
Jesus Christ is God’s
living word. How much authority does
Jesus have over you – your thoughts, your time, and your decision? In today’s
scripture we find some strange things that need to be explained. Now Jesus goes
to Galilee, his hometown, from Samaria. Verse 44 begins with the word “for”: Jesus departed
for Galilee because he knew he has no honor in his own
hometown. In other words, Jesus intentionally goes where he is less
honored and more misunderstood. That’s strange logic. It seems strange and
against all common sense to us – go to a place because people will don’t
understand you and don’t honor you for who you are. But as for Jesus it was not
strange at all. In fact, that was his mission from the beginning – go to a dark
place and offer himself to his own people. And he knew that his people would
not receive him; instead, he would be rejected and killed.
Jesus goes to Galilee, his own people, because he expects no honor there. Then, verse
45 says, “So [therefore] when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him.” That’s another strange logic.
According to verse 44, the people of Galilee are supposed
to dishonor him. But John basically says, “A prophet has no honor in his own
hometown, therefore they welcomed him”??? So what is this? The answer is
that the “welcome” was not a kind of receiving Jesus that he has true honor
for who he is. People’s welcome was just superficial welcome, welcoming
without welcoming. They had already seen miracles performed by Jesus in Jerusalem during the feast (45). So they welcomed him. But
it was just an interest in his signs and wonders. It was superficial
welcome, superficial honor for what he has and what he does rather than who he
is.
Obstacles to Seeing Jesus’
Glory
In today’s passage John helps
us to overcome obstacles to seeing the glory of Jesus. The greatest obstacle is
“pride.” The people must have felt proud, because Jesus was from their own hometown.
They would say, “Yes, this great miracle-worker grew up in our town!” The more
Jesus became famous, the more proud of themselves they felt. Jesus’ power and
fame became their pride. So they welcomed him. They expected more miracles from
Jesus, because they fed their pride. Pastor John Piper rightly expounds this
story as follows: “We can be attached to a church, or a movement, or music
style, or a person, or a ministry in a way that starts to feed our ego. And it
will seem justifiable because it’s Christian. And subtly we begin to want this
Christian thing to thrive not for the glory of Christ, but because it feeds our
ego.”[1] When
that happens, it clouds us to see the glory of Christ.
Another aspect of the danger
of pride is a sense of over-familiarity with Jesus. Familiarity breeds pride.
Probably the people thought, “We know this Jesus. He is one of us. We know his
mother and his brothers. We used to live right next to his place. So let’s see
what he claims to be.” In the same way, many of us grew up in the church and
Christian culture. We may have that same mindset within us: “I know Jesus. I
know the Bible. I know Christianity.” Jesus is too familiar to shock us and
blow our minds. He is too familiar to be powerful in our lives. That
over-familiarity with Jesus clouds us to see Jesus and honor him for who he
really is, even though we think we are.
An Official from Capernaum
Today John gently invites us
to grow deeper in faith in Jesus Christ by telling us the story of one man in
today’s passage. Verse 46 says, “… and at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.” So who is
he? The word “official” is literally “royal one” who works for a king in some
way. So probably, this man was a high ranking officer in Herod Antipas’
service. He got nothing to envy in this world. He got fame, power, wealth,
health, and family. But then, something happened. His beloved son got seriously
ill. He must have exhausted all means available. He must have gone to the
famous doctors. He must have tried good medicines whatever it cost. But it was
no use. And his son got worse and was at the point of death (47). He was so
desperate. Then he heard the news that miracle-worker, Jesus, was coming to Cana. He ran all the way down from Capernaum to Cana, about 15 miles. And he asked Jesus to come down and
heal his son. Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you
will not believe” (48). Here in verse 48 both times “you” are the second person
plural. Jesus was not just speaking to this man, but also to the whole group of
people in Cana, and to us. Here Jesus was saying, “You say you
believe, but your belief is not real belief that honors me. You are
sign-seekers. You are miracle-worshipers. You must increase your faith!”
This man must have taken
aback, but he didn’t give up. He said, “Sir, come down before my child dies”
(49). He had faith. But his faith had to meet two conditions – space and time:
Jesus, I believe but you have to come with me and pray for my son
(spatial limitations). Jesus, I believe but you have to do something
before my child dies (time limitations). But for Jesus, there is no “too
far” or “too late.” For Jesus, it doesn’t matter the boy was either 15 miles
away or 150,000 miles away. For Jesus, it doesn’t matter whether it is before
or after the death. The power and authority of Jesus’ word surpass time and
space. His word is all powerful and almighty. Jesus could go and heal this
child. But instead, he challenged him to increase his faith, “Go, your son will
live.” Surprisingly, the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went
back all the way home, another 15 miles (50). When he encountered Jesus
personally, he saw something more than a miracle-worker in Jesus. And he
believed the word and did act.
Then the miracle did happen.
His son was healed. And the father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said
to him, “Your son will live.” And verse 53 says, “And he himself believed,
and all his household.” His belief now in verse 53 is much deeper than the
one in verse 50. In verse 50 he believed in Jesus as a miracle-worker. He
believed in miracles and healing. But in verse 53 now he believed in Jesus as
the Son of God, the Savior of the World. He saw the beauty and glory of Christ
who stands behind miracles and healing. He asked for healing, but by the grace
of God he received the greater gift, Jesus Christ himself. He and all his
household believed in Jesus. And by believing they had real and eternal life in
his name (cf. John 20:31 ).
Capernaum to Cana
Many of us in this room have
our own “Capernaum,” the place where we suffer and struggle – It might
be economic difficulties. It might be family troubles. It might be physical
weaknesses. It might be salvation for our spouse or our children. So what is
your Capernaum?
Suffering itself is not a blessing. But it can be a blessing in disguise when
we suffer in Christ and with Christ. In Psalm 119:71 David says, “My suffering
was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees” (NLT). Our
suffering can bring us closer to Jesus. It can cleanse the eyes of our souls
and spirits to clearly see the glory of Jesus Christ. So let us come to “Cana,” where Jesus is standing and opens his arms to us.
The Apostle Paul was once a
blasphemer and a persecutor. But even that time, he thought he knew God. He
thought he was working for God. He was too familiar with God to pray, too
familiar with God’s church to think, and too familiar with religion to study. But
God is gracious and powerful. Paul encountered Jesus. Something like scales
fell from his eyes. Then, he clearly did see the glory of Jesus. After this, he
proclaimed Jesus in this way: “He died for everyone so that those who receive
his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for
Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others
from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a
human point of view. How differently we know him now!” (2 Cor 5:15 -16, NLT) May all the scales fall from our eyes! May
the Lord remove all pride and reveal to us the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
[1]
John Piper, “Go, Your Son Will Live,” Desiring God, http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/go-your-son-will-live
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