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Text Sermons : R.A. Torrey : Our Lord Restoring the Nobleman’s Son John 4:43–54

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(See also Matthew 14:3–5; 4:12–17; Mark 6:17, 18; 1:14, 15; Luke 3:19, 20)
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS

1. A Blessing Sought and Faith Demanded, vv. 43–50
When the two days in Samaria were past, did Jesus go to Nazareth? Why not (v. 44)? What is meant by “His own country”? (Luke 4:23, 24; Matt. 13:53, 54.) Why does a prophet have no honor in his own country? Ought a prophet to have honor? Why? Is the honor due to God’s prophets often denied them? (Acts 7:52.) Ought a servant of God to feel badly when the honor due him is denied him? (Matt. 5:12; Luke 6:22, 23.) Where is the honor due to a prophet most likely to be denied him? Did Nazareth gain anything by refusing Jesus the honor that was His due? (Matt. 13:57, 58.) Do men lose anything today by not receiving Jesus as they ought? Did any one receive Jesus (v. 45)? Did they gain anything by receiving him? What do those who fully receive Him gain? (John 1:12.) Why did these Galileans receive Him? Was that a good reason for receiving Him? What similar reason have we for receiving Him today? How did they come to see these miracles? Did they do right to go up to the feast? Was much trouble involved in their going up? Did it pay? Is there any lesson for us in this?
To what particular town in Galilee did Jesus go? Why did He go there? What proof have we that His going made a good deal of a stir? Was the nobleman a person who would have been likely to seek Jesus? What would have kept him back? What brought him to Jesus? What is it usually that brings men to Jesus? (Matt. 9:18; 15:22; 17:14, 15; Luke 7:27–38.) What is the most effective way to induce men to overcome the obstacles that lie between them and Jesus? How sick was the nobleman’s child? Ought such an extreme case as that be taken to the Lord? (Gen. 18:14; Luke 8:49, 50.) Is it extreme cases of sickness alone that should be taken to Jesus? (1 Tim. 1:15; Eph. 2:1; Heb. 7:25.) Why did this nobleman come to Jesus? Why is it that men come to Jesus for spiritual life? (John 6:68.) What then is one of the important things to show men if we would induce them to come to Jesus? (Acts 4:12.) Does Jesus wish men to come to Him with their troubles? (Ps. 50:15; Matt. 11:28.) Who may this “nobleman” or “king’s officer” (margin, R. V.) have been? (Luke 8:3; Acts 13:1.) How did he know that “Jesus was come”? Before men call upon the Lord now-a-days, what must some one do? (Ro. 10:14.) If some one had not told that nobleman that “Jesus was come,” what would have become of his boy? Unless someone tells the perishing millions at home and abroad that “the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost,” what will become of them? Who can deliver that message? What was the most important work that the one who told the nobleman that “Jesus was come” did that day? What is the most important work any of us can do any day? (James 5:20.)
What was the first thing the nobleman did as soon as he heard that “Jesus was come”? Why did he go to Jesus so promptly? Why is it that so many delay when they hear that Jesus is come? If men realized their need of Jesus, what would they do as soon as they heard He had come?
Having come to Jesus, what was the next thing the nobleman did? If we want anything of the Lord, what is the way to get it? (Ps. 50:15; Ro. 10:13; Luke 11:13.) As what did the nobleman come to Jesus? How must high and low come to Jesus if they come at all? What did the nobleman think it was necessary that Jesus should do in order to heal his boy? Did any one ever come to Jesus with a greater and more intelligent faith than that? (Matt. 8:8–10.) What was Jesus’ answer to the nobleman’s request? Why did Jesus say this? Why was there not more haste on Jesus’ part to grant the request? What was more urgent than the healing of the nobleman’s boy? Is there any better faith than one that rests upon signs and wonders that we see? (v. 42; 20:29; 1 John 5:10, 11; 2 Pet. 1:17–19.) Are there any who will not believe even when they see signs and wonders? (John 12:37.) With whom was Jesus contrasting the Jews in His own mind when He said: “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will in no wise believe”? (vv. 29, 41, 42.) In what light was it the Samaritans regarded Him and sought Him (v. 42)? In what light was it the nobleman regarded Him and sought Him (v. 47)? Does Jesus desire more to be sought as “healer” or “Saviour”? Did the nobleman allow himself to be put away by Jesus’ first answer? Why not? Ought we to cease asking when we do not get what we ask the first time? (Luke 18:1–8.) What was the result of the nobleman’s persistence? Did he get just what he asked? Why didn’t Jesus go down? Why did He yield to the nobleman’s request at all? What is implied by the nobleman’s saying, “Come down ere my child die”? Could not Jesus help even if the child were dead? (Mark 5:35–42.)
2. Faith Exercised and the Blessing Granted, vv. 50–54
Just what did Jesus say to the nobleman? How did the word sound to the nobleman? What similar sweet words is Jesus ready to say today? What was the first thing the nobleman did when he heard Jesus’ word? Did the word that Jesus spoke seem probable? Was it wise for the nobleman to “believe the word that Jesus spake”? (Titus 1:2; Matt. 24:35.) What is the sole ground he had for his faith? Was that enough? Is that enough for you? How did the man prove that he “believed the word that Jesus spake”? By what did the nobleman walk from Cana to Capernaum? (2 Cor 5:7.) Does Jesus ever demand of us today to walk by faith? If he did not believe Jesus, what would he have made Him? (1 John 5:10.) Do you ever make God a liar? Did the nobleman’s faith prove to be well-founded? How did it all turn out? How will everything turn out? (Acts 27:25; Josh. 23:14.)
When had the improvement in the sick boy begun? How do you account for that? (Ps. 33:9; 107:20.) Who was He at whose word sickness fled away? Was the healing affected by the influence of the boy’s mind upon his body? Was the healing instantaneous? Does God always work a complete work in a moment? (Mark 4:28.) What was the effect upon the father when he learned that the boy began to grow better at the very time that Jesus spake? What was the difference between the faith of the nobleman mentioned in verse 50 and that mentioned in verse 53? Did the nobleman believe alone? Is it to be expected when a man believes on Jesus that his family will believe also? (Acts 16:15, 31, 34; 18:8; 2:39.) Why are there so many instances where men believe but their families do not?
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS

1. Jesus Christ
Draws the afflicted to Him, 47; can help when all human help fails, 46, 47; His help must be sought by prayer, 47–50; answers believing persistent prayer even though the faith is very imperfect, 50; grants the substance, though does not always grant the letter, of the request, 47, 49, 50; desires to be recognized and sought as Saviour and not merely as Healer, 48; desires the faith that is satisfied with His own bare word, though it sees no signs, 48, 50.
2. His Word
Banishes disease, begets faith, never fails, 50–53.
“Truly this was the Son of God!”
3. The Nobleman
(1). His high position, suppliant attitude, sore distress, 46, 47; imperfect faith—(a) believed Jesus could heal near at hand, but not at a distance, 47, 49—(b) believed He could heal the sick but not raise the dead, 49; earnest prayer, 47, 49; searching rebuke, 48; undaunted persistence, 49; unquestioning obedience, 50; abundant reward, 51, 53.
(2). He needed Jesus, heard of Jesus, believed in Jesus, came to Jesus, 47; prayed to Jesus, 47, 49; held on to Jesus, 49; obeyed Jesus, 50; received the blessing from Jesus, 51–53.
(3). Three steps in the nobleman’s faith.
(a) He believed in Jesus’ power, 47;
(b) he believed in Jesus’ word, 50;
(c) he believed in Jesus Himself, 53






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