It's John's Gospel, chapter four again.
The Gospel by John, and that's the fourth
chapter.
And in these nights of following the footsteps
of Christ, you know that for the past
two weeks, we've been up here in Samaria,
with the Lord Jesus uptight as well.
You remember how he left Galilee and came
down the eastern side of the Jordan, crossed
and came to Jerusalem, and for the past
two weeks, we have been with him in
Samaria.
We have done lovely, very memorable Tuesday when
we saw him sitting on the well, talking
to the woman at the well.
And then last week, we noticed that he
stayed two days more in Samaria.
Let's try to recapture that.
We're at John, chapter four, verse thirty-nine.
And many of the Samaritans of that city
believed on him for the saying of the
woman, which testified, he told me all that
ever I did.
So when the Samaritans would come on to
him, they besought him that he would tie
with them, and he abode there two days.
For we've got our time set to right.
He was with them for two more days.
They sought to beg him to stay.
And then you find, verse forty-three, now
after two days, he departed thence and went
into Galilee, and that's where we are following
a switch text tonight.
After those two very thrilling days in Samaria
with the Samaritans, he moved northward now, and
he comes back into Galilee, and in a
moment we're going to see him in what
was known as Cana of Galilee.
And I want you to notice this little
bit just now, verse forty-three.
Now after two days he departed thence and
went into Galilee, for Jesus himself testified that
the prophet hath no honour in his own
country.
And there have been arguments about why that
phrase should be in there, and in fact
some of the so-called Bible scholars said
it had no party.
Well, I'm afraid it has.
You know, I think we need to get
this correct before we move forward tonight.
It's one of the sort of incidentals again
of the passage.
You remember when Jesus was in Galilee before.
Let's go back and find that properly.
It's Luke's Gospel, chapter four.
Luke's Gospel, chapter four.
And at verse sixteen it says, as he
came to Nazareth, where he had been brought
up, and as his custom was, he went
into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and
stood up for to read, we have followed
his footsteps into that synagogue, and we've looked
up the message that he preached, and it
was the most interesting message.
And it says at verse twenty-two, and
all there he witnessed and wondered at the
gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.
And they said, is not this Joseph's son?
And he said unto them, ye will surely
say unto me this proverb, position ye thyself,
whatsoever we have had done in companions who
also here in my country, and he said,
better lay I say unto you, no prophet
is accepted in his own country.
That's something that he had said before.
When he was there he preached this message
and he knew they were about to try
to storm over the brow of the hill.
And he knew that his ministry to them,
with all its power and conviction, that they
were not prepared to receive it.
So he said the prophet is accepted, no
prophet is accepted in his own country.
Now he had said this before and we're
finding that he's saying it again.
And I think we're going to find that
he's said it again and again.
Let's go to Matthew 13 just for a
moment.
Matthew 13 Verse 53, And it came to
pass that when Jesus had finished these parables
he departed hence.
And when he was coming to his own
country, he taught them in the synagogue insomuch
that they were astonished and said, whence hath
this man this wisdom and these mighty works?
Is not this the carpenter's son?
Is not his mother called Mary?
And his brethren James and Joseph and Simon
and Judas?
And his sisters?
Are they not all with us?
Whence then hath this man all these things?
And they were offended in him.
But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is
not without honour, save in his own country
and in his own house.
So you see that our Lord Jesus had
said this sort of thing before.
And we'll find many times in the scriptures
he says it again and yet again.
And now when he's leaving Samaria, let's get
this clear.
He's going back to Galilee and it's perfectly
proper here for us to have this statement.
Now after two days he departed hence and
went into Galilee for Jesus himself testified that
the prophet has no honour in his own
country.
You see I think that when he had
talked to the Samaritans and there was such
a revival in Samaria for many of them
believed when he was leaving Samaria you know
heading towards Galilee I think he said with
a throb in his voice going into Galilee
and I know the reception there will not
be the same as here because the prophet
has no honour in his own country.
Now it tells us something about the Saviour.
It tells us that in his very heart
of hearts he knew the society that he
was moving into.
He knew that he would be despised and
rejected of men.
He knew that up there he must suffer
contradiction of sinners against himself.
He was never bluffed for a moment.
But he also knew that God had said
in the Old Testament that the people of
Galilee they that sit in darkness shall see
great light and it was his father's will
that he move into this society that didn't
want him.
But he knew all about every footstep you
know.
Knew he was leaving Samaria.
Knew that he was going to Galilee.
Knew exactly what they would do to him.
That's why the Samaritans had honoured him.
His own country and his own people and
his own king would give him no honour.
He knew all about that so the verse
is quite proper.
So let's get back to John 4.
We're going to find that when he comes
into Galilee you see verse 46.
I'll go back on 45 in a moment
or two.
We're at John 4, 46.
So, I like the word so.
It tells me all that I've been trying
to tell you.
This is how he came.
He knew all that was waiting for him.
The contradiction and the rejection.
So, Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee
where he made the water wine.
I think there's another little incidental that's there.
You know when I was preaching in Copenhagen
on one occasion one of the schoolmasters there
asked me out for supper and Mr. Corden
and I went for supper and there were
gathered into that zone quite a number of
friends.
Some of them belonged to the brethren.
Some of them belonged to the Lutherans.
And there was one or two modernists there
and I think the party was very specially
gathered just that we would meet head on
and I'm sure it was all sort of
prepared by someone.
And I remember I was talking about the
miracles and of course the moment you begin
to talk about the miracles and there's a
modernist about you can almost see the hair
rising on the back of his neck.
He doesn't like this.
He doesn't believe in miracles.
And I remember that I was talking to
the friends about the first miracle.
It was lost in Cana of Galilee where
the Lord turned the water into wine.
And I remember him saying to me I
would like you to look at that passage
and I said certainly and he turned me
to John too and have another look at
it again.
John's Gospel chapter 2 It's the story of
the marriage supper in Cana of Galilee and
you know much about it.
We've been through this already.
And it says in verse 6 And there
were set there six waterpots of stone as
to the manner of the purifying of the
Jews containing two or three fortunes apiece.
Jesus sat under them and filled the waterpots
with water.
And he brought me here and he read
this and he said you know you fellows
say that this was a miracle it may
not have been.
There is a possibility you know of some
old segments of wine lying in the bottom
of these that Jesus knew all about.
And he simply filled them and then he
tasted like wine.
And in my sarcastic way I said if
you are simple as to believe that I
think a pity of you.
Because I think a man that opens his
mouth to make a statement like that deserves
something sarcastic.
I don't think that's intelligence of any kind
or shape or form.
I think that's a modernist trying to make
up a young.
He said well you couldn't prove that there
wasn't.
Could I not now?
I said I'm afraid I can't.
He said it just says that there were
waterpots you don't know what was in them
they filled them with water.
I said you know you need to leave
the story and you need to come to
John 4 and I'll tell you what it
said there.
Verse 46 So Jesus came again into Cana
of Galilee where he made the water wine.
Is that what it says?
Is that what this book says?
And there's no use of trying to inject
some stupid remark into it.
He made the water wine!
That's what it says and that's what it
must be.
Otherwise you've got to tear a page out
of the book.
Just one of those little incidentals that put
him at odds.
And so we have the Lord back in
Galilee.
He knows the sort of reception that he
gets and he comes back to Cana of
Galilee where the first miracle was wrought where
he made the water wine.
Now I'm going to bring you a sauce
of caskets filled with cornflour for the seasoning
you can see by your notes.
And I want to show you a contrast
between the two provinces.
Between Samaria where he had been and Galilee
where he now is.
And we're going to look at the contrast
between the provinces.
And then we're going to go on to
look at the contrast between the two persons
who met him in Galilee.
There was a noble man who met him
and there was a centurion who also came
from Capernaum and met him.
And we're not only looking at the contrast
between the two provinces and the two persons
but we're going to take a good look
at the contrast between the two problems.
For one had a dying son and the
other had a suffering servant.
And then last but not least we're going
to look at the contrast between the two
performances.
Because this chapter this evening chapter 4 ends
like this verse 54 This is again the
second miracle that Jesus did when he was
come out of there into Galilee.
This is the second miracle.
You remember the first miracle was turning the
water into wine.
And this one this evening is the second
miracle.
So we're going to have a look at
the contrast between the provinces and the contrast
between the two persons and the contrast between
the two problems and the contrast between the
two performances.
And that's very simple indeed.
But let's go back up the chapter a
little bit as we look at these two
provinces back to verse 39 And many of
the Samaritans of that city believed on him
for the saying of the woman which testified
he told me all that ever I did.
And that is always and shall always be
something that fills me.
Whether you believe in woman preachers or not
you're going to have to put up with
this for a moment.
Mind you these Samaritans they believed on him
for the saying of the woman.
Mind you it wasn't D.
L.
Moody that went back to the Samaritans.
And it wasn't Z.
S.
Merchant.
And it wasn't Billy Green being blessed as
he may be.
And it wasn't Dr. Ironside.
It was the woman who met Christ at
the well.
Mind you she wouldn't be much to write
home about if you were going into her
previous character.
The Lord Jesus said to her go call
my husband.
And she hung her head I think she
blushed.
She said I have no husband.
He said in this verse well said.
For thou hast had twice husbands.
Jesus knew all about her past.
And I think the way he said thou
hast had meant that she was the prime
mover in getting them and maybe getting rid
of them too.
And the one you have now is not
your husband.
You're just living with a man now.
Of course the Lord was really getting into
the depths of her heart and making her
feel that she was a lost sinner.
And then very gently and very wonderfully and
very thrillingly he revealed himself to her.
And that day as he sat on the
well talking to this poor sinful woman he
revealed himself to her and she could say
mind you she didn't go to any Bible
school or anything like that to go out
preaching the gospel.
Let me tell you that now.
She just left the water pot on the
well and I mean she left it she
didn't forget it.
She had a job to do now and
she wasn't coming in this week anymore.
She was laying aside every week.
And she went back to the city and
she told the men and I think maybe
the men knew more about her than the
woman but there was such a change.
There was something that happened.
There was a new glow in her face.
There was a new thrill in her voice.
And this is what we are reading now.
And many of the Samaritans of that city
believed on him for the same alone.
I think it's a magic thing.
Don't you ever tie a woman up?
You leave her alone.
If the Lord uses her what sort of
a high priest are you to tie her
up?
It's a good job there wasn't some of
the type boys around in Samaritan.
She would never have got open her mouth.
Well you know they believed on him for
the same alone.
They'd never seen him yet.
This amazes me that this woman can so
go out and tell them about Christ in
such a way that they believe in him.
You don't think it's impossible I hope.
It really happened didn't it?
It really happened.
You know I think maybe that was one
of the biggest wonders they could have paid
them.
You know when a woman can leave her
water pot on the well and she's well
known for many years to be a character
in the province when she can go and
stand and open her mouth and tell them
about Jesus in such a way that there's
no getting out of it.
I think it's a great honour to the
Lord.
They must have known that the Lord saved
this woman.
This woman's changed.
Yes.
I think I told you before that there
used to be a prostitute on the east
end of Belfast there in Ballymackinach where the
new princess' picture house used to be and
she'd walk up and down around those corners
and she was worse than the prostitute because
some people said she had a disease that
you wouldn't need to touch her too closely.
But there was a big man who was
a preacher among the brethren called Willie Hagen
and while people moved off the footpath when
she was coming along and some of them
crossed to the other side one day Willie
Hagen just stopped her and put his hands
on her shoulder and said listen I know
who you are and what you do you
know but I want to tell you this
dear that Jesus loves you and that he
loved you so much sinful woman as you
are that he went to Calvary and died
for you and rose again and he would
look to save you.
He walked up didn't wait for any answer
and that night alone in the hustle of
the world she was saved and for many
years she was one of the best witnesses
for Christ in the east end of Belfast.
What an honor it is when Christ can
lift something out of the gutter and make
it something very good.
Ah don't put your hand through to stop
it leave it alone you don't agree with
it at least keep quiet.
Yes I think it was a great thing
this province was honoring Christ but watch it
read it on now so you see verse
40 So when the Samaritans were come unto
him they besought him that he would tally
with them and he abode there through these
and many more believed because of his own
words.
I like that bit too because you know
there was a lot of them believed because
of the woman's words.
She told them all about the man that
had changed her life but you know it
was quite a crowd believed when they had
it on them.
You know it seemed that there was a
little revival in Samaria in those two days
and I like this bit because verse 41
and many more believed because of his own
words and said unto the woman now we
believe not because of thy saying for we
have heard him ourselves and know that this
is indeed the Christ the saviour of the
world.
And for the first time that he's called
the saviour of the world in his book
there was a sermon of him that said
you know we've had some wonderful testimonials given
right through John and right through the gospels.
You remember the wise men came when he
was just two years of age and they
said where is he that is born king
of the Jews?
And the lovely title for Jesus king of
the Jews.
You remember that John the Baptist said that
one day behold the Lamb of God!
King of the Jews Lamb of God.
You know what the Samaritans were saying saviour
of the world.
You know they were not limiting this thing.
This is the bit that thrills me.
They were a sort of narrow minded people.
Why they have no dealings with the Jews
nor the Jews with them.
The Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
And yet you know the moment that they
see him and hear him and receive him
in their hearts they say he's for the
world.
He's not just for us not for the
Jews he's for the world.
Oh how they honoured him.
And you know I think that you can
see this that they saw him as the
saviour of the world.
Oh they saw that bit all And then
they saw him as the saviour of themselves.
And then they saw him as the saviour
for the world.
Oh what a lovely thing you know.
They really honoured him.
You know that's why when he was about
to leave he says a prophet is no
one or anything but a prophet.
And he is no one or
but And he says a prophet is no
one he You
know how the Galileans received him?
Well it will tell you here and then
you'll know.
It says when they were coming the Galileans
received him having seen all the things that
he did at Jerusalem at the feast.
For he also went up to the feast.
They received him as a miracle man.
Let's turn the page over to chapter 2
of John's gospel to you see.
Verse 23.
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the
parzival.
That's the feast that these Galileans went up
to.
In the feast day many believed in his
name when they saw the miracles which he
did.
But Jesus did not commit himself unto them
because he knew all men.
You know friend, receiving Christ as a miracle
man wouldn't save you.
I hope you've got the hold of that.
You know sometimes I'd be amused at what
people say.
I was talking to a crowd one day
and I detected that the man in the
corner who was a professor at Queen's wasn't
saved at all.
I said do you believe in the Lord
Jesus sir?
He says yes I think he was a
mighty man.
I said I'm afraid that wouldn't do you
know for an answer.
Just thinking that he's a mighty man wouldn't
save you sir.
That wouldn't do.
There are other people who say to me
at times he was a tremendous teacher.
That won't do.
I know he was a mighty man, I
know he was a tremendous teacher but that's
not what you're talking about.
An old fellow said to me once he
was a mystic.
Yeah he may have been thought of mystic
in ways but that won't do sir.
If you only receive him as a miracle
man.
If you only receive him as a mighty
teacher.
If you only receive him as a mystic
messenger.
You're on your way to hell tonight.
It's not lessons from the life of Christ
we need.
It's life from the death of Christ we
need.
You'll need to see him dying for you
on the cross.
As a sacrifice for your sin and you'll
need to personally receive him as your saviour.
Don't be coming round to me when I
stop now.
Nicodemus came in the middle of the night
and said Go after Peter Kent from God
for no man can do these miracles without
this and Jesus said shut you up.
You must be born again.
Make no mistakes about it.
This is all the Galileans wanted.
An exhibition of miracle power that he had
done at the feast because they had been
at the feast.
The other people received him as their saviour.
Did you get the difference?
Because there's a mighty contrast you know.
Too many folks running about saying he's nice
and they wouldn't accept him as their saviour.
Ah you'll go to hell.
You'll be damned for all eternity.
Don't bed drop on yourself.
You're a sinner.
Deborah died like the woman at the well.
And Jesus died for the ungodly and rose
again and there is a saviour for you
if you'd only take him.
And to as many as received him as
their saviour is he the power to become
the son of God.
So I think you can see the contrast
here alright.
The Samaritans honoured the Lord.
The Galileans gave him no honour.
The Samaritans believed in him because because they
believed he was the saviour.
The Galileans received him because they thought he
was the great exhibitionist who would give miracles
in their place too.
And now we come to the two persons.
Verse 46 So Jesus came again in Satina
of Galilee where he made the water of
wine.
Don't ever forget that.
That's in John 4.
And there was a certain noble man.
Let's get him into the picture.
He's a sort of a prince you know
in the nation.
There was a certain noble man whose son
would stick up Capernaum.
Just note where this noble man lived.
He lived quite a few miles away you
see.
Because there was a king of Galilee there
and Capernaum was right over there.
And it was quite a few miles.
But hearing that Jesus had come to Galilee
and to Satina of Galilee this noble man
whose son was sick at Capernaum Verse 47
When he heard that Jesus was come out
of Judea into Galilee he went on to
him and bespoke to him that he would
come down and heal his son.
I want you to get the hold of
that.
I want you to try to see the
scene and it will help you you know.
I don't know what Jesus was doing but
he was in Satina of Galilee.
And this great noble man had come all
these miles across the country and I think
the crowd parted for him you know when
the prince comes round you give him room.
And he just came to Jesus and said
come down and heal my son.
Now he must have had some sort of
faith in Jesus when he came to him
to heal his son.
But I don't want you to think for
a moment that it was great faith.
For indeed I don't think it was.
You see he said to Jesus come down.
You need to come to Capernaum you know.
He seemed to think that if Jesus was
nearby his son that he could heal him
but he didn't seem to think that he
could heal him if he was far away.
I hope you are getting that.
But the first thing that he said is
come down.
He said a lot of folk would like
the Lord to come down you know.
So the Lord will look at you and
hold you by the hand.
That is not faith at all I don't
think.
Oh no that's not faith.
Faith neither goes up to bring Christ down
nor goes down to bring Christ up.
Faith can take Christ at his word just
where he is.
You know I think that sometimes we say
when the woman shakes her hand and cuts
the hem of his garment that it was
great faith and I don't think it was.
Oh I know it was faith.
I don't think that these things declare a
greatness.
I think they declare a weakness.
She seems to think she'll have to touch
him somewhere.
I think there's a whole lot of us
with this sort of superstition within us.
And it's unbelief you know.
Oh I know there's belief but there's a
terrible lot of unbelief.
Jairus said come down to my brother and
lay thy hands upon him.
He seems to think this is the only
way it can be done.
There's a lot of us like that.
You know nearly in Martha and Lazarus he
used to stay at their home and they
knew him well and then Lazarus took him
and he died.
And then Jesus came and Mary was sitting
weeping and Martha walked up to the grave
with him and Martha said if thou hadst
been here my brother would not have died.
Oh below that.
You would almost think it was faith if
you were simple enough.
Oh he didn't need to be there.
Let's get the hold of this now.
In case you're charmed with this.
There's a whole lot of us who would
want to touch.
And you can't believe that he can do
things when he's far away.
And you sort of look into his eyes
and say oh that's indeed it.
Yeah that's not really faith at all.
Oh no my friend I'm afraid not.
Let's have a look at this other fellow.
And we're at Matthew's Gospel chapter 8 now.
Gospel by Matthew chapter 8 and it's still
Capernaum.
Verse 5.
Matthew 8 verse 5.
And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum there
came unto him a centurion.
Now that's different from the nobleman.
That fellow's just a soldier.
Oh I know he's well off in the
army all right.
He's in command.
He's an officer but he's a soldier.
When Jesus was entered into Capernaum there came
unto him a centurion beseeching him and saying
now what's the difference?
First word is lost.
The other fellow almost barks you know.
Come down.
Now you're not allowed to talk to the
Lord my friend.
I know there are people in prayer meetings
who almost command the Lord.
Oh I wish they would stop it.
You don't command the Lord son.
What a pity.
And you're not allowed to do it either.
This fellow's different.
Just watch it.
Saying Lord my servant lies at home sick
of the palsy grievously tormented.
Have I said another word yet?
And Jesus said unto him I will come
and heal him.
Just like that.
Now watch the character.
The centurion answered and said Lord I am
not worthy that thou shouldst come unto my
roof but speak the word only and my
servant shall be healed.
For I am a man under authority having
soldiers under me and I say to this
man go and he goeth and to another
come and he cometh and to my servant
do this and he doeth it.
When Jesus heard that this is a great
word isn't it?
Iman.
That's what he called faith now.
You see the contrast between the two men
can't you?
The two persons.
Because one of them is just barking and
saying come down and the other fellow says
just say the word only Lord.
You just say the word Lord and my
servant will be healed.
You don't need to come down.
You don't need to come into my house.
I know you can do it where you
are.
You got that now?
This is a vast difference you know.
It's the sort of faith that Jesus marveled
at.
Oh I wonder when our faith is going
to make Jesus marvel again.
The least little bit of trouble that we
are in you know.
And the least little financial storm.
And the least little parental upheaval.
And the least little anything that glows you
know.
We're almost gone.
Don't seem to have this sort of faith
at all that can say look Lord just
say the word only.
Don't bother to move and just say the
word only and it will be okay.
I wish we had.
I'm sure that all of us will have
to confess that nearly every time we've got
to say Lord I believe help thou my
unbelief.
Because I'm sure it's in all of us.
When is the Lord going to marvel at
our faith again?
You remember when Peter and John stood before
the Jewish Sanhedrin and the Sanhedrin had made
up its mind to slay them.
And Peter answered in a way that will
make us always proud of him.
He said to the Sanhedrin the Lord Jesus
is the stone that you builders set at
night.
It's become the head of the corner.
And what more may there is of salvation
than any other for there is none other
name under heaven given among men whereby we
must be saved.
It says you know the Sanhedrin marveled when
they saw the boldness.
Peter and John they marveled took knowledge that
they had been with Jesus.
When is Jesus going to marvel at our
faith?
When is the world going to marvel at
our stand?
Sometimes we have never sat in a stand.
Oh, when is it going to happen?
Have a look at Mark 6 and I'll
show you something.
I mustn't get lost up this alley now.
I shouldn't be doing this.
Mark 6 And here they're talking again verse
3 that said John is not this the
carpenter the son of many the brother of
James and Joseph Judah and Simon are not
his sisters he and Whistler and they were
offended at him.
But Jesus said unto them a prophet is
not without honour but in his own country
and among his own kin and in his
own house.
And he could there do no mighty work
save that he laid his hands upon a
few thick folk and healed them.
And he marveled because of their unbelief.
See the difference don't you?
It's quite clear the difference.
When is the Lord going to marvel at
our faith?
When is the world going to marvel at
our stand?
Wonder is the Lord marveling that we don't
believe him at times.
The man sitting on the end of that
seat there his name is Johnson and his
father's name is Fred Johnson.
I went to preach at Shankill 30 years
ago I was just a young boy and
I had got a lot of things to
learn and I arrived at the church early
and there was only one man in the
place Fred Johnson.
And we kept talking and then I went
many times after that to preach and we
talked more.
And I can tell Mr. Johnson tonight that
his father was a man of God.
And I can tell this meeting I found
I can tell the world that.
And I used to go early to the
meetings used to talk to him.
We were sitting on the front seat in
the choir base there and I said Fred
how did you get saved?
He said I'll tell you that.
He said you know I was I was
a soldier in the First World War.
I don't know whether Mr. Johnson knows this
or not.
He said you know we were just going
to go over the top the big battle.
He said I knew that once we go
over that in the morning there's a lot
of us boys not coming back.
He said I was standing with mud over
my shoes over my boots and I was
thinking heavy.
My old mother had taken me aside and
told me about the stage before I stepped
under the tree.
She'd given me a little testament and said
Fred you need to trust the Saviour one
day you know.
She's going to be in heaven.
She said I didn't pay much attention to
her at Gork station saying that you know.
She came back now standing here and I
know I'll go over the top.
I'll maybe be in eternity before the nightfall.
I took off my thin hat and I
bowed my head and I said Lord Jesus
I've never thought much about you.
But you're my mother's Saviour and today by
faith I'm making you mine.
She didn't say it.
She said I blew the whistle and over
the top we went from left to the
right and the left.
There were hundreds who moved down non-touching.
In the trenches we won the battle and
a few days later they took us back
to base and said boys you've done well.
You can go home for a few days.
So we got home from France I landed
at the station I came up the street
I turned into our little house she said
gun on the shoulder, pack on the back
thin hat on the back of the head
she said I can see my mother as
she was washing with the washboard in the
tub.
Then she dried her hands on her hip
and she said Fred I'm glad to see
you and I know you're saved.
She said mother how do you know that?
She said I know the day you were
saved.
She said mother you don't know that.
She said she opened her Bible and on
the back of the Bible she had the
day and the date and it was the
day and the date and I was saved.
She said Fred I was praying for you.
I just knew.
That's your grandmother and that's your grandmother's faith
and there's her great granddaughter sitting there she's
got the same faith.
These were all people who could trust the
Lord without moving would to God I had
a congregation of them.
Yes, got the hold of the Lord somehow
and they knew, they knew, these people knew
who didn't need any hallelujah bands or anything
like that.
Thank God for them.
I have a feeling that my old mother
prayed many unto the king and he said
get on somebody let's go on with the
contrasts.
You know I want you to get the
hold of this.
Let's go back to John 4 and we're
at verse 46 again in the middle of
the verse there was a certain nobleman whose
son was sick at Capernaum and when he
heard that Jesus was come out of Judea
into Galilee he went unto him and betrothed
him that he would come down and heal
his son for he was at the point
of death.
Then said Jesus unto him except if he
signs and wonders he will not believe.
Now he rebuked this nobleman and I think
he rebuked him for the very thing that
I'm finding out this evening.
You know there are some of us and
we pretend to believe the word of the
Lord and then we want signs.
We're always spitting in the back for signs
for some reason.
And you won't believe unless you have these
signs.
Seeing as the word of the Lord is
not enough for you I think the great
pity of you is I assure you the
word of the Lord is enough for me.
These signs, very sickening signs.
A wee girl comes in and says I'm
going to the mission for you.
How do you know?
She says I asked the Lord to send
me two pounds this week.
I said on my way home the devil
could send me two pounds.
This is baloney to me.
So it is.
They just put themselves in the devil's way.
The Lord just turned on them and said
except if he signs and wonders you will
not believe him.
He'll notice but he went on with it.
He took his stand and verse 49 the
nobleman said unto him Sir come down here
my child I and I think that his
tone would change him now.
Jesus said unto him go thy way thy
son liveth.
Now what's this?
And the man believed the word that Jesus
had spoken unto him.
Now he's getting places isn't he?
The Lord took off his ear before he
got round to real faith.
He's believing now all right.
And he won't change no nothing else.
And it really happened.
You know when you see these two problems
here the dying son and the suffering servant
you know it's the persons that come to
present the problems to the Lord that you
need to watch.
You know friends we had an old lady
in this meeting some years ago her name
was Mrs. McCormick she was the mother of
a big man that was here with us
called Big Ellic mother of Mrs. Holden as
she was in the meeting.
She was an old lady I don't know
what age she was when she died she
was very old looking to me I never
knew her age.
But I used to go to see her
once upon a while and she was a
little bit deaf and she always told me
not to knock the door just turn the
handle and come in.
And I turned the handle one morning and
went in and this old lady was on
her knees and she never heard me.
And I put the door behind me and
just held it.
And I've never heard praying like that before
or after.
And that old lady was praying for me.
She was presenting my case to the Lord
until I cried with shame until I was
beat.
Here was an old soul I don't know
whether she'd ever been to school or not
but she was down on her knees she
belonged straight down on her knees with her
hands stretched up and her face turned towards
the ceiling.
And what a sight.
And the day that we carried her remains
to the graveyard I knew that I had
lost somebody who could present my case to
the Lord.
Great when you have somebody presenting your case.
The noble man didn't know how to do
it.
Ah, but the centurion knew.
He says, don't bother Lord just say the
word, you don't need to come.
He was putting the case right.
Do you present your children's case?
Do you remember when Peter was taken captive?
Oh, it was a mighty moment for the
new church.
It says that the church prayed without ceasing
unto God for Peter.
Oh, you can see the unity in the
church.
You can see the continuity they prayed without
ceasing.
You can see that some precipice had just
lifted Peter off of their hands.
Oh, do we present our case properly?
Or do we fiddle about with prayer?
Can you see here?
The difference.
Let's go on through this performance that's here.
Yes, I want you to get the hold
of this.
You know the last verse of this chapter
4 says this.
This was again the second miracle that Jesus
did when he was come out of Judea
into Galilee.
This is the second miracle.
Oh, that's very important to notice that.
And I want to say a wee word
to you because there are people who tried
to make an argument out of this.
You know, I've done a lot of preaching
in Porto Ferry, Porto Bogie, Cloche, Ballyhalbert, all
the country down post, I know it very
well.
And when I was preaching in Porto Bogie
the old parish priest who came from Porto
Ferry used to come down the harbour and
always look up to me.
And many a time, you know, he and
I strolled round the harbour and up the
harbour road together.
Oh, if you saw me coming up there
with the priest, you would have thought I
was away to Rome.
And no notion had gone to wrong.
We had some mighty but friendly arguments.
And I remember we were arguing about the
miracles.
And I said to him, you know, you
have the book of the Maccabees.
He said, yes, I have.
And I said, there's a whole lot of
nonsense in that about Jesus working miracles when
he was at school.
He said, it's all nonsense, he worked miracles
at school.
I said to him, the book says that
the first miracle was wrought at Cana of
Galilee.
And I thought I had him stoked, you
see.
But he knew a thing or two.
He took my Bible from under my arm
and he opened it and he said, I'll
show you this.
And he opened it at this chapter, chapter
4, and he read the last verse.
He said, this is again the second miracle.
So he said to me, is this really
the second miracle?
I said, no, it's not, because the Lord
wrought many miracles when he was up at
the feast at Jerusalem.
But this is the second miracle in Cana
of Galilee.
He said, well, that just takes the point
away from you that the first miracle was
wrought at Cana of Galilee, but there might
have been many more miracles, so you can't
have it like that.
Now that was pretty subtle.
I'll tell you why.
You see, when you go back to John,
chapter 2, have a look at this.
You see, it doesn't say that this was
the first miracle, although I used the phrase
tonight.
When Jesus turned the water into wine, this
is what it said in verse 11.
This beginning of miracles that Jesus in Cana
of Galilee.
So when he said to me, you know,
this is not the second one, and that
wasn't the first one, I said, but it
doesn't say it was the first one.
I just turned the page over, it says
this beginning.
And I can see him setting the book,
and I can see him smiling his head.
And I said, you know, you old thrifter,
you, you knew this all the time.
You knew it didn't say the first miracle.
You knew it said the beginning of miracles.
And isn't how men would twist the Scriptures,
and they know what they're doing.
And had I not been quick enough, when
he said the first and the second, he
would have put me and maybe you in
a fix.
But all the time, he knew exactly what
he was doing.
That's handling the word of God deceitfully.
Not allowed to do that.
You know about the first miracle, don't you,
or the beginning of miracles?
It was Christ defeating disappointments.
This marriage had taken place, and the young
bridegroom was responsible for the wine, and it
ran out.
There was none.
And you know, there was a great disappointment,
I'm sure.
This soul was disappointed.
Then Jesus turned the water into wine, and
the governor of the feast called the bridegroom
and complimented him.
You know, friend, there's a lot about disappointment
in the Bible.
This soul was disappointed.
Do you remember Elijah hiding by the brook
Cherus?
And God sent him bread and flesh in
the morning, bread and flesh in the evening,
and he drank of the brook, and then
it says, after a time the brook dried
up.
Fetch the message here once on the drying
brook.
You know, something that you're depending on, something
that refreshes you, something that your whole life
is leaning on, it can be taken away
so quickly, and you're disappointed.
There was a disappointed soul at the marriage.
There was a disappointed saint at the brook.
Remember Gideon marching out to battle with thirty
-two thousand men behind him, chest up, head
up, and God halted him.
God said, you're far too many.
Just say, if there's any of you boys
afraid, go home.
Turn around and think with a smile.
Is there anybody scared?
Do you get home?
Twenty-two thousand, go home.
The rest were ten thousand.
God said, there's too many.
Bring them down to the brook.
I'll test them there.
Nine thousand seven hundred, go home.
He started the battle with thirty-two thousand,
and about an hour later you're left with
three hundred.
There will be disappointment written on your face.
Yes, you remember that the servants of God
went out and toiled all night and caught
nothing.
Sometimes there are disappointed servants around.
I need to know who I'm talking to
when I talk to the men of God,
because as I say, we've got fifteen or
sixteen saints since the New Year.
If I said that to some of them,
they'd never come back near me.
Look, friend, whether you're a disappointed soul or
a disappointed saint or a disappointed soldier or
a disappointed servant, the Lord can turn your
disappointment into His appointment.
He can defeat it, you know.
And you know, in this last medical year,
it's not so much defeating disappointment but defeating
death.
I think that one of the most interesting
subjects in this book is seeing Christ and
death together.
You know, He can prevent death.
This sweet lad was going to die here
until Jesus spoke a word.
He can prevent death.
And I'll tell you this, He can permit
death.
Oh, yes.
The martyrs died at Christ's permission.
Satan died when Christ permitted it.
He can prevent it.
He can permit it.
He can predict it.
Said to the man, said to the man,
just help her out there now, boys.
Take your time now.
Let's hold it for a moment.
Take it easy now.
Yes.
Hurry, Edgar.
Hurry, do it and phone the doctor.
Yes.
All right.
Take her into the kitchen zone, put her
down flat.
Let's bow our heads before the Lord.
Lord, we bow our feet.
You know everything about our dear old sister.
We commit her very carefully and lovingly to
thee.
We've been singing the other morning, my times
are in thy hand and her times are
in thy hand.
Yes, now.
Lord, bless all that's been said in the
class tonight and if we cut it short,
you know everything about it.
Help us now in thy fear and with
thy blessing through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.