The Miracles of Jesus

Meaning: A special display of God's power

Title: Jesus' abilities of influence and compassion   

Text: John 4:46b-53 And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.  When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.  Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.  The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.   Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.  And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.   Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour (1 PM) the fever left him.  So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. 

 Purpose:  The first thing that stands out to me is the influence that Jesus had.  People only heard about Jesus and they sought  Him.  Then when this man for the first time met Jesus, and heard His words, he believed what Jesus had told him.  There were only two types of people that day in Galilee, much like our world today.  There are those that believe in Jesus and, His Words, and those that do not.  Influence can be a wonderful thing.   Jesus influenced the Nobleman, and in turn the Nobleman influenced his whole family, (quite likely his servants too).  The overriding quality of Jesus in this passage is His compassion for people.  He made the nobleman's problem His problem.  The nobleman's pain was Jesus' pain. 

Principle: This passage illustrates qualities of Jesus that we should endeavor to engraft into our lives.  Those qualities are that of being an influence for Christ.  In a word leadership is influence.  Who are you influencing for the Lord?  Second quality is the tool of compassion.  Do you have the tool of compassion in your spiritual toolbox?