John 4, Part 2

Scripture: John 4:43-54

Observation: Jesus returns to Galilee, where He is not truly accepted. The people welcome Him because they've seen His miracles, but they don't have true faith (John 2:23-25). He goes to Cana, where a royal official seeks Him. This would be someone who was a servant of Herod. The official's son is dying, and he seeks Jesus for healing. Jesus' comment is directed not only to this man but to those Galileans around Him: "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe" (v.48). We see the offical's faith, as he asks Jesus, "Sir, come down before my little boy dies." (v.49). Jesus assures the official that his son will live, and the official believes and heads home. As he is on his way back, he is met by his servants, who tell him his son is alive. He asks them when his son began to recover, and realizes it is at the exact time Jesus told him his son would live. At this not only does the official believe, but also his whole household.

Application: The Bible does not specify whether this official was a Jew or Gentile. Nevertheless, the Jews would have regarded him as low as a Gentile just for being an official in Herod's court. Yet he showed greater faith than those in Galilee. Jesus told them they needed signs and wonders to believe; the official believed Jesus' words from the start. Notice that even though he'd asked Jesus to come and heal his son, he was perfectly satisfied with Jesus telling him his son would live. That's true faith. "Seeing is believing" is not faith. "Not seeing, still believing" is.

Prayer: Father, what a great lesson is learned from this official. He didn't need to see Jesus perform a miracle to believe it could happen. My faith needs to be like his. Even when the answer to my prayers isn't when I want it to be, I know You have the power to do anything. My prayers will be answered in due time. I just need to believe. Thank You Lord, for this assurance. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.