Jesus is Essential
John 4:46–50: So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.
The nobleman would not go away from Jesus! Jesus was his last hope. “Sir, come down before my child dies.”He cried out for mercy! “You may go. Your son will live.” These interesting words contain a partial granting and a partial denial. Jesus granted the healing, but he refused to go down to Cana. And he gave the man no sign! The only thing he gave the man was his word.
Our gracious Savior was attempting to elevate the nobleman to a higher faith. Picture the scene. Jesus and the nobleman standing face to face—the pregnant silence that settled over the crowd surrounding them—Jesus saying to him, “You may go. Your son will live.” What did that man think when he heard these words? How would he respond? “The man took Jesus at his word and departed.” 1
Walking with Jesus
How many of our failures happen because we do not take Jesus “at His Word?” We refuse to believe Him, become impatient, and do our “own thing” and not His will.
And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? John 8:46
To say you believe His Word, but refuse to do it, is rebellious unbelief. – TWEET IT
Praying
Lord, thank You for the grace to believe Your Word and be healed.
1. Hughes, R. K. (1999). John: that you may believe. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
