John 4:46-54

John 4:46-54

Therefore He again came into Cana of Galilee, where He made water wine.  And a certain royal official was in Capernaum, whose son was sick.  This one heard that Jesus comes out of Judea into Galilee.  He went to Him and he was asking in order that he should come down and He should heal his son, for he was about to die.  Therefore Jesus said to him, “Unless you all should see signs and miracles, you all should surely not believe.”  The royal official says to Him, “Lord, come before my child dies.”  Jesus says to Him, “Go, your son lives.”  The man believed by the word that Jesus said to him and went away.  And now while going away his slaves met up with him while saying that his son lives.  Therefore he inquired the hour from them in which he had gotten better.  Therefore they said to him that the fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.  Then the father knew that in that hour Jesus said to him, “Your son will live.”  And he himself and his whole household believed.  And this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming out of Judea into Galilee.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The last several days we spent looking at how Jesus did not discard the woman at well.  He did not discard her in spite of the fact that she was a woman and a Samaritan.  Now in this story we see that Jesus did not discard this royal official.  This is likely a man who was somehow connected to Herod’s court, but we cannot say for certain if he was a Jew or a Gentile.  But he is certainly outside of Jesus’ typical audience.  Jesus does not base His interaction with this man on the circumstances of their life.  Rather, Jesus is interested in the fact that the man came to Jesus believing that Jesus could do something about his need.

Do you believe faith trumps circumstance?  How does this belief play out in your life?  Where could this belief play out in your life more importantly?

Second Thought:

Also notice the specific subject of the verbs that Jesus uses in verse 48.  The subject is plural.  Jesus is speaking to “y’all.”  Jesus is making a statement about the general population around Him.  However, the man still insists, indicating to Jesus that there is genuine belief within him, not just some desire to see some grand spiritual healing.  What we can tell here is that Jesus recognizes truths about the general population.  However, He also recognizes truths about individuals and is willing to meet individuals where they are regardless of the truths that may be present about the population in general.

What truths can we say about human population in general when it comes to a relationship with God?  What people in your life rise above those truths?  How can you reach into the life of those people?

Third Thought:

The royal official believes Jesus’ word.  He leaves believing.  When he meets his slaves coming to get him, he finds proof that his faith was well-founded.  Yet, the man’s faith came before proof.  The man’s faith is proven well as he takes Jesus at His word.  In this story we see that Jesus is able to manifest the power of God in incredible manners and we are right to believe in His power.  Furthermore, when we believe, others have the opportunity to believe around us.

In your life, what came first: belief or proof?  How has God proven that your faith is well-founded?  Who has been affected by your faith?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 5:1-9