By John Richardson
SCRIPTURE
John 4:46–54
[46] So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. [47] When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. [48] So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” [49] The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” [50] Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. [51] As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. [52] So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” [53] The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. [54] This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
OBSERVATION
Every action of Jesus on this earth was for the redemption and belief of man. As one follows the life of Jesus, it is easy to see how personal interaction was eternally bound. John records this almost passive event in the fourth chapter of his gospel to highlight belief and Jesus’ power over death. The son living another day on this planet pales in comparison to the conversion of the entire household. Life on earth is a blessing, but life with Jesus forever is supreme.
- Jesus was back in Cana again, the location of His first miracle of turning water into wine (John 2). At the wedding, the disciples began to believe, now the belief of another person was on Jesus’ mind. An official had a sick and dying son. Every parent on the planet understands the lengths they would go for their child—here the man heard of Jesus’ arrival and ran down to issue an invitation (vv. 46-47).
- Whereas the official desired to extend an invitation to heal his son, Jesus was ready to extend an invitation to save his household. Jesus’ response seems sharp; he didn’t answer the response but looked past the events to the heart of the man. Without a sign, this man would not believe. Jesus shared that his son was healed, and the man believed the word of Jesus. The official was focused on Jesus fixing the present situation, but the belief that Jesus spoke of was the man’s belief of Him. Let’s not overlook the current circumstance being solved and miss Jesus’ eternal work.
- The travel from Cana to Capernaum was a few miles, but the official would not be able to travel at night for fear of what may happen. The official had to stop and stay the night, leaning deeply into the promise of Jesus, before arriving back to his healthy son. Trusting the word of Christ through the night may be something that we have to do right now (vv. 40-52).
- The healing of the official’s son set the stage for conversion. The whole household believed that Jesus was the Messiah, seeing the power of Christ over the health of the son. Every event in time has redemption in view; a believer must have a view of eternity in mind (vv.53-54).
OBEDIENCE
No matter the circumstances of life, everyone should remember the invitation of Jesus to believe. How we share the gospel in the midst of difficulty speaks of our faith “through the night.”
- What words from Jesus do you need to keep in mind this month? The hard times set the space to cling to the words of Jesus. If we aren’t in God’s Word, we will not have truth to cling to in faith.
- Look past the events of the day and keep eternity in view. How is God moving people toward eternity? Be sensitive to God’s redemptive work.
- How are we extending faith to our households? Each of us have been quarantined at home; minister first to those in your home and then to those who are in your neighborhood.
PRAYER
Ask God to help you keep eternity in view this week. Pray God’s Word back to Him, sharing the promises that you are clinging to. Pray for those in your household and neighborhood. “You can’t talk to people about God till you talk to God about people.”
