Text: John 4:45-54
Event(s): Jesus heals the nobleman’s son
John 4:46 “a certain nobleman’s son” This man was a royal official from the king’s court. (Not to be confused with King Herod the Great, this was most likely Antipas, one of his sons).
John 4:47 Jesus was in Cana, this man’s son was in Capernaum, over 20 miles away. The first long-distance miracle to be recorded. There is no distance in prayer, there is no place God cannot reach.
John 4:50 “Go your way, your son lives.” Jesus had just said in verse 48, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you won’t believe.” This man’s faith had started out at a level where he believed Jesus could heal his son, which was good. But he thought that meant Jesus had to physically come to heal him. Here, Jesus was giving him the opportunity to stretch his faith and believe that His word was enough. “Your son lives” was a promise this nobleman believed and held to, apart from seeing the sign.
John 4:53 “and his whole household” Belief is contagious, it’s like a thermostat that sets the spiritual temperature around us.
John 4:54 “the second sign Jesus did” This means the second sign Jesus had done in Cana. In reading through the Gospels chronologically, we know that He had done many other signs. (See John 2:23 and John 3:2)
Today’s Takeaway: What are you believing God for right now? Is there something He has spoken to your heart, and you want to believe it, but if you’re honest, maybe it’s only to a certain degree? Sometimes, we don’t want to get our hopes up because we don’t want to be disappointed. But God is the God of all hope (Romans 15:13); to avoid getting our hopes up is to suppress the very nature of who He is. Today, spend some time in prayer and ask God to show you areas where your faith can be deepened. There is joy in believing (Rom 15:13), not just in seeing, not just in receiving.
Additional (optional) reading: Romans 15:13; Romans 4:17; Psalm 84:11; Hebrews 11
Linda G Riddle 