Day 14-Tuesday, February 27th
John 4:43-52
Hoping or Believing?

After spending two days in Sychar with the Samaritans, Jesus returns again to Cana, the site of His first miracle of changing water into wine. At this point, news of His power to work miracles has spread throughout the entire region. When word of the return of Jesus reaches a government official from nearby Capernaum, the official comes to Jesus begging Him to come to heal his son who was at the point of death.
When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to Him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. John 4:47 NIV
It would be easy to just skip over the response of Jesus in order to see the miracle of the healing of this boy. But, let’s take a moment to consider His response…
“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” John 4:48 NIV

Clearly Jesus is speaking to the entire group rather than just shaming the official. I believe that the words of Jesus speak as powerfully to us today as they would have to this crowd. There is a difference between hoping and believing.

It is human nature to doubt what we cannot see…this is where faith comes in. The writer of Hebrews states…

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV

Jesus desperately wants us to place our faith in Him and believe that what He says will happen is as good as done.

Returning to this passage, it is not clear that the frantic official even hears Jesus’ response. He implores once again for Jesus to please come heal his son.

(Does Jesus sigh with resignation here?)

Jesus presses the point…

“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” John 4:50a NIV
At this point, the official must make a choice. The news of the power of Jesus has spread like wildfire. Does He truly believe that Jesus has the power to heal His son with even a word, or is he is simply hoping that Jesus might be able to save his son? The official chooses to believe…
The man took Jesus at His word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. John 4:50b-53 NIV

Rather than begging Jesus further, he takes Jesus at His word. Was it hard for him to turn and begin the journey back home? On the way, he is met with the message that his son is healed, and this healing occurred at exactly the time Jesus spoke “your son will live.”

Choosing to take Jesus at His word had a far-reaching impact for the family of the official…

Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. John 4:53 NIV

Because he chose to believe, his entire family was saved!!!

Questions to consider…
Think of a time you had the choice to take God at His word. What did you choose to do and what happened?
Consider the alternative to this account: the official refuses to believe and demands that Jesus come in person. How are the other people in his family affected?
Have we ever reacted like this-refusing to believe unless God does what we ask? How were other people affected by this choice?

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