DAY 228: FAITH OVER MIRACLES - Devotional

The Return ^ | May 19, 2021

[metmom]

There comes a time when certain life situations are beyond human hope. There is no counsel, no doctor, no medicine or anything else that can help. The situation has become impossible. It requires a miracle, or else it will end in devastation.

At such times, the only hope left is for someone to get to Jesus. That person has to take the responsibility to get hold of Jesus, and they have to determine, “I’m not leaving until I hear from the Lord. He has to tell me, ‘It’s done. Now go your way.’”

In the Gospel of John, we find just such a family in crisis: “There was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum” (John 4:46, NKJV). This was a family of distinction, but a spirit of death hung over the home as the parents nursed their dying son. Someone in that troubled family knew who Jesus was and had heard of his miraculous power. Word came to the household that Christ was in Cana, about twenty-five miles away. In desperation, the father took it on himself to get through to the Lord. Scripture tells us, “When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him” (John 4:47).

The Bible says he “implored Him [Jesus] to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death” (4:47). What a marvelous picture of intercession. This man set aside everything to seek the Lord to provide a word.

Christ answered him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe” (John 4:48). What did Jesus mean by this? He was telling the nobleman that a miraculous deliverance wasn’t his most pressing need. Instead, the number-one issue was the man’s faith.

Christ desired more for this man and his family. He wanted them to believe he was God in flesh. So he said to the nobleman, in essence, “Do you believe it’s God you’re beseeching for this need? Do you believe I am the Christ, the savior of the world?” The nobleman replied, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” (John 4:49). At that point, Jesus must have seen faith in this man. It was as if Jesus said, “He believes I’m God in flesh” because next we read, “Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your son lives’” (John 4:50)

[metmom]

The Return ping

[JesusIsLord]

At that point, Jesus must have seen faith in this man. It was as if Jesus said, “He believes I’m God in flesh” because next we read, “Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your son lives’” (John 4:50)

We can surmise that this man believed that Jesus had the potential to heal. Whether this man believed Jesus was Christ/God or just a Rabbi/prophet/healer - we don't know. Contrary to the teaching of some, the Lord doesn't require that we believe He is Christ before He acts. The Lord God, the Holy Spirit, Jesus - is sovereign! Consider the conversion of Paul, the first miracle at Cana, today's testimony of Jesus sovereignly appearing and speaking to Muslims - etc.

Do the Lord's sovereign acts negate His desire that we have faith in Christ? They do not!

[HarleyD]

What was more marvelous was the way in which Christ instilled faith in the father. Notice that the father requested Christ to come down with him so that his child would live. Christ didn’t go down. Instead Christ simply stated, “Go, your child will live.” There was no protest. At Christ’s simple words the father “believed the word that Jesus spoke to him” and headed home. He trusted on Christ’s word. Faith came before the father knew the miracle was ever granted. He believed God and it was counted as righteousness.

Likewise, Christ has promise eternal life to all who believe. Are we like the father who trust Christ at His word?

[metmom]

Good point.

Thanks.

[metmom]

Agreed.

[Kandy Atz]

John 4:46-54 KJV
46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.
52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.
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I see this miracle from a slightly different perspective. The nobleman’s faith was misplaced. What I mean by that is look at what he confessed.
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Sir, come down ere my child die. Or as we might say, “Come or my child dies.”
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You can also see that doubt, unbelief, or even fear were all present by the statement Jesus made - “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.”
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The nobleman was coming close, but was not quite where he needed to be. So Jesus spoke the Word and challenged the man to truly Believe.
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Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man BELIEVED the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
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The nobleman went from thinking his son would die if Jesus did not come, to leaving Jesus and returning with nothing more than Jesus’ Words. And he received what he believed! His thoughts, confession, and actions all aligned.
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Compare this exchange to the one between Jairus and Jesus in a very similar situation. Matthew 9, Mark 5, Luke 8
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Good article.