Jesus Revealed Pt. 4 - Our Testimony: His LifeSample

Nobleman's Son  

Thoughts on the Passage

What desperate people do.

This official came from Capernaum and walked (maybe rode a donkey or horse) to Cana – a distance of nearly 50 kilometers – to ask Jesus to heal his son. This was a journey of several days. 

He would not take no for an answer – even when Jesus rebuked him and others around him for their need to see signs and miracles before anyone believed. 

How desperate people see Jesus.

Most desperate people see Jesus as the one who fixes their problems. That is why they are desperate. That is the only thing on their minds. It is hard for them to see Jesus beyond their immediate problems.

How Jesus reacts to desperate people.

He healed the man’s son. Jesus is not going to let the man go without getting the answer he needed to hear. Amen!!

Jesus also required that the man exercise a measure of faith. “Go, your son will live” is a challenge to this man to believe BEFORE he saw the sign and miracle. 

Jesus is not angry that they require a sign; He is frustrated with their unwillingness to grow in their faith. So He pushes us to grow – not be comfortable in our childlike understanding. This desperate man went home – likely with a heart that struggled, at times walking in faith and at times full of dread for his son. Only when he saw how Jesus healed his son from that great distance did his faith grow up.

Application

Think back on when you had a huge issue – and the only thing on your mind was to have Jesus fix it. Get you a job, get you out of a serious situation, or take care of your finances. Have you grown in your faith so that as new problems arise, you have learned to respond with greater faith?

Have compassion on someone who is struggling with seeing Jesus only as “the One who fixes problems.” Help them take a step of faith as they trust Jesus.

Time to Pray

Father, we are such children at heart. We only see our problems. We struggle with growing up. We struggle seeing Jesus only as our “problem fixer” and not truly our Friend or Helper. We struggle seeing Him as the Son of God. Help me today to not let my problems get bigger than my God. Help me to start my time of prayer just as Jesus instructed us--

“Our Father in heaven, Your name is holy…”

It is only when I start with my heart focused on You that I will see my problems right. That does not make my problems easy – they are still too big for me. They are still causing anxiety and frustration. They still get too much of my attention. However, I finally start to walk by faith. It may be small steps, but I finally start. Give me the courage of this man – who accepted Your word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.