Principles for Life in the Kingdom of GodÀpẹrẹ

BELIEVE BEFORE YOU SEE

MAIN IDEAS

• Although JESUS’ main purpose was to proclaim the Gospel when going from one place to another, people could not accept God’s teaching without first seeing the signs and miracles they wished to see.

• In Capernaum, a Roman royal official asks for JESUS’ help in healing his dying son.

• JESUS does not act according to the expectations of this father, who invited Him into his house, but simply tells him that his son is well.

• The Roman official takes JESUS’ word on faith alone and heads home. Along the way, he receives word that his son was healed at the exact time that he received the words of healing spoken by JESUS.

Just like people today, people in the time of JESUS were more concerned with their own physical well-being, neglecting the well‑being of their soul, which is eternal and ought to get priority. However, immediate physical needs such as health, food, and family come first.
We can observe some frustration in JESUS, not only because of this erroneous prioritizing of earthly matters, but also because of the lack of faith of those who wanted to see miracles and signs before believing. Before JESUS’ Resurrection and Ascension into heaven and the sending of the HOLY SPIRIT to live in us, for us to be Born Again, and to help us live a life of victory, He brought the forgiveness of sins and healing to all who trusted in Him. This principle, among many others, came to be understood by the disciples only after the Resurrection, and with the help of the HOLY SPIRIT. If you have all kinds of problems – worldly or earthly – and spiritual ones, Jesus tells you to start with your spiritual ones, which so often also will bring the solution to your earthly problems as well.