He Started Home

Reading: 2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33; John 4 46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die. 48 Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” 49 The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.” 50 Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home. (John 4:46-50 NLT) Jesus had recently left Judea to avoid the comparison and conflict the Jews were trying to stir up about the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus. He traveled through Samaria, something good Jews seldom did; talked to a Samaritan woman about her soul and her salvation, something a Jewish man would be even less likely to do; and then spent two days and nights in the Samaritan village of Sychar, sharing his Good News message with outcasts! Now, back home in Galilee District, Jesus was approached by a government official, either from the Roman system or Herod’s court, with a desperate plea for Jesus to come and heal his son who was sick and near death. When Jesus said, “Go back home. Your son will live!”, the man believed Jesus’ words and left for home! For this unnamed, possibly non-religious man, hearing was believing. He had traveled twenty miles on foot to find Jesus, he expected that it would require Jesus to accompany him home for the boy to be healed, and he could have used his authority to demand that Jesus go with him. But when Jesus gave him his word that the boy would live, he didn’t demand that Jesus come home with him. He didn’t offer Jesus money to come with him. He left for home. He simply believed Jesus and started home. When I have God’s word and his promise to me, do I believe what he has said and immediately begin to act as if it is true? How about you?

Prayer: Father, Here I am again, bringing my needs, my requests, my pleas to Jesus. Thank you for your patient response, your gracious promises, your gentle power. May I simply believe your word and your words and simply act in faith! Amen.