"Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, ... John 4:46-54

Bring me to Instruction 

Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 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. "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." 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, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour." Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed. This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee. John 4:46-54

Instruction: Jesus was returning to the town of Cana where He had performed a miracle. He had changed water into wine. (John 2:1-11) There was a man there who was a royal official. He had a son whom he loved very much. This son was about to die, because no one was able to heal him. The official "went to Jesus and begged him to come and heal his son".  At this point, the official is panicking. His son is about to die. It is a crisis in his life. He knows it is best to come to Jesus and to implore Jesus to come to his home. He has crisis faith. Jesus saw inside his heart and corrected him saying, "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe." The official responded "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus honored the official's persistent request by saying "You may go. Your son will live." But Jesus did not "come" to his house as he was asked. Jesus stayed where He was, and healed the boy by His power and by His own word.

Without seeing any signs, the official "took Jesus at his word and departed."  Now the official had confident faith. It was not panicky like before, but now it was confident that Jesus would do what He said He would do. The official was walking home in trust and faith in Jesus' Words to him.

"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, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour." Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." The official asked the question to see if or when Jesus had healed his son. When he found out the truth, his faith was confirmed. Yes, Jesus does have the power to heal. He has confirmed faith. (Note: What the official may not have realized was that he, too, was being healed. His faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ was growing and effecting his daily life. That is a healing that permeates other lives as well!)

"So he and all his household believed."  The official's joy was now full, and his faith had now grown to be contagious faith since all of his household believed, which could be more than 20 people!

Which faith do you have in Jesus?     Do you call on Him just to see a sign, not caring about a permanent give and take relationship with the Living God? Do you consider Jesus an oddity, a strange phenomenon, and not deity who moves with compassion for all who call on His Name? Do you call on Jesus during a crisis, and then slip away from Him again? Do you go about your life trusting in His Word, as it is true, and live a life confident in Him? Do you ask questions about Jesus Christ, seeking Him in your daily life and activities, confirming your faith in Him? Do you ask Him questions, deepening your relationship with Jesus Christ, which encourages your trust and faith in Him? Do you see His handiwork in your life and the lives of others so that your joy is full in Him and your faith is contagious to others around you?

Would you like a deeper faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ? What the official may not have realized was that he, too, was being healed. His faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ was growing and effecting his daily life. That faith is a healing that permeates your own life and the lives of others around us! The growth of faith occurred because the official continued to come back to Jesus Christ, asking Him for help, listening to Christ's Words in response, responding back in words and deeds, and trusting Jesus' words to be true. (John 4:46-50) If the official had not persevered in his relationship with Jesus Christ, his son would not have lived, his faith would not have grown, and his whole household would not have believed in Jesus Christ and had their joy full; It would have been a household left in its misery, unchanged, very sad, and without hope.

Would you like your faith in Jesus Christ to be growing? These are steps to help you grow in your faith:

1. Ask the Lord Jesus Christ to reveal Himself to you. To show you Who He is, personally, and what role He wants in your life. 
2. Read the Bible every day. Even if it is just two sentences, read them as if your life depends on it, because it does. -The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life. … "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:63,68  Read the Bible thinking about God's character revealed, and what response you make to Him in your life today.  
3. Ask God questions with the intent of knowing Him, knowing who you are in relationship with Him, and for the purpose of growing closer to Him.
4. Listen to God's answers and reply with your thoughts. Be in continuous prayer. 1Thess 5:17
5. Ask Jesus to increase your faith, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:24
6. Ask Jesus to open your eyes to have you see His Hand in your midst, in your life and in the lives of others. Praise Him, thank Him for every thing you see Him doing.
7. Keep a prayer journal of God's answers to your prayer, your seeing His Hand in action, and your thoughts as your grow in relationship with the Lord.  
8. Tell others what God is doing in your life. Share the joy of the Lord, along with your growth in Him with other people who know God's Word is alive and active (Heb 4:12) and who rely on the Bible for life, too.

     Door to More 

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