Yesterday I read John 4 and took note of the instance when a nobleman came from Capernaum seeking Jesus in Cana of Galilee. The man left his dying son behind and made a day's journey to beg Jesus to come heal his son. The determined man's request was met with a response from Jesus which seems a bit odd. John 4:48 says, "Then Jesus
said to him, "Unless you people see signs and
wonders, you will by no means believe." One might argue the great distance the man travelled was indicative of genuine belief, but Jesus knew better.
John 4:49-50 reads, "The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!" 50 Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way." The way the nobleman addresses Jesus as "Sir" is proof he did not believe in the divine nature of Jesus - though he was willing to travel far in his desperate search to help his son. Upon hearing the words of Jesus, the man "believed the word" Jesus spoke to him. The man believed Jesus could help him, and he believed the words Jesus said. But did he really believe?
John 4:51-53 concludes the story: "And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!" 52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household." As the man travelled home, he was met by his servants who brought excellent news: his son was out of danger and well! The man inquired of when exactly the fever had left the boy, and their answer confirmed it was the precise time Jesus promised his son would live. The initial claim of Jesus was verified, that the man would not believe without signs and wonders. The man had believed Jesus could heal his son, believed the word He spoke, but it took a miracle for the man to believe in Jesus as LORD.
I wonder if this is true of many who profess "belief" in Christ: they hope Jesus can help or save them and believe His words, but they do not genuinely believe in Jesus. These believe in the existence of God, are familiar with Jesus and the events of His life, and even acknowledge the wisdom and power displayed by Jesus, yet do not believe in the way this nobleman and his house came to believe. I believe God still does signs and wonders today, but they are not needed (though can be useful!) for salvation because we have the Bible which has recorded many miracles Jesus and His disciples performed. Jesus affirms this to Thomas in John 20:29-31: "Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."
People's beliefs vary and their kind of belief can be different as well. Thomas said to Jesus after seeing Him risen from the dead, "My LORD and my God!" That's the kind of belief we need to have if we will have Jesus as our Saviour. What sort of belief do you have concerning Jesus? A belief which has moved you to seek Him? Belief which has resulted in believing His word? Or belief that transforms your life and makes Jesus your Master and King?
John 4:49-50 reads, "The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!" 50 Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way." The way the nobleman addresses Jesus as "Sir" is proof he did not believe in the divine nature of Jesus - though he was willing to travel far in his desperate search to help his son. Upon hearing the words of Jesus, the man "believed the word" Jesus spoke to him. The man believed Jesus could help him, and he believed the words Jesus said. But did he really believe?
John 4:51-53 concludes the story: "And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!" 52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household." As the man travelled home, he was met by his servants who brought excellent news: his son was out of danger and well! The man inquired of when exactly the fever had left the boy, and their answer confirmed it was the precise time Jesus promised his son would live. The initial claim of Jesus was verified, that the man would not believe without signs and wonders. The man had believed Jesus could heal his son, believed the word He spoke, but it took a miracle for the man to believe in Jesus as LORD.
I wonder if this is true of many who profess "belief" in Christ: they hope Jesus can help or save them and believe His words, but they do not genuinely believe in Jesus. These believe in the existence of God, are familiar with Jesus and the events of His life, and even acknowledge the wisdom and power displayed by Jesus, yet do not believe in the way this nobleman and his house came to believe. I believe God still does signs and wonders today, but they are not needed (though can be useful!) for salvation because we have the Bible which has recorded many miracles Jesus and His disciples performed. Jesus affirms this to Thomas in John 20:29-31: "Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."
People's beliefs vary and their kind of belief can be different as well. Thomas said to Jesus after seeing Him risen from the dead, "My LORD and my God!" That's the kind of belief we need to have if we will have Jesus as our Saviour. What sort of belief do you have concerning Jesus? A belief which has moved you to seek Him? Belief which has resulted in believing His word? Or belief that transforms your life and makes Jesus your Master and King?
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