The Question of Belief

Lesson #79

With this lesson we will cover the last section of chapter 4 defined by John 4:46 – 54. “So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death” (John 4:46 -47 ESV). What follows next is not what one would expect. You would expect Jesus to go with the official and heal his son, but he did not. Instead, Jesus lashes out to the people there saying, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe” (John 4:48 ESV). This indictment enforces and makes reference to a comment Jesus previously made in which he “testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.”

What about the official; is he not asking for a miracle; does he really believe or not? Stop and think for a while about what is happening here. It appears that unbelievers come to God with a need, like a health need, and tell him to fix it; while believers are more concerned about how the health problem will be used by God to help them grow into greater Christ-likeness. There is always a tension between physical comfort and spiritual growth that comes from suffering. That is why the kingdom of the beloved Son is growing so rapidly in other countries. It is a question of who are we looking out for. Is our goal to honor Jesus or live for ourselves?

Since the official was in the crowd he was also rebuked by Jesus, but he speaks out and said, “Sir, come down before my child dies” (John 4:49 ESV). Will the official respond to the spoken word or is he in need of a “sign or wonder” for him to believe? Jesus was going to find out by saying to him, “Go; your son will live.”  The official demonstrates belief in the words Jesus spoke and “went on his way” (John 4:50 ESV). He didn’t even insist that Jesus go with him; he simply left knowing in his heart that the words Jesus spoke were sovereign.

“As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household” (John 4:51 – 53 ESV). When the official heard that his son was recovering his faith became sight and hearing what Jesus had said and the results, all his household also believed.

John closes this section by saying, “This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee” (John 4:54 ESV). The first sign was turning water into wine at the wedding.

Prayer

Father, as I study for these lessons I realize how little understanding the western Christian has of Jesus. The more I study the more nourishment I receive and such great treasures I find. I am beginning to better understand why people in other countries are willing to risk imprisonment and even their lives to have a copy of the Bible. I pray that it means enough to me to be so willing.