Jesus' Word

The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. -John 4.49-50

Jesus is back in Galilee, and when He entered the region, He was welcomed by the Galileans because they had seen what He had done at the Passover feast. They saw His power and were amazed by the signs He did, so they welcome Him because of what He can do. As He traveled through the region, He returned to Cana, and there a royal official from Capernaum comes to meet Him. His son as sick, he has heard of Jesus' power, and so, as a parent, he seeks a cure for his child.

I get it, I've got two girls, and there is nothing I would not do for them. When my oldest daughter cries because something hurt her, I can't hold her tightly enough. When my youngest daughter is scared by something, I can't get to her fast enough to comfort her. I get how this official felt. His child had a need, he saw a solution, and rode miles to attain it.

The official arrives in Cana and asks Jesus to come, "So Jesus said to him, 'Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.'" (John 4.48). This verse points back to John 2.23-24, and John 4.45. People trust what they can see; they believe the results. So often we hold out until we get what we demand, but God doesn't work that way. The official pleads with Jesus to come, and Jesus responds, "Go; your son lives." He isn't going to Capernaum, but He speaks the words of healing. Here is where faith comes in; the official believes, and heads home. That is trust in Jesus' word.

As I've been thinking about this passage, I've been reminded about a hymn, "'Tis So Sweet":

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise;
Just to know, Thus saith the Lord.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er,
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more.

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me,
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er,
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more.

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life, and rest, and joy, and peace.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er,
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er,
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more.

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word. That is where faith begins, choosing to trust Him when He doesn't respond in the way we want. Jesus is trustworthy.

As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. -John 4.51-53

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!