Lent, Day 27

"Jesus said to him, 'You may go; your son will live.' The man believed what Jesus said to him and left." John 4:50

If you don't know the story this verse is taken from, you will miss out on a wonderful gem!

Jesus returned to Cana in Galilee (which is where He had turned the water into wine). There was an official whose son was sick. He came to Jesus, asking for his son to be healed, because the son was about to die. Jesus' first response: If you don't see sign, you won't believe. But the man persisted. When He did, Jesus spoke the words of the verse above. WITHOUT QUESTIONING FURTHER, the man simply believed and went home! On his way home, the man's servants came to him to report his son's miraculous recovery. They ascertained that it occured at the same moment Jesus said, "Your son will live." The end result? "He (the official) believed, and all his household." (verse 53b)

I find some incredible lessons from this short passage. First, the man knew Who to turn to for his son's healing. Second, Jesus' words were really prophetic: the miracle brought belief. (And will we believe without a miracle?) The official believed, and left. Because of what Jesus did for his son, not only did the man believe. His entire household. This usually would include the man's family, but also his servants. Amazing!

What does it take for us to believe? And when Jesus speaks, do we "believe and go" or do we "doubt and stay"?

My offering to God: I will trust the Word of God to guide me.