The Nobleman and His Son

So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. John 4:46-53

Steps: 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12

In this story a nobleman comes to Jesus and asks Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son. It appears as though the man had certain criteria in his mind and if Jesus did not meet these ideas then the nobleman would not believe. God, Jesus in human flesh, told the man that if he did not believe, before He healed the child, then there would be no healing. After this confrontation it appears that the man received the lesson, and the very act of confrontation became sufficient sign and wonder for the man to believe. Once he believed then Jesus healed the child without going to Capernaum. When the man went home he checked the time and found out that when Jesus spoke the words, that his son was healed, then it was at the same time that the child was healed. As a result the whole household believed in Jesus.

Prayer for Today: God, we certainly are thankful when you do not hold things against us. We stick our feet in our mouths often enough and we pray that when we really blow it You will not turn Your back on us. We thank You that give us more than one shot at these things. Help us also to believe in You that You may bring holiness and love, and trust into our lives.