When she was two years old our daughter had a high fever, and her back was arched backward. I was afraid she might have spinal meningitis and her life could have been in danger. We rushed her to the local hospital. My wife and I prayed that our daughter would be made well. We desperately hoped the doctor could make her well.
The nobleman had a son who was deathly sick. When he heard Jesus was in Cana in Galilee, he went to Cana to seek Jesus’s help. It was unlikely a high-ranking official in Herod’s court would go to a village carpenter to beg for his son’s life. To do that the nobleman had to swallow his pride. He was so desperate he didn’t care what others thought. The nobleman was more concerned about his son’s health.
When the nobleman saw Jesus, he begged Him that He would come down and heal his son(4:47). The Lord’s first response was harsh. He said, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe” (4:48). That did not deter the nobleman.He said, … Sir, come down before my son dies (4:49).He refused to be discouraged and hoped Jesus would heal his son.
4:50 – Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your son lives.” The man believed the word Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. It must have been difficult for him to go back home and feel confident that his son would be healed. As he was now going down, his servants met him and reported, saying “Your child lives” (4:51). Then the nobleman asked his servants the hour when his son began to get better. It was at the same hour Jesus told him, “Your son lives.”
Jesus has a way of testing us to find out if we are sincere in our requests. Do you remember the story of the Canaanite Woman in Matthew 15:21-28? Behold, a Canaanite woman … cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord. … My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!” The Lord didn’t answer her. But she came and worshiped him, saying,” Lord, help me.” After a brief conversation, Jesus said to her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.
We can learn a lesson from the story of the nobleman and the Canaanite woman. If we want Christ to help us, we must be humble enough to swallow our pride. To ask Him for the things He knows we need, and to believe Jesus Christ will help us.
What is real, genuine faith? Hebrews 11:1 tells us what real, genuine faith is. It is the assurance(or substance) of things hoped for, (the) proof(or the evidence) of things not seen.
-All Scripture passages are based on the World English Bible (WEB)-
Email address: walnutave1234@comcast.net