January 12
“Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your son lives.’ So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way,” John 4:50.
The time had come for Jesus to begin His public ministry. Through His teaching and preaching and the performing of miracles, He witnessed publicly that He was the Son of God and the promised Savior of the world.
Jesus began His ministry in Judea. Then He went through Samaria. At Sychar, He stopped at Jacob’s well, where a Samaritan woman came to draw water. He asked her to draw water for Him to drink. That resulted in a very personal conversation in which Jesus testified of Himself as the Water of Life. The woman left her water pot and ran into town and invited the people to come and, “See a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” John 4:29. Many Samaritans came to see Jesus, and believed in Him. They begged Him to stay with them, and He stayed two more days. Then He proceeded to Cana in Galilee, where He had performed His first miracle at the wedding of Cana. There, He had turned water into wine.
A nobleman, a royal officer, from Capernaum, not far from Cana, learned that Jesus had come to Cana in Galilee. His son was very sick, and at the point of death. He begged Jesus to come to Capernaum and heal his son. Jesus said, “‘Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.’ The nobleman said to Him, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your son lives.’”
With those few words, Jesus witnessed to the fact that He is the almighty Son of God. Jesus only needed to speak the word, “Your son lives!”
The miracles that Jesus performed were not performed just to entertain people or to please people. Every miracle that Jesus performed was visible evidence that He was who He claimed to be: The almighty Son of God and the promised Messiah and Savior of all people.
The nobleman believed Jesus’ word, and he and his son enjoyed the blessing – the son was restored to health! On his way home, the nobleman met some of his servants, who informed him that his son was well. He inquired of them what time he became well. They said, “‘Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.’ So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, ‘Your son lives.’ And he himself believed, and his whole household,” John 4:52-53.
In this, we see the power of God’s Word. Bring to Jesus all your hurts and heartaches, all your problems and your needs, for His help for body and soul. Jesus will hear and answer your plea.
His powerful Word in the Gospel touches our hearts and brings us to faith in Jesus as God’s Son and our Savior. The Word of the Gospel: “Jesus’ blood shed on Calvary’s cross washed your sins away!” With that message of God’s mercy, the Holy Spirit touches your heart and creates the faith and trust in Jesus as your Savior. Like the nobleman and his whole household, go your way trusting and believing His Word!
“What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry,
Ev’rything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry,
Ev’rything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a Friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev’ry weakness –
Take it to the Lord in prayer.” Amen.