John 4:46-54

46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine.And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”

The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”

53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.

54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.

Contemplation:

Jesus returns to the town where he performed the miracle of turning water into wine.  While the first time he was there, he ministered in obscurity, this time he was becoming known not just in Cana, but beyond.  On both occasions Jesus demonstrates a mild reluctance to perform the miracle requested of him.  This was not because he was unwilling or unhappy about having to perform a miracle.  The miracle was a means to an end.  It was a demonstration of the Kingdom of God and the wholeness that God's Kingdom possessed in contrast to the kingdom of men.  

Within this context, Jesus was concerned that instead of being drawn into a deeper relationship with God, many were coming merely to witness a spectacle.  He was not interested in sensationalism, but in authentic worship.  The official's response reveals his motives and perhaps it moved Jesus to respond as he did.  The text states that the man "took Jesus at his word and departed".  What a powerful statement of faith!  Being a day's journey from home, without the ability to immediately confirm his son's healing, he simply trusts these four words of Jesus.

Question:

In what area of my life do I need to take Jesus at his word and act upon it?

Prayer:

Father, I find myself so easily lost in my circumstances.  In response, I often try to think my way out of them.  Teach me to trust you, Lord.  May I look to you first in relationship that my belief may become a byproduct of relationship with you.  Help me not only to hear your word, but to count it as more certain than my circumstances.  Let my heart be so convinced of your word that I can believe even before I see the outcome.