There is a great story nestled in John 4 about the royal official in Galilee whose son was dying. Jesus told the man to go and he went, and a miracle ensued! What if we all “took Jesus at His word”? How different would our lives and the lives of those around us be???
John 4:50
“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at His word and departed.
Things to think about:
· John tells us
that the man speaking to Jesus was a royal official. That means he was a foreign
occupier from Rome, he held a high position in the region, and that he was a
Gentile.
· He had every
reason not to:
o
Approach Jesus
o
Consider His claims
o
Act on what He said to do
§ But in fact,
he did all three
· What else do
we know about this man?
o
He was aware of Jesus turning the water to wine at the wedding at
Cana (it’s in Galilee)
o
He wasn’t hung up on religion (at all or any particular variety)
o
Maybe most importantly, he was desperate
§ His son was
dying
· The man “took
Jesus at His word”
o
Mark 10:15 - Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the
kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
o
Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not
on your own understanding;
·
“He departed”
o
He took immediate, decisive action
o
He didn’t debate, deliberate, or procrastinate
·
Do I take Jesus at His word?
o
1 Sam. 15:22 - To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is
better than the fat of rams.
§
Like King Saul, sometimes I rationalize
o
Matt. 15:8 - These people honor me with their lips, but their
hearts are far from me
§
Like the Pharisees, I can twist the facts to suit my personal
desires
o
Or is it only when I don’t have another option?
§
Matt 6:68-69 - Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we
go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know
that you are the Holy One of God.”
§
Matt 11:28 - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and
I will give you rest.”
·
Can you think of a time when you took Jesus at His word and were
rewarded for it?
o
What might be standing in your way that keeps you from believing
and acting on what (and Who) you know?
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