GOSPEL READING:
John 4:43-5443 After the two days he departed to Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they too had gone to the feast. 46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." 49 The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50 Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live"; and he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
SCRIPTURE READING:
Isaiah 65:17-2117 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. 20 No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
Meditation: Do you approach the Lord Jesus with expectant
faith for healing, pardon, and transformation in Christ-like
holiness? Isaiah prophesied that God would come not only to
restore his people, he would also come to recreate new heavens
and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17). Jesus' miracles are signs
that manifest the presence of God and the coming of his kingdom of
power and glory. When a high ranking official, who was very likely
from King Herod's court, heard the reports of Jesus' preaching and
miracles, he decided to seek Jesus out for an extraordinary favor.
If this story happened today the media headlines would probably
say: "High ranking official leaves capital in search of miracle
cure from a small town carpenter."
Believe and take Jesus at his word
It took raw courage for a high ranking court official to travel
twenty miles in search of Jesus, the Galilean carpenter. He had to
swallow his pride and put up with some ridicule from his cronies.
And when he found the healer carpenter, Jesus seemed to put him
off with the blunt statement that people would not believe unless
they saw some kind of miracle or sign from heaven. Jesus likely
said this to test the man to see if his faith was in earnest. If
he turned away in irritation or with discouragement, he would
prove to be insincere. Jesus, perceiving his faith, sent him home
with the assurance that his prayer had been heard.
It was probably not easy for this man to return to his family
with only an assuring word from Jesus that his son would be
healed. Couldn't Jesus have come to this man's house and laid his
hands on the dying child? However, without a moment's hesitation
the court official believed in Jesus and took him at his word. He
began his journey back home with renewed faith and hope - ready to
face whatever might await him - whether it be the anguish of his
distraught family and or the scorn of unbelieving neighbors.
Before he could even make it all the way back to his home town,
news reached him that his son had recovered. What astonishment
must have greeted his family and friends when they heard that his
son was instantly restored to health at the very moment when Jesus
had pronounced the words - your son will live!
The Lord Jesus brings healing and restoration to those who
trust in him
Jesus' miraculous healings show his generous kindness
and extravagant love - a love that bends down in response to our
misery and wretched condition. Is there any area in your life
where you need healing, pardon, change, and restoration? If you
seek the Lord with trust and expectant faith, he will not
disappoint you. He will meet you more than half way and give you
what you need. The Lord Jesus never refused anyone who put their
trust in him. Surrender your doubts and fears, your pride and
guilt at his feet, and trust in his saving word and healing love.
Lord Jesus, your love never fails and your mercy is unceasing. Give me the courage to surrender my stubborn pride, fear and doubts to your surpassing love, wisdom and knowledge. Make me strong in faith, persevering in hope, and constant in love.
Psalm 30:2-5,11-12
2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
3 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
12 that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you for ever.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Christ our physician, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"God sent the human race a physician, a savior, One Who healed
without charging a fee. Christ also came to reward those who would
be healed by Him. Christ heals the sick, and He makes a gift to
those whom He heals. And the gift that He makes is Himself!" (excerpt from Sermon 102,2)
