“It is better to be as low as hell with a promise, than in Paradise without one.” –John Flavel
In the final passage of the fourth chapter of John, the story of the healing of the royal official’s son is told. It is a healing that comes on the heels of Jesus teaching the Samaritans. The Samaritans received him gladly, listened to him attentively and sent him away gloriously, declaring that he was the “Savior of the world.” They observed no signs or wonders from Jesus. There are no miracles recorded there. After Jesus leaves Samaria, he enters Cana of Galilee.
It is in Cana of Galilee that Jesus encounters a royal official or nobleman who asks him to come to Capernaum so that his son might be healed. Jesus does not go with him. Instead, he declares to all those gathered around him, including the royal official, that “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The father continues to implore Jesus to come to Capernaum and Jesus, in his mercy and by his power, declares, “Go, your son will live.” What was the man’s response? “The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.” (John 4:50) If you read the text carefully, you will note that he must have stayed the night in Cana and then making his way back to Capernaum the next day, he encountered his servants who told him of the very hour that the illness left his son.
What rest and peace was his who believed the promise of Jesus, “Your son will live.” It was this very phrase he recalled when questioning his servants on the road, “As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, ‘Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.’ 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.” (John 4:51-53) He had trusted the promise of Jesus earlier and on the other side of the promise’s confirmation, his belief was strengthened. Believer, today which promise of Jesus are you clinging to? Is it the promise of his presence? “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20) Is it the promise of his peace? “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” (John 14:27) Search the Scriptures and see the great variety of promises made to you. The healing of the royal official’s son demonstrates powerfully that time and distance have no bearing on the power of Jesus’ promises. Trust him today. Have a blessed week and we will see many of you on Sunday. D. V.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
