Taking Jesus at His Word

John 4:46-54 (New International Version)

 ⁴⁶Once 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. ⁴⁷When 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 miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."

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

 ⁵⁰Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."
      The man took Jesus at his word and departed. ⁵¹While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. ⁵²When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour."

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

 ⁵⁴This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

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Taking Jesus at His Word

The man took Jesus at His word and departed. He was not used to taking people at their word like this. Usually he needed more proof. But this was his moment of greatest need. His son was deathly ill, and the doctors could not help him. His last resort was to turn to Jesus and plead for His help.

"Lord", he pleaded, "please come now before my little boy dies."

The way Jesus said "Your son will live" changed this man's life on the spot. There was such conviction in Jesus' voice, such authority and confidence that the man immediately believed him and went on his way.

He didn't need to see the results to believe, because the Son of God has spoken them. He didn't need the opinions of others, because the author of creation had spoken. The simple word of God calmed his heart in the most dire situation he had ever faced.

This is what happens when you encounter the Word of God. It rings in your soul and inspires your faith. It supersedes all other opinions and banishes all doubts. It addresses your heart's fears and sets you back on course for the adventure of your life.

In what areas of your life do you need to hear the simple and clear Word of God? What situations in your life need God's insight? Ask God to provide His wisdom in these areas, and then read the Bible expecting to hear from Him, and He will answer you.

Let's pray:

"God, I need to hear from you. Give me the faith to believe what you tell me to do, just as the man whose son was deathly sick believed. I believe that Jesus is my Savior and I confess Him as the Lord of everything in my life. I can't do this on my own, so help me my Lord God."