Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Wednesday, April 4

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Judges 13-15
Today's scripture focus is John 4:43-54

43 After the two days he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there.
 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 miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
 49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
 50 Jesus replied, “You may go. 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. 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.”
 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 all his household believed.
 54 This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

Have you ever seen a poor king?  A poor prince or princess?  Well to be honest, I've never seen royalty period, but from what I've learned royalty lives on the backs of the people, so usually they are not hurting for money, possessions or health care.  We are not told if this man is a king only that he is royalty.  He had probably heard of Jesus already, so he knew of the things that Jesus could do, but he didn't go.  Why?  We could say it was because he lived far away (we see that it was at least a days walk from the royal's home to where Jesus was), but it appears that distance wasn't an issue because he was willing to make the trip anyway.  I think it's because the man didn't believe.  I believe he waited until that last minute because Jesus walked, talked and dealt with the scum of the earth.  Jesus himself didn't have a home.  I believe this man tried all the other avenues he could to get his son healthy, doctors, medicines.  But not Jesus.  Jesus even says that unless he would heal that man's son, he wouldn't believe.  But Jesus did it anyway, so that he would believe and he did.  
What struck me about this passage is that even though the man did not believe and asked out of a last resort, Jesus did it anyway so that the man (and others through this) would believe.  I often worry that if I'm not doing things right or saying prayers right my life will not turn out right.  This scripture shows me that's not true.  Christ is faithful to us even when we are faithless.  That encourages me.  



Tomorrow's scripture focusJohn 5:1-15

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Judges 16-18

2 comments:

Miriam said...

Wow, that is a perspective I hadn't thought of. Great point.

Tammy said...

I agree with Miriam - great point and one I had not thought of.

Reminds of the thief on the cross as well. "Death bed" confessions and conversions are just as valid. It is all grace, it is all God!