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In the Word

    by Chuck Livermore

A Nobleman's Son Healed
Date Posted: June 16, 2009

So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe." The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!" Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!" Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household. This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee. John 4:46-54 NKJV


Jesus knew that it was signs and wonders that drew the people to Him. Signs and wonders are a valid basis for belief. Jesus says His works bear witness of Him in chapter 5, but He also warns us not to seek a sign. Belief in signs and wonders by themselves will not sustain faith. We must come to know the person of Christ. It is on this knowledge that our faith is anchored. They who only believed because of the miracles quickly fell away when believing in the person became controversial. This father sought the miracle but believed the person when Jesus said, “Go your way; your son lives.” He knew that Jesus’ word was enough. It wasn’t the touch of His hand or His presence, but His will that healed.

How about you? Do you believe because of the evidence that Jesus is the Christ? James reminds us that the demons also believe and shudder. But it is not the evidence that will sustain your faith through difficulty, it is the relationship. Our faith will waiver if the loved one for whom we earnestly sought healing passes away or if our financial house is ruined by an unexpected tax bill for thousands of dollars. In these times, only our love of Jesus will sustain our faith. As you read the scriptures, don’t look for the evidence only. Get to know the person.

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Biography Information:
Chuck Livermore's knowledge of the word is the result of a lifetime of study and reading. He is part of Galilee South Community Church, a multi-ethnic congregation in South Denver. He attended Wayland Baptist University and has participated in world evangelism through research of unreached peoples.
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