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Two days later, Jesus left this scene of revival in Samaria, and went north. Jesus was moving away from where it could be comparatively easy, to a difficult and tough situation.

God often calls us to move where it is hard or where it is harder.

Jesus has been speaking about how it is hard to witness where you are known best. A prophet is not appreciated by those who know him well.

They had received Jesus with open arms. There was a warm welcome, and there were warm welcomes in various places because He was a miracle worker, but they were not receiving Him as a prophet.

Jesus could relieve their pains and sicknesses and troubles, and this was welcome, but a prophet speaks about God – about morals – about sin – about judgment – and this side of His Ministry is seldom popular.

They would enjoy His miracles, but not appreciate His message. Yet, Jesus chose this most difficult place.

Jesus Christ returns to Cana. John Chapter 4 verse 46. The news would soon go around, “The water into wine man has returned!”

People welcomed Him, for what He did for them and for what He could do for them, but still Jesus has got to prophesy and speak and teach God’s Word.

We too can experience that pressure at time, not to speak God’s Word, but just to give people what they want. Pressures to compromise can be most subtle.

There was a nobleman there, a rich prominent member of the court of King Herod, and his heart was heavy. He had a little boy who had been ill for a long time – not just ill occasionally but continually, and he had watched his little boy go down and down. He sensed that it could not be very long before this young life was over, but he had heard that Jesus Christ was around, and he decided to travel some 25 miles to see Jesus. He was desperate.

He was afraid his little boy would die soon.

Some fears are good if they bring you to Jesus. He pleaded with Jesus to come to his home. He believed that Jesus could heal the boy, but only through physical touch.

He had a kind of faith in Jesus the healer. “I’ve got to get Jesus to my boy.” He believed that distance prevented the power of God from operating, and again he was so wrong.

Wrong beliefs have to be corrected.

Jesus is thinking, Will you people not believe unless you see signs and wonders?

“Sir, come quickly and touch my boy. Let’s not waste time discussing it.”

Jesus does not waste time! Jesus Christ never wastes time.

This nobleman had a little bit of limited faith, and Jesus wants to stretch that faith. Jesus wanted to heal the father’s faith, as well as the little boy!

Verse 50 - “Go – your son will live – I’ve already done it!” The man took Jesus at His word. He acted on it. He began to make his way home. He did not reach home until the next day, and his servant met him with the news that his son was living, and he wanted to know when there were signs of improvement. One o’clock yesterday! That was when Jesus said to me, “Your son will live!”

Now, he believed at a deeper level, and his whole household came to believe.

This was the second miracle that Jesus did in Galilee. Both miracles are WORD MIRACLES. People did what Jesus said. They filled the water pots. The nobleman went home in obedience to Jesus.

When we obey what Jesus says, things do happen.

Here we see His Power over things, and His Power over people, and both miracles led to people coming to believing faith in Jesus Christ – faith that was real and faith that was stronger – faith that was stretched and faith that was now deeper – faith that produced results. These are important lessons.

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Moralism