Scripture: John 4:46-50
Jesus returned to Cana in Galilee where he had turned the water into wine. In Capernaum there was a certain royal official whose son was sick. When he heard that Jesus was coming from Judea to Galilee, he went out to meet him and asked Jesus if he would come and heal his son, for his son was about to die. Jesus said to him, “Unless you see miraculous signs and wonders, you won’t believe.” The royal official said to him, “Lord, come before my son dies.” Jesus replied, “Go home. Your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and set out for his home.
Thought for the Day: Christianity was never intended to be a “what do I get out of it” religion. Through the humble example of Jesus, his followers are called upon to move themselves off center stage for the sake of others. There were plenty of folks who trailed behind in search of water into wine, the few loaves feeding thousands, and the blind regaining their vision. People were drawn to nifty stuff that impacted them in a positive way. For the royal official in the scripture, he had not been following Jesus in search of cool stuff. And though he yearned for Jesus to grant his son healing, he did not need to see the wondrous signs to believe. Instead, the royal official simply believed the words of Jesus and returned home. This is John’s way of confronting all Jesus followers who were looking for the next cool surprise, but didn’t really believe the words of Jesus. How many of us have fallen into the trap of a “what do I get out of it” religion, yet have no interest in the actual words of Jesus? What if the Spirit of Christ simply tells us to GO without any grand sign or promise of special stuff? Do we trust the Word alone?
Prayer: O Living Word, provide me faith so as to hear your message and respond. Let me trust your invitation, even when my response will be about putting others before myself. Amen.
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