56. What Money Can't Buy

John 4:46-54

Key Verse: Jesus replied, "You may go.  Your son will live."  The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 

John 4:50

Jesus was back in Cana.  Word of the miraculous wine must have gotten around.  Now, even a desperate father of means is willing to test just how far these powers of Jesus can go. 

Amazing, when you think about it, to notice how desperation can level the playing field of life so quickly.  Hunger can make beggars of all.  Natural disasters can make us all equal immediately in our struggle for survival.  You can't stop a tornado with a $100 bill.  You can't buy bread if there is none to be found. 

This man's son was ill.  We don't know what disease plagued him.  We know that he had a fever, which was a very threatening situation in a day with no antibiotics.  We know that the boy was at death's door and that the man, with all his wealth, could do nothing to stop the inevitable.  He had already spent much on physicians and medicines, after all, he certainly had the means to do so, but nothing had worked.  Now, as a desperate last hope, he has heard that Jesus had returned to the area.  Perhaps he could do more than just turn water into wine.  Perhaps, this father had even been a guest at the feast.  What would he lose by asking? Nothing.  His son was going to be gone soon no matter what anyway.  The father would at least be able to assure himself that he had done all he could for his boy. 

The father begs, but once again, as with the woman at the well and the wine at the wedding, Jesus seems more interested in the spiritual fruit that will be gained here than the physical condition of the man’s son. 

"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe." (John 4:48)  Jesus is not rebuking in this statement.  He is simply stating a matter of fact.  So, as the wine was used to help the disciples have faith, and supposed clairvoyance was used to help the woman, and eventually her entire village gain faith, now, he assures the father, "You may go.  Your son will live." (John 4:50)  That was all He needed to say.  The rest was up to the father.  Whether to believe and go home in faith, or stay and beg some more, or leave thinking that Jesus didn't care, the choice was the father's. 

"The man took Jesus at His word and departed." (John 4:50)  As the father learned later, at the moment he chose to believe what Jesus was saying to him, his son was healed. 

It doesn't always work that way, but for God's own purposes, this time, for this particular father, it did.  The Father's faith was rewarded in a tangible way that we can all understand.  To be honest, his prayer, for that is what is really was, was answered the way that we wish all of our prayers were.  We want it to be that if we just believe, we will get what we want.  It's harder to keep having faith when our prayers are answered in ways that we would rather not accept.  God does reward faithfulness, but sometimes, the reward, or blessing comes in disguise, not just to benefit us, but to bring glory to Him

Lord, sometimes I don't understand why you don't give me what I want, but thank you for always giving me what I need.  Thank you for those times you answer my prayers as you did this father.  Thank you also for the times you choose to deny me for a greater purpose.  Amen. 

Hymn: "Only Trust Him More"

& "Blessings" by Laura Story