Take Him at His Word

“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”The man took Jesus at his word and departed.”

John 4:50

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. 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 (John 4:46-47).

This is quite interesting because by this time Jesus had made His home in Capernaum (Matthew 4:13 and John 2:12). Though Jesus was at Cana (John 4:46a), the royal official travelled the 20 or so miles (32 kilometres) from Capernaum to Cana; just to meet Jesus. He believed that if he can just make his request known to Jesus, his problem will be over. 

This man was one of many parents who came to Jesus on behalf of an afflicted child. He obviously came with the passion and urgency of a father of a sick child – and at the point of death. The desire and hope of this man was that Jesus would come with him to lay hands on the child for him to be healed. In fact, he said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” John 4:49

However, Jesus’ response wasn’t what he had hoped for. “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” Although this wasn’t the response he was expecting, the man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. (John 4:51-53).

Nothing dramatic happened, no laying of hands, no physical touch, just a simple faith in the words of Jesus, and a dying child came back to life. If this word brings a man back to life, it can bring anything back. What is it that is dying or probably dead in your life? A career, your health, business, marriage or your spiritual life? This is the word of Jesus to you today “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

If you believe then go ahead and talk to God specifically about the matter, refuse to accept defeat.