48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” 49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. John 4:48-50
How are you at taking Jesus at his word? How often do you need a sign to confirm what you believe is a word or work of God? This was the tension that the Centurion faced in John's Gospel. A father driven by the need for his son to be healed meets our Lord with his understanding of our human condition that for many or most, "Seeing is believing". Yet, we have the compassion of Christ demonstrated after this to ensure us that God is calling us to go in faith. The choice is ultimately in our hands to take God at his word.
It is amazing to see the decision here of the Roman official shift from his need for Jesus to accompany him to the side of his child to a level of faith and trust.
I consider myself in this narrative in that I too rush to Jesus asking him to heal my wife. To not allow the worst of MS to take shape in her body and our lives. If only I could physically bring him into the room when she has a flare up or can't feel her toes. Oh what would I give to be the one to save the day by bringing Jesus to her!
Yet, that isn't faith, that is a fear of not having control. I very much am in the same tension of the need to do the work I think will make things better in my life and taking Jesus at his word and being obedient in my heart. To still advocate and bring supplication to the Lord will never cease for those who I love and minister to in my life. It's an important gut check to ask myself, "am I taking Jesus' word?"
On this Wonder Wednesday, can you bring yourself to a place of trust that the words of Christ are life and favor for your soul? That Jesus sees you like he see's the child sick in this narrative and has compassion over you? That there are outcomes we may never understand but we can still "go" in faith trusting that God's presence is not departed, but with us. That truth has brought such comfort in the darker days of late, and has allowed the sun to peak through the clouds of fear and anxiety.
I pray that you can take Jesus at his words, trust and believe without the signs and wonders that can almost stifle deep faith in a God who is worthy of all trust and praise.
Keep Looking Up!
