John
4:45-54
Today is a special day for Mother’s all over the
world for the love, giving, and sacrifice they show for their children
unconditionally. It is one day out of a calendar year of 365 days where the
focus is turned squarely to each one of them. I am not so naive as to
understand that not all women live out every day the type of life before and
for their children that will serve to their benefit later on in the children’s
lives. But what I do know is that the Bible clearly says we are to honor our Father
and Mother, it does not qualify that command based upon the actions or the
lifestyles of the Father and Mother. These are the human instruments God used
to bring each child into the human family and this is why it is His heart for
them to be honored by their children.
As I come to this story of the Nobleman and his sick
son, I cannot but reflect back upon a story told to me by my own Mother
(1933-2011) that gives me an understanding of the urgent, unyielding, and
unrelenting determination of this man. My Mother told me of an incident she had
in the hospital with me when I was but 9 months old and had by some means come
down with pneumonia. She said that I was very listless and in very bad shape
but being that this was in 1961 (when racism was still at its height in
Louisiana) the white nurses just ignored her and proceeded to receive the other
white patients over me and I was near unconsciousness. Surely to them I was
just a little “nigger” baby and if I died so what, it would be much better for
this State with if one less black boy were able to live and grow up. My Mother was
relentlessly persistent with these white women yet they continued to ignore
her.
She said she finally could not take anymore and
covered me up in her arms and stormed back to the emergency area where the doctors
were working on some other children and demanded that they see her son
immediately and guess what they did just that and I lived because my Mother
fearlessly fought for her child. I of course had no recollection of this event
but I am certain it is true and I also am certain that Jesus Christ our Lord was
present in that hospital that day protecting both her and me. This would be the
first time of several that my Lord Jesus Christ would rescue me from the jaws
of death.
Like my Mother this Nobleman was distraught over the
condition of his son as he was near death. This man obviously had heard about
our Lord Jesus going about everywhere healing people of all manner of diseases
and believed that He was the only hope for his dying son (John 4:47). I truly believe that this man had faith that our Lord
could restore his son to health before he ever learned that the Lord Jesus was
in Galilee. The Lord Jesus knew clearly that the warm and gracious reception He
received from the people of Galilee was in many ways superficial and that they
were only concerned with the supernatural and miraculous and not in truly
becoming His follower in the world.
They had just been eyewitnesses to the miracle of
the water turned into wine and these people wanted to see more, so when this
Nobleman came inquiring to the Lord about his sick son they were ready to see
more miracles (John 4:45). Our Lord
understanding fully all human hearts (John
2:23-25) was grieved over their lack of faith verses their thrill seeking
mentality. This has not stopped even today many people will fill stadiums and
arenas to go and see a man or woman touted as one who can heal their physical
ailments or diseases, but these same people will shun the man or woman that
boldly and powerfully proclaims the Word of God as it is from Genesis to
Revelation. This reality grieved our Lord Jesus then and now and this is why He
said these words, John 4:48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by
no means believe.” NKJV This man like my Mother with the nurses and
doctors wanted action from our Lord that would save his son. The Nobleman was
not being irreverent to our Lord Jesus Christ, but in his desperation he may have
appeared to be, but our Lord knew his heart was anxious and afraid for his son
and only wanted Him to come to his son and heal him. The man was willing to do
or say anything if it would but move our Lord to respond (John 4:49).
As I said earlier, the Nobleman believed our Lord
could heal his son before he ever found Him in Galilee and now he proves his
faith. The man left with only a word from our Lord saying, “Go your way; your son lives” and in so doing he
trusted completely in the Lord’s word to him. This faith was saving faith not
only for his son’s life from his illness, but saving faith that saved eternally
the soul of this man. Notice after our Lord Jesus spoke those words to him, he
did not question when it would happen or how his son would be healed, but he
simply believed the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 4:50-51). The man did not race or rush home but confidently
knew that his son was healed the very instant our Lord said he would live. This
man’s saving faith and his testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ was a blessing to
his whole family and resulted in their eternal salvation as well (John 4:52-53). Our Lord specifically
healed this boy with a word that He might deflect away the peoples focus on the
miraculous and draw their focus on His words which were then and still are now
spirit and life. This miracle was performed out of His compassionate heart for
this Father. Our Lord recognized the trust in this man’s heart that was mingled
with his fear and desperation (John 4:54).
Psalms
33:9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
NKJV
Psalms
50:15 “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall
glorify Me.” NKJV
Psalms
107:20 He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their
destructions. NKJV
“The bringing of the cure to the family brought
salvation to it. The nobleman himself
believed. He had before believed
the word of Christ, with reference to this particular occasion; but now he believed in Christ as the Messiah
promised, and became one of His disciples. Thus the particular experience of the power and efficacy of one word of Christ may be a happy
means to introduce and settle the whole authority of Christ’s dominion in the
soul. Christ has many ways of gaining the heart, and by the grant of a temporal mercy may make way for better things.” Matthew Henry
“Christ is the Good Physician. There is no disease
He cannot heal; no sin He cannot remove; no trouble He cannot help. He is the
Balm of Gilead, the Great Physician who has never yet failed to heal all the
spiritual maladies of every soul that has come unto Him in faith and prayer.” James H. Aughey 1828-1911
Personal Foot Note on Mr. Aughey: John Hill
Aughey was a minister imprisoned and condemned to execution by the arrogant
officials of the South for his outspoken anti-Secession and pro-Union beliefs. Because
of the “crime” of loyalty to the Union, he was subjected to an almost fatal
imprisonment; he was put in irons, abused and insulted, and destined for
execution on the gallows. He twice made his escape, and the second time,
through almost incredible exposures and perils, succeeded in reaching the lines
of the Union army. He makes a miraculous flight to freedom, to report the
details of his ordeal in what was to become a highly praised and popular
autobiography. Although he has harsh words for his captors, he portrays
many other Southerners with sympathy. He was especially eager to protect the
reputation of his fellow ministers, saying that many indeed protested slavery
and secession, and that at the right time they will again be heard, when
constitutional law is restored.
If
you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this
from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear
Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I
believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from
the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn
from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control
of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you
Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus
Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and
Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple
I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reader,
Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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