In this television age in which we live it would seem that "seeing is believing". People seem to be quicker to believe things they have seen for themselves, whether its the news or the ads or whatever, even though it is wrong to believe all you see! People have always found it easier to believe the things they could see.
The Lord Jesus had to rebuke people for having this attitude, because it is not good to believe only the things you can see! The man in this true story learned how important believing without seeing can be; and it is a lesson Jesus would want us all to learn.
"When Jesus arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed Him." (verse 45) He was welcomed because of the miracles the people had seen Him doing, but not because of who He really was. The people would not accept that He was the "Messiah" - as "Jesus Himself had pointed out.. a prophet has no honour in his own country." (verse 44.)
"There was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee... he went to Him and begged Him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
"'Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,' Jesus told him, 'you will not believe.' (verses 46-48.)
But surely this man was believing when he asked Jesus to come and heal his son! Yes, he was believing that Jesus had the power to heal, but even the Devil knows and believes that! What this man was not ready to believe was that Jesus was the "Messiah", "the Saviour of the world". (John 4;29 & 42.)
Jesus' main purpose in coming into this world was not to heal the sick; He had come for a far more important reason than that. He had come to bring men to God (1st Peter 3:18. Hebrews 7:24-27.). But because this wonderful miracle of being made right with God was a spiritual one, and could not be seen happening, people were not interested in wanting Jesus
as their Priest and Saviour; but they did want His other miracles!
"The royal official said, 'Sir, come down before my child dies.'
"Jesus replied, 'You may go. Your son will live.'
"The man took Jesus at His word and departed." (verses 49-50.) Going home the next day he discovered that the fever had left his child at the exact time Jesus had said "Your son will live". Surely now he will believe, not just in what Jesus can do, but in who Jesus really is! Yes, now "he and all his household believed." (verse 53.)
Do you think of Jesus Christ as just some sort of freak miracle worker that you can call on to help you now and again? or do you realise that He is the only Saviour for mankind? Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ to do that invisible miracle in your life of forgiving your sins and making you ready for God and Heaven? (John 20:31. 3:16-18. 5:24.)
Although you can not "see" this wonderful miracle happening, you will certainly see the results; because "anyone (trusting) in Christ...is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." (2nd Corinthians 5:17.) The true Christian, instead of turning to sinful pleasures for his/her satisfaction, will want to glorify God in the way he/she lives. (Ephesians 4:17-5:21.)
Read of Jesus teaching the importance of believing without seeing in John's Gospel chapter 4, verses 43-54.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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