John 4: 51-54
‘”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.
This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.”
Jesus returns to Cana in Galilee and is met by a royal official who’s son is dying. The royal official has decided Jesus is the boy’s only hope and so he begs Jesus to come with him to see his son. Jesus speaks rather harshly to the man saying, “Unless you people see signs and wonders you will never believe.” The royal official, undeterred speaks in the imperative saying, “Sir, come…!”
Then Jesus turns the tables on this man and tells the royal official to “Go!” He assures him his son will live and the man leaves, returning for home. On the way his servants meet him with the news that his son is out of danger. He realizes that this happened exactly when Jesus said, “… your son will live.”
Finally we come to the point of Jesus’ comment when the man first arrived. It is only now, after confirmation that his boy has been healed, that the royal official believes. (In fact, there is an interesting twist in the story at this point. Instead of referring to him as a “royal official,” John refers to him as, the boy’s “father.”)
In this story we see a desperate man coming to Jesus who does not yet believe Jesus is God. Instead he has heard something that causes him to hope Jesus can help. After pleading his case before Jesus, he is told, “Go!” and he does. His obedience at this point is based on hope that what Jesus says is true, and exhibits faith. Only after hoping, asking for help, and responding in faith, does he come to belief in Jesus.
Q: How is belief in Jesus different from hope, faith, and obedience?
Belief effects the core being of your actions because it defines your reality.
By the way Jeff, I’m anonymous from yesterday’s post. Sorry, I must have accidentally deleted Robster out if the new field.
No worries, Robster! Your comments are always appreciated, anonymous or not! 🙂
James 2:14-26, Obedience is the fruit of belief, hope and faith. Faith without obedience is dead faith. As Anonymos/Robster writes. Our obedience is the reality of our faith.
I believe that belief has got to run right along side of hope, faith and obedience,..I have to believe in the hope that Jesus gave me or it would be futile,..I have to believe with faith that He is coming again to take me to the place He has prepared for me or all this would be for nothing,..and then there is obedience,..I believe I am being obedient to His Word,..I may not be completely obedient but I am doing my best,..I am not sure how the word is different since I believe they work together and they need each other do get the job done,..
Good Job Brother!
As in so many of these little stories of John’s gospel, when broken down into bite sized pieces amazing jewels of truth come to light. I was surprised to learn so much about “belief” in this passage. I have thought about the word before, but the idea that there is a tipping point between belief and not believing, and the relationship of belief to hope, faith and obedience was new to me. Like Robster says, belief defines our reality. It is a little room in our heart where we put the truths we no longer question.