May 31, 2023

Hello Advent Family,

Have you ever felt desperate? Perhaps you have been in a situation where it felt like there was no hope?  Time and again in the gospels Jesus helps those in this exact situation.  John 4 contains the story of a royal official who felt desperate and turned to Jesus.  Let’s look at the story together today.  

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. 47 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. 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. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 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.” 53 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. 54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.

At first glance this may seem like just another story of a healing Jesus performed.  It is significant to me that the official doesn’t seem to believe in Jesus until he realizes that his son was healed at the exact time Jesus said he would be. Jesus could have gone with the man but it seems to be that He could heal with His words that seems to impact this official and his family.  Jesus knows the things that we need in life to give us greater faith.  Sometimes He walks us through times of desperation and leads us to greater faith on the other side.  I know He has done that in my life.  Hold tight to Jesus and watch and see the great things He will do in and through your life.

You are, as always, In His Grip,

Pastor Dave


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