The Promise and the Person

I was reading in the book of John this week, and I stopped to think about the account of the “certain nobleman” in chapter 4. I have taught that passage to my students in Bible class over the years, and it has become so familiar, I think I probably skim past it quite often without noticing. But this time, one detail jumped out at me. Here is the passage:

“And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto Him and besought Him that He would come own, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

The nobleman saith unto Him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.

Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.”( vv.46-53)

What jumped out at me this time was that little phrase “and the man believed.” We are actually told twice that the man believed, but there is a distinction given which I had never considered before.

When the man heard Jesus promise that the boy would live, he believed Jesus’ words. We know that he truly did believe the promise, both because the Biblical narrative tells us so, and because the man acted on that faith and went his way. Elsewhere in the gospels, we see the account of a man who insisted Jesus come and heal his child, but this unnamed nobleman was willing to take Jesus at His word.

When he arrived home, and found out that not only was his son well, but that his fever had left the moment Jesus spoke those words, he and his whole household “believed.”

Now, it is clear that the man believed what Jesus had told him earlier, but now we see him believe in the Person, not just the promise.

In the Christian life, we are often quick to believe the promises of Scripture, but often it takes seeing them in action to help us believe the Person. I think that might be why God tells Israel in Malachi 3:10,

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

God is literally telling them, “Prove Me!” God’s promises are faithful—a reflection of the faithfulness of the Promiser—and when they are tried and proved, our understanding and faith in God are deepened.

James 1 tells us,

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”( vv. 2-3)

Our faith is tried and Christlike character built when we meet the adversities and uncertainties of life believing God’s promises. Then, watching God keep His promises deepens our belief in the Person who promised, just as the nobleman did when his son was healed.

Dear Reader, there are often times in my life when I don’t feel like God’s promises are true. There are also times when I feel so overwhelmed, I don’t remember God’s promises. That’s why we need to keep ourselves saturated in Scripture, so that the Holy Spirit can remind us of the promises we need.

When you don’t feel like God’s promise makes sense in your situation, or when you fear this might be the one time His promise won’t prove true, dig into the Word of God, sit alone with Him, and let Him remind you of Who He is.

Then, get up and live your belief that His Word is true. When the answer comes and God shows Himself faithful, praise Him, thank Him, and remind yourself often of the faithful promise and of the Promiser who has proven Himself true!

Now the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:13