John 4:43-54 THE FATHER KNEW The work of God is not limited to a particular time and place. It is also not always in the same way that God reveals Himself as to who He is and what He does - and why. The Samaritans had appreciated the Lord Jesus Christ being with them for two days. But in His own country and among His own people, particularly Nazareth, He was not appreciated as He should have been so He passed on to Cana. This attitude of familiarity should not catch us unawares. It was probably uncomfortable for those who were sinners by nature to live around or even be in the same family as the sinless Savior. Other parts of Galilee were not the same as Nazareth. Because we may be rejected in one location should not discourage us from moving on until we find the place God intends us to be.
Galileans would have been at Jerusalem for the feast and had seen the works of Jesus while they were there. The miracles He did in Judea and the things He said and taught caught their curiosity so they received Him at the place where He turned water into wine. It is faith, not curiosity, that opens minds and hearts to truly receive Christ as personal Savior. Nazareth and Judea had a time of visitation, and now also, if and when a time of visitation is refused and the Savior ignored, an awful spiritual abandonment takes place that is very hard to avoid. Even though many there were doubters, the Lord was still ready to bless them.
Twenty miles away in Capernaum one man from the royal household had an event in his life that was more important to him than anything else. Even a person in his position needed help that was above and beyond any ability of mere men. His son was dying. God has His own ways of dealing with people. What may seem terrible to us may be a blessing from Him. We may never know why some things happen to us or in our lives, but we are wise to remember God knows everything about us. The nobleman knew the Lord Jesus could heal people. He knew his only hope for the recovery of his son to health was Jesus. It seems like his faith was limited to thinking a touch on his son was needed, but at least he believed that the Lord could do what he asked. The Lord Jesus Christ used that as a teaching moment by speaking to all the people there in a form of a rebuke by saying their faith was limited to what they could see. We must never make the mistake of thinking God is in any way limited to working within the realm of our own understanding.
When the Lord Jesus spoke the words, "thy son liveth," that man believed what Jesus said. He believed on the Person when he believed His words. Not only did he believe, he acted on what Jesus said, "Go thy way, thy son liveth," and he obeyed the Lord. In His omnipresence, the Lord Jesus Christ healed instantaneously and completely a boy twenty miles away - and the boy's father believed what Jesus had said and done. The proof came the next day when he made inquiry as to the time of day the boy was healed. In a very short time, his faith grew from asking to assurance. That led to the whole household believing on Jesus even though He was twenty miles away. There is no reason any person should not trust on the Lord Jesus Christ even though they have never seen or heard Him. He is real in the lives of those who put their faith in Him.
This second sign in Galilee reminds us that Jesus is God, and is in no way limited by time or space. He is the omnipresent God. There may be times when there is a sense or vague feeling of belief that leads people to seek the Lord. Then perhaps they can see the evidence of the reality of faith in others who have trusted the Savior. But not until one completely trusts Christ and rests on the authority of His word is there saving faith. The Lord Jesus Christ spoke with authority to the need of the moment. He used that as an opportunity to demonstrate the fact of His deity. The result was victory that changed lives and hopes forever. The first sign in Cana showed Jesus' deity in creation power that brought joy to those at the wedding. When He cleansed the ,is deity was revealed in showing the necessity of true worship. When speaking to the woman of Samaria, He plainly said those who worship the Father must worship in spirit and in truth. Now in this sign, He testifies as to His deity in His power over disease and sorrow. The One we worship and serve is truly the Son of God. May we never in any way or for any reason lose sight of that fact.