How many of us have been through such a moment.
Facing a problem that seems impossible to solve.
Not seeing a way out, not knowing how to approach it, not knowing where to go.
There are many stories in the Bible of people who went through such situations.
There is a particularly beautiful one in the gospels that I would like to share with you.
This is a time when Jesus helped a person with one of those problems that seem to have no solution.
Let’s read together:
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.
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.
The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at his word and departed.
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.
| John 4:46-47 ; 49-53
Whether you may be going through a situation similar to the one in the story, or whether it may be different; there is certainly teaching here for you.
Let’s analyze a little the character of this story, his situation, and his condition to introduce us to the subject.
There was a royal official there, whose son was ill in Capernaum.
We have here someone who the Bible declares to be an “official of the king.”
A man who worked for King Herod Antipas.
And you may wonder who King Herod was and why is that important?
King Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great, the man who had all the babies of Bethlehem killed in order to exterminate the newborn messiah.
Herod Antipas was the man who cut off John the Baptist’s head.
A man who later humiliated Jesus and mocked Him.
Herod made him dress in fine clothes and mocked Jesus’ ministry because he knew that the people wanted Jesus as king.
This was the head of the character who is going to look for Jesus.
Think about it for a moment, would the king be happy to learn that this man had gone to find Jesus and ask him for help?
Most likely, he wouldn’t like to get that news at all.
On the other hand, keep in mind that the king’s officer was probably influential and respected in the nation.
A man with money and renown.
His political duty in loyalty to his king was to oppose the proclaimed “king of the Jews”.
Due to his social position, he was to be criticized for believing in a “miraculous healer” who spent his time walking among the poor and sick.
So considering the above, this man had to do something important before going to meet Jesus.
It was necessary for him to put aside his pride, his disbelief, and forget what others would say.
Let go of pride because who would not have done the same for the love of a son about to die?
Put aside his disbelief because the doctors had already said there was nothing they could do.
They had said that his son would inevitably die in a couple of hours.
But that man at the time understood that the doctors did not have the last word, but that it was Jesus who had it.
He had to forget what others would say because only Jesus could do something for him and no one else.
These three things are synonymous with what we humans need to set aside to start looking for Jesus.
What if today you examine your life and check if you also need to leave any of those things aside to be able to look for the one who is the only one who can give you help in your hour of maximum need.
How many people are at the moment dealing alone with problems that no human being is able to solve.
Resisting to put all this aside and go to Jesus?
Sometimes during our lives, some of us become so hardened that the Lord in order to save us prefers to allow our hearts to be broken, so we can recognize our need for him.
Is that your situation?
It was certainly the position of the king’s officer.
What would he do about this?
Certainly this man did something plausible, to acknowledge that he couldn’t solve his problem.
He set aside his status, his political positions, forgot what others will say and went in search of Jesus’ help.
Besides, this man did something we need to learn from.
When this man learned that Jesus had arrived (…) in Galilee, he went to meet him.
This man was several miles away from where Jesus was.
He was actually in a different city.
Jesus had arrived at Cana, and the man was at Capernaum.
But this was no impediment.
This man ran out to look for Jesus.
After humbly acknowledging his need for Jesus’ help, this man ran out to meet him.
Think about this.
We all need Jesus.
But not all of us meet him even in our time of greatest need.
We would rather have the problem crush and destroy us than move our feet toward Jesus.
Why do we do this?
Why do we resist the love and help of the Lord?
Has it happened to you?
Is it happening to you?
Glory to God, this man thought differently.
Look, whatever your difficulty, my advice is: run out and look for Jesus!
Don’t resist anymore.
I don’t know what your need or problem is, but I do know that He is the solution.
Another precious thing this man moved by the spirit of God did was to beg to Jesus to help him solve his problem.
It was to say to Jesus “Lord only you can work this miracle, come soon before my son dies.”
Already in itself, to say “Lord” was an act of humility of that man because socially, and politically he held a position of greater status than Jesus.
But in addition to this, scripture says that he “begged” Jesus.
I get it, your problem seems impossible to solve.
But never forget that for God there is nothing impossible.
Take your problem to Jesus and ask him, turn to him, so he can you his help.
Sometimes we become so sad and despondent that we think, why should God take an interest in me or my problems?.
The truth is that God does.
The scripture says:
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
| 1 Peter 5:7
There is nothing to lose, nothing to doubt.
But wait, there’s more.
After this, something important happens.
Jesus decides not to go.
He simply tells him:
“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at his word and departed.
This man thought it was necessary for Jesus to go there for the miracle to be worked.
That was the way he had foreseen that the solution to the problem should be given, but Jesus does something different.
Jesus decides to work the miracle in a way that this man cannot understand.
The beautiful thing about this is that this man believes and obeys.
This man returns home to look for his son after having deposited his anxiety on Jesus, with no solution other than a word from Jesus.
This man believes, trusts and accepts the solution that Jesus decides to work even though it was different from his own.
Have encouragement and confidence in the Lord.
Don’t tell him how to fix your problem.
Trust in the solution that he will work, He will do it the way he wants.
You may not see him, but rest assured that help is on the way and that he is working the miracle.
You know why?
Look what happens later in history.
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.”
Here occurs one of the most important teachings of the story.
Of course Jesus worked the miracle, as he also wants, and can work the miracle in your life.
But pay attention because the Bible also says that man:
(…) he believed with his whole family.
That man could have decided that it had all been a fluke, that it had been the medical treatments, and that he had gone to waste time with Jesus.
He could have said “thank you, Jesus”, and continued with his life as if nothing had happened.
But that’s not what he did.
This man recognized that Jesus had been the one who worked the miracle, and his heart was forever grateful.
This man looked to the past and saw the wonder, glory, and power of Jesus and decided to change the course of his life and accept Jesus as his savior.
He decided to do what was politically incorrect and socially questioned.
Become a Christian.
Yes.
He became a Christian.
Of course, that title didn’t exist as such yet, but that’s exactly what he did.
This man did not let Jesus go away once he got what he wanted.
This man changed his life because he now believed in Jesus.
What will you do when the Lord answers your request and supplication?
When he takes care of your need.
I encourage you to repeat in your life the same story of that brave man of faith.
Whatever your problem, Jesus wants to help you.
Leave aside what prevents you from going to him.
Run to Jesus.
Beg him to help you.
Believe in Him and trust in the solution he is working.
Recognize that he is a miracle-maker and give him your heart and life.
What if you share your request or problem to pray for it together and tell us when the Lord answers you? Let us know in the comments.
