God’s Guiding Word: Love
Introduction
John 4:43–54: Jesus leaves Samaria and returns to Galilee. A government official approaches Jesus and begs him to heal his son. The official believes Jesus’s words, and his son is healed. As recorded in John’s Gospel, this is the second miracle that Jesus performed. His first miracle occurred at a wedding in Cana (see John 2:1–12).
Scripture Reading
43 After spending two days there, Jesus left and went to Galilee. 44 For he himself had said, “Prophets are not respected in their own country.” 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the people there welcomed him, because they had gone to the Passover Festival in Jerusalem and had seen everything that he had done during the festival.
46 Then Jesus went back to Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. A government official was there whose son was sick in Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to go to Capernaum and heal his son, who was about to die. 48 Jesus said to him, “None of you will ever believe unless you see miracles and wonders.”
49 “Sir,” replied the official, “come with me before my child dies.”
50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live!”
The man believed Jesus’ words and went. 51 On his way home his servants met him with the news, “Your boy is going to live!”
52 He asked them what time it was when his son got better, and they answered, “It was one o’clock yesterday afternoon when the fever left him.” 53 Then the father remembered that it was at that very hour when Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his family believed.
54 This was the second miracle that Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.
Today’s Key Verse: John 4:50
Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live!” The man believed Jesus’ words and went.
Reflect
Why do you think the government official believed Jesus’s words even before he arrived home? What impact did the healing of his son have on his family? What does today’s reading teach you about faith?
Pray
Lord Jesus, I place my faith and trust in you, knowing that nothing is impossible for you. Help me to grow strong in my faith and reach out to those who need to hear your message of love and salvation. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
John 5:1–18: Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath.