Jesus Heals the Nobleman's Son John 4:46-53

Jesus entered the city of Cana a second time. The first time he was there at a wedding he had turned water into wine. On this occasion, a nobleman (or we would say a man of wealth and authority) heard that Jesus was in town.

Now this nobleman was from the city of Capernaum, and had a son back home who was about to die. He had heard stories about Jesus and how he had healed many sick people and had done many miracles in the lives of the people of Israel. But he did not yet believe that Jesus was the Messiah and Savior of the world, whom Moses said would come.

Now let's take up the story in John 4:47-53:

47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

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

In other words, Jesus said that unless he constantly proved that he was sent from God by doing something supernatural, Israel would not believe he was the Messiah (which means Christ or the anointed one). They would not believe by what he said, for faith comes by hearing. They would only believe by seeing, as many people are today.

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

The nobleman, ignoring the point that Jesus was making insisted that if he didn't come with him, his son would die.

But Jesus refused to go with the nobleman, instead he challenged him to believe without seeing:

50 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. (bolded mine)

This is what Jesus was trying to get this man to do, believe in His words. And this is what he is attempting to get you to do, believe in his written words. When we believe in the words of Jesus, He will do miracles for us too! Now let's find out what happened after the man believed.

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

52 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. (1pm)

53 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.

Let me explain. As the man was nearing home in Capernaum, his servants met him to give him the good news that his son's condition had turned around! He was not dead, as everyone expected but rather was doing better. The nobleman began to question about what time it was when his son began to feel better. And just as he suspected, it was the same time he was talking to Jesus, and Jesus had said to him "Your son lives!" (Paraphrased)

When he knew it was the same time, about 1pm the previous day that the fever left his son, was the same time Jesus had said "Your son lives", he and his entire family believed that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, and Savior of the world!

In your time of need, take Jesus at his word and you too will discover that He truly is the Son of God and Savior of the world!

Snapshots of the Real Jesus! Part 3 John 6:1-15

Jesus Feeds 5000 with 2 fish and 5 loaves John 6:1-15
"After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him (see what he would say): for he himself knew what he would do.

Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. (In other words they ate as much fish and bread as they wanted, all 5000 of them!)

When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. (or wasted)

Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. (In other words the Messiah Moses had spoken of)

When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone."

Wow! Do you understand what you have just read? Jesus just performed here one of the greatest miracles in the history of mankind. He fed 5000 people with 2 fish and 5 loaves or biscuits. What a miracle! Only the Son of God could have done such a thing!

When these 5000 men had finished eating as much as they wanted and were full, they realized what a great miracle Jesus had performed. And these Jewish men were so astounded by what had happened that they were all with one accord convinced that Jesus was their Messiah and were determined to take him by force and make him the King of the Jews!

Jesus had to escape into a mountain to keep from being made king before the time. Wow!

Why did he not let them make him the King of the Jews then, since it is obvious that that is who he was? Because it was not the time for him to come into his kingdom. He had to die for the sins of all mankind first, otherwise we would all die in our sins and have no way out of hell. Wow! What great love he has shown us!

John 3:16 says: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

But when he returns to the earth, then he will return as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! But you need to prepare for his return, by repenting of your sins and asking for this everlasting life. Jesus said in order to enter into his kingdom, you must be born again spiritually, John 3:3. It starts with you being sorry for your sins and asking him to forgive you and cleanse you from sin.

Jesus did miracles when he walked the earth 2000 years ago. And he still does miracles today, after getting up from the dead and ascending into Heaven. But the greatest miracle he has ever done is dying for our sins and making it possible for us to be the sons and daughters of God!

Ask him to forgive you of your sins and come into your life today. He will!

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved! Romans 10:13

Don't put it off. Do it now! You are not promised tomorrow!

Jesus, The Born Witness of Truth! John 18:37

Jesus went to Samaria to meet with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. The woman went to the well to draw water as was her routine. Jesus obviously knew that he would meet her there in the absence of his disciples who had left him to buy food.

Exhausted, Jesus asked the woman for a drink of water. She responded in surprise that Jesus being a Jew had asked a Samaritan for a drink, since Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans. (The Samaritans were kindred to Jews but of mixed blood.)

Then Jesus said, "If you knew the gift of God, (Salvation) and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink; you would have asked him for a drink, and he would have given you living water." (Paraphrased)

The woman then said, "Sir you have nothing with which to draw water, and the well is deep; so where then does this living water you speak of come from?" (Paraphrased)

Jesus responded, "Whoever drinks the water from this well will get thirsty again, but the water that I give shall be a well springing up unto eternal life!" (Paraphrased)

Jesus told the woman things about herself that only God could know. And during their short encounter, He revealed himself to her as the Messiah, the Son of God. And now he wants an encounter to reveal Himself to you!

Ask Jesus now to forgive you of your sins; and when you do with all your heart, he will forgive you and give you Salvation that will be like living water springing up inside you unto eternal life! Don't put it off. Do it now!

Jesus is waiting!

Jesus Christ: Farmer of the Heart - Matthew 13:1-9

Jesus was teaching his disciples in the house on a certain day, as he often did. Afterwards, he went outside and sat by the seaside or beach. A large number of people, maybe even thousands gathered around him to listen to him teach. And here is what he said, (Matthew 13:4-9):

3...Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scortched; and becasue they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

In the above story, Jesus tells of a farmer who went out throwing seeds indescriminatly onto different kinds of ground, some fell outside the plowed rows onto trails where men walked. Birds ate those seed, as they lay on top of the ground. (verse 4)

Some of the seed fell on rocky places where there was not much fertile soil, and they grew up fast because of the shallowness of the ground below them. When the sun came out, they quickly dried up and died because their roots could not push through the hard ground to find moisture. (verses 5-6)

And some fell into places where thorns grew. When the thorns grown to maturity their roots choked out the good seed, and they too died. (verse 7)

Yet some of the seed fell into fertile, plowed rows where they were intended to be planted, and all of these produced a crop; some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold and some a thirtyfold crop. (verse 8)

When Jesus had finished telling this story to the great crowd he said with a loud voice, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear"! (Matthew 13:9; Luke 8:8)

And I say to you, even as Jesus said to those who were listening to him that day; if you have ears to hear, then hear what the Lord Jesus is saying to you through this story today!

And know that Jesus is still The Farmer of the Heart!

The Mary Question? Luke 11:27-28

One day while Jesus was teaching, a woman in the crowd yelled out a compliment to him about his mother Mary. Following is the account of this incident and Jesus' surprising response to the woman's compliment:

27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

So what the woman said in our way of speaking is this: "Blessed is the womb that birthed you, and the breasts that nursed you."

And here's what Jesus said in reply, "Yes, you're right Mary is blessed, but those who hear my words and do them are even more blessed than she!"

Why did he say such a thing? Well, let's find out!

Many today still honor Mary very highly as this woman did, for giving birth to the Savior of the world! And I agree that Mary is to be highly esteemed. For she was chosen by God to fulfill one of the most important assignments given to any person on earth. She brought the Savior of all mankind into the world to die for our sins! And we should highly esteem her for the importance of her task and for the sake of her obedience!

But of far greater importance, is what Jesus did himself! After Mary gave him birth, he took the sins of the world upon himself and died upon the Cross for all men! And when you hear this message of salvation through Jesus Christ and believe it, you are more blessed than Mary was when she gave birth to Jesus, because you have received eternal life! And this is the blessing Jesus was born to give to the whole world!

Mary too had to receive forgiveness from her sins through faith in the shed blood of Jesus, the same as you and me!

Won't you believe that Jesus died on the Cross for you? If you do then pray to God and ask him to forgive you of your sins in Jesus' name. He will, no matter who you are or what you've done!

Ask him now!