Taking Jesus At His Word

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Reading: John 4:43-54

Reflection: OK…so I know that this is not the central meaning of the passage…but there is a thought that I can’t shake as I read this passage. The disciples expect that Jesus should be extremely hungry. Apparently he hasn’t eaten for some time. You and I would use words such as famished, or craving something to eat, to describe Jesus’ condition. And Jesus doesn’t necessarily deny the fact that He was in fact craving something. The difference between Jesus and the disciples is that while the disciples are craving food, Jesus is craving to fulfill God’s will. While the disciples are hung up on the physical needs of life, Jesus has set those aside to focus on the spiritual desires of His Father.

It seems to me that this is an ongoing struggle for those of us who are seeking to follow Jesus in life…or maybe just me. It is easy for me to crave many things. I crave a good breakfast and a great cup of coffee. I crave recognition and affirmation. I crave to be financially secure and to see the success of my children. I crave a reliable retirement and the physical health to enjoy the golden years. But, do I really crave to know and do the will of God? Am I so hungry to hear from God that I’m willing to shut out all other things to focus on His voice? Would I be willing to let go of everything in order to follow Him? It’s easy to say yes, because we are pretty sure He will not ask us to actually do that. But what if He did? For what, I must ask, am I really hungry.

Jesus said that we need to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and then all the other things of life will fall into the proper place. To seek Him first doesn’t mean to go to church at the beginning of the week and then go on with the rest of my life. It means to place His will and ways above all other things…to make knowing and doing the will of my Father the chief craving of my life. I pray that my hunger will increase, so that I will seek the food that brings eternal life.

This is a great section of scripture for many reasons. One of those reasons is that it challenges us to live by faith and not by sight. However, we tend to do the opposite. Many of us inside the church claim that the most important thing that we can do is to live by faith. What do we mean by that? Well, it doesn’t mean to make outrageous and presumptuous claims and then call people to take great risks to prove that they believe these outrageous claims are factually true. However, it also doesn’t mean that we will do nothing until we can logically see exactly how we already have all the resources needed to make the believed claim a reality. So, then, what does it mean to live by faith?

Well, it seems to me that the answer is found in the actions of this official who asked Jesus to heal his son. Notice what he does. First, he believes that Jesus does in fact have the power to make his son better if He chooses to do so. Second, hearing that Jesus is in the region, he personally makes a request that Jesus come to his aid and save his boy’s life. Third, he continues to ask for help even in the face of real obstacles. Fourth, he listens to what Jesus says and promises. Finally, and most important, we are told that the official “took Jesus at His word and departed.”

Now, I think that is what it means to live by faith…to take Jesus at His word and act accordingly. Jesus said that He would be with us forever. If I am a person of faith, I live my life as though that word from Jesus is true. Jesus said that God will provide for my needs, so I don’t live in fear that I will starve to death because to do so is to fail to take Jesus at His word. So, to live by faith is to seek to hear the word of Jesus and then live as though I actually believe that this word is completely trustworthy. Rather than waiting for Jesus to show up and do what He said…and then place my faith in Him, I am called to believe in advance…acting as though what He said He has already performed. Evaluating the actions of this official, the Expositor’s Bible Commentary says the following…

Jesus' response still seems somewhat impersonal and casual. By dismissing the official with the statement that his son was alive, Jesus created a dilemma of faith. If the father refused to return to Capernaum without taking Jesus with him, he would show that he did not believe Jesus' word and would consequently receive no benefit because of his distrust. On the other hand, if he followed Jesus' order, he would be returning to the dying boy with no outward assurance that the lad would recover. He was forced to make the difficult choice between insisting on evidence and thus showing disbelief and of exercising faith without any tangible proof to encourage him. The official chose the second horn of the dilemma; he "took Jesus at his word" (ASV "believed the word") and set out on his return journey. He learned faith by the compulsion of necessity.

So the real question is this, “Do I take Jesus at His word, or do I insist on seeing results before I will ever take action?” If I will not act without seeing first, then I do not have faith. If I press forward and act, without clearly hearing in advance the word of the Lord on the issue, I am acting with presumption. If, however, I seek to hear the Lord and then once I hear His voice I act as though what He has promised He has already achieved, then I am a person acting in faith. May God give us all the courage to “take Jesus at His word.”