What Does Your Faith Demand?

Between the reaction of the Samaritans and those in Galilee, Jesus challenges us to evaluate what kind of faith we have.

Jesus’ Return To Galilee Reveals Different Types of Faith

John 4:46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

Jesus began His ministry in Galilee, but as attested in Matthew 11, as a whole, they did not receive Him. Now He returns, and more receive Him than did the first time.

John 4:44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.

It is hard to gain acceptance and recognition in your own home town, but if you make a hit somewhere else and then come back home, people see you in an entirely different light.

A Samaritan’s Faith Trust His Word

In the prior paragraph, we saw how the Samaritans believed in Him because He was the Christ. They did not “ask for a sign” in order to place their faith in Him.

A Demanding Faith Needs a Sign

John 4:48 Then Jesus said unto him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”

Jesus speaks in the plural here, not just to the one man who is seeking help for his son. He refers to all of those nearby, and especially in that area, who had demanded that He prove Himself by miracles.

There are many still like that today. People often really want to see miracles, exciting signs, supernatural events, before they are willing to believe who Jesus is.

Many haunt the meetings of faith healers, so-called, because they want to see whether these men or women can actually achieve the transformation of a cripple, or open the eyes of the blind.

A Desperate Faith Needs Help

John 4:49 The nobleman said unto Him, “Sir, come down ere my child die!”

He has a certain kind of faith, a belief that Jesus is some type of a miracle worker. He believes He is in touch with powers that ordinary people do not have.

This man displays a low or initial level of faith, as he obviously feels that everything is going to be lost if Jesus will not come. He feels Jesus must come and touch the boy before anything can happen.

John 4:50 Jesus said unto him, “Go thy way; thy son lives.” And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

Jesus said to him, Believe and you will see. That is a higher level of faith.

It is a faith that is true faith, and the ground level of it is not what Jesus can do for me or others, or even what He has done, but Who He is. This kind of man is one you can trust; He will keep his word.

A Delivering Faith Obeys

John 4:53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus had said unto him, “Thy son lives. And he himself believed, and his whole house.

When we place our faith in the Words of Jesus, He does supernatural things. This man and his whole family became believers. That is a supernatural event in itself.

When we simply take Jesus at His Word and believe, our lives will be transformed, and those around us will also be affected.

What are you demanding that Jesus prove before you will commit your life to Him?

Jesus asked His followers to take Him at His Word. He said, Believe in Me and I will give you peace now and a future with Me in eternity.

Today, let’s each examine the kind of faith we possess. Ask God to help you grow and follow Him, whether special signs are given right now, or not.