Why do you seek Jesus? I wonder, as I look around at many who go to church why they even bother with going to church. Their actions indicate that church attendance is the only area of their life that indicates they are seeking Jesus, and even that is a megar amount. Is it because they think that going to church will gain them some merit with God? Is it because they want others to think well of them? Hopefully it is because they have a relationship with Him that means more to them than any other relationship they have. If that is the case they will find what they are looking for in Jesus. The story in John 4:46-54 is a great one for those who want to understand more about the power, love, mercy, and grace, of the Jesus they seek.
John 4:46-54 “So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea 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. Then said Jesus unto him, Except, ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 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. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 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. 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. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.”
In John 4:46-54, we have a story of a nobleman. He is a high-ranking official in Herod’s court. He may have been someone who was greatly respected. He may have had power and money, but at this point, nothing matters to him but saving the life of his son. If you have ever had a loved one that was in this situation you can understand the desperation of this high-ranking official. It doesn’t matter if you have servants, money, or friends to help, you personally take on the task of finding someone that can help your loved one. This man takes a chance on the only option left that he knows about. His attention is drawn to a Jewish man that he has heard about preaching and performing a miracle! We don’t know how this nobleman found out about Jesus, but we know he seeks him out. While nothing else had helped his son, he seeks the only opportunity he can think of. He would walk the 15 to 20 miles to find the man who had turned the water into wine. He has no way of knowing if his son is still alive while he is out trying to find help. He is in desperation mode.
He seeks Jesus out because he has a need. I can almost hear him pleading with Jesus after Jesus says to those present, “Except, ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. “He then presses Jesus; his words imply that if Jesus doesn’t come his son will die. At this point, I don’t know if he believes Jesus is the Messiah or just a prophet, but he believed he could heal his son. He demonstrated this by walking all day to find this man he had heard about. As he is on his way home his servants meet him and tell him his son is healed. He asks the time his son was healed. When they responded the 7th hour he knew Jesus was who he said he was, the Son of God. The Bible says he believed and his household with him.
Many flocked to Jesus as his ministry grew, but most were just looking for a good show. They were looking for a sign. Many today are looking for signs, paying more attention to the events of the world than they are their relationship with God. Jesus does not want us to have “sign faith.” He wants us to take him at his word. He wants us to love him for who he is, not just what he can do for us. I’ve known so many that called on the Lord when in trouble, God answered their prayer, and soon they were back to living a shallow Christian life again. It wasn’t long until their actions showed they only wanted Jesus for what he could do for them in that situation.
May we start today afresh and anew to worship Christ because of who he is, not for what he can do. Examine yourself today. Why do you seek him?
