Have you ever cried out in desperation, “Jesus help me”? Life has many twists and turns and sometimes the Lord puts us in a place where our only option is to cry out to Jesus. Sooner or later most of us experience coming to the end of ourselves.
A Government Official Needs Help
Sometimes, when we become desperate, we are willing to humble ourselves and seek the Lord. In our story, a man is desperate because his young son is near death. The text does not say how long the son was sick or what treatments were used to try to save him. The text does indicate an urgency and Jesus is the only thing that stands between life and death for the boy.
John 4:46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die. 48 Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” 49 The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.” [1] As the story unfolds Jesus does heal the man’s son.
How Does Jesus Help Me?
What does this story tell us about the Lord? When we come to Jesus in desperation and humility, the Lord hears our prayer. He does come to our rescue, but it may not end like we expect. This government official asked Jesus to come to his hometown of Capernaum to heal his son. Jesus did not travel to Capernaum but did heal his son.
Sometimes people don’t get fully well this side of eternity. There are times when the Lord brings healing when people go to heaven. This happened with my father. My grandparents lost a son at the age of three. God was with them during their grief. Today my grandparents and their son are united in heaven. He really was healed. In heaven there are no more tears or suffering. (Ref. Rev. 21:4)
Where in your life do you need help from Jesus?Remember the words from James 5:16The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. [2]
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Jn 4:46–49). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Jas 5:16). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.