“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” (John 4:49-50).
The nobleman said, “Jesus, if You come, my son will live; if You don’t, he’ll die. Work a special miracle. Move in a sovereign way.”
Jesus replied, “Go your way, and believe what I say: Your son lives.”
That put the nobleman in a difficult spot. He had traveled more than twenty miles to see Jesus. That was a long trip, even if he had the fastest chariot around! He didn’t see or feel anything – no burning bush, no goose bumps, no gifts of the Spirit in manifestation.
All he had to hold on to were the bare words of Jesus the master.
So the nobleman had to make the choice: Should I stand here and argue with Jesus, or should I take Him at His Word?
The man decided to turn around and head home. He simply stepped out, believing the word that was spoken. As he traveled back to his home, the devil probably tried to talk to his mind, saying, How can you just accept Jesus’ words? Your son is in bad shape! Don’t you have any feelings? Jesus isn’t coming back with you!
The nobleman demonstrated true faith.
He traveled home, believing his son was well, with nothing but the Word of God to stand on. He probably traveled at least ten miles before he met his servants, who gave him the good news about his son: “Thy son liveth” (v. 51).
The nobleman had already believed for an entire day with no physical evidence that his son was getting better. Then he heard the good news about his son’s healing and realized it had occurred at the same time that Jesus had said, “Go thy way; thy son liveth” (v. 50)!
This is a picture of faith toward God. The minute the nobleman believed the spoken Word and headed for home, acting as though it were true, his son began to amend.
The Word says by Jesus’ stripes I am healed. I believe that Word, not according to how I feel, but according to what God has said. I count the work done! My body will begin to amend from this very hour!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.