And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” vs41-42

It is because of His word that we believe the gospel. We hear from people, but there is another voice that speaks assurance, even the Holy Spirit in the inner man, pointing us to Christ, convincing us that He is the Savior of the world.

I have told the truth, but some hear differently from others. You hear from Christ Himself. He tells you that He has put away your sins, so you are sure. He speaks personally in the word, and you hear His keeping power. He, indeed, has put strength in you, so you see and feel Christ for yourself. You are a possessor of FIRST HAND knowledge, and this is what we desire for all of our hearers. To us, it is not hearsay. “Could this be the Christ?” No, to us, “We know indeed that this is the Savior of the world.”

Let us be sure by going to Christ ourselves. I spoke to a dear sister who hears good teaching and shares good posts. However, she, like all of us, needs to r hear the word herself…to meditate upon it… so that she may be full; it is our own study and our own prayer, reading the Scriptures in their context, that give us the assurance of the Bereans, who nobly searched the Scriptures. Acts 17:11-12, “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.

Secondly, God uses sickness to get our attention. vs46

“So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.”

The message of the text, however, is not that God will heal our bodies. If that were so, then there’d be no sickness and death! (Why do men promise healings, “in the name of jesus,” but then always revert back to God’s sovereignty when they fail? Why not pray and rely on God’s sovereignty? Why not see the doctor?)

We have been deceived! The message of the gospel is the HEALING OF THE SOUL, and God used physical healings to teach us redemption, just like He uses the miracles from the Old Testament to speak about salvation, God’s protection, and God’s provision [1 Pet 1:10-11]. Do not be misled.

He gets the attention of our sin-sick souls by revealing our horrible condition - that we are in need of a Savior, and He is the Christ. Jesus cures us from the disease of sin, and by His stripes we are healed. We are reconciled to God, sins are put away, and we walk obediently in newness of life. 1 Pet 2:24-25, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Thirdly, we are to believe the word and go our way! vs50

Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

This is a great gospel that thoroughly satisfies the soul; it is taking God at His promise, and then going our way, enjoying everlasting life! We don’t have to feel it; we don’t have to do something; we simply take God at the greatness of His word, and enjoy the benefits. This is how Abraham and Sarah overcame, and this is how we overcome [Heb 11:11-12]. We don’t have any strength in self, and we make no additions. This has liberated me from a contributing religion into a receiving religion, where my soul is RESTED upon Christ. I’m in the Sabbath where God works, and I do nothing [Heb 4:10].

Preaching is not adding my zeal; it is opening the text and letting the Spirit work; it is not imposing self at all, so I am free! I can relax and be of good cheer, because He has said it: Sin’s are forgiven, and power over sin is ours. No matter how we feel, the promises are real and sufficient: we need nothing else!

Finally, God gives us assurance. vs51-53

As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.

The father believed before he saw, and then he saw. Oh, the wonderful joy and peace of believing. Oh, the wonderful power over sin. Oh, how sweet it is to experience Christ.

Go your way and walk by faith, and you’ll see the glory of God. Take away the stone, and Lazarus will rise. Pour the water into the basins, fill them to the brim, and you’ll see the water made into wine.

Hope will be restored, if you believe on Christ. Power, peace, good works, and everything that God has promised will surely happen [1 Kings 17:13-14]. Live for His glory, and you will be fulfilled. Fight sin by the gospel, and peaceful assurance will come. Get in the word daily, relying on the Spirit, and He’ll show you Christ. Walk by faith, and God will encourage others.

Everything is real. The abundant life is real, as promised, and we’ll experience it, if we only believe. God is a promise keeping God, and we'll see Him bring it to pass, as He has spoken.