Today’s Reading: John 4:43-54; Psalm 8
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. – Luke 4:14-15
Many of the Galileans had seen Jesus in Jerusalem, so news of his arrival spread quickly across the region. Jesus began to preach the same message of repentance that John the Baptist had been preaching in Judea. This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy: “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined” (Matthew 4:15-16).
John goes on to tell us in detail about the second miracle Jesus performed in Galilee:
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. 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…
Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.
While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” Then the father realized that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea. – John 4:46-54
GOD’S TIMING IS A BEAUTIFUL THING!
It is often in the timing of an event or miracle in our lives where our faith is strengthened the most. The miracle itself is incredible, but it is the timing of God’s movement that confirms that it is God Himself at work.
I see two elements of timing in this account of John’s:
1.) Jesus arrived in Galilee just as the government official’s son became very sick, and
2.) the boy was healed at the very time when Jesus had said the words, “Your son will live.”
For most of my life, I have heard the saints in the church say, “God is always on time. He’s never late and He’s never early.” I have found that to be true in my own life, but I must admit it is not always easy to patiently wait for God’s timing. Yet, it is in these moments of waiting that our faith grows.
IT IS IN THE WAITING THAT GOD HAS OUR ATTENTION AND IT IS IN HIS PERFECT TIMING THAT WE LEARN TO TRUST IN HIM.
I am learning right now how to trust in God in new ways. He is stretching me and I know I am only at the beginning of all He is about to teach me. I am not sure what is ahead but I am sure that I can trust Him. His timing is perfect and so I plan to give Him my attention as I wait on Him.
What are you waiting for the Lord to do? Let me join you in praying that the Lord will answer your prayers in His perfect timing, and that He will give you the strength to wait patiently on Him. May this time in your life bring you closer to God as you learn to trust Him in new ways.