As a nation we are becoming a people who want to believe what our leaders say to us but we are skeptical.  So many church leaders have fallen that we are leery about believing what they say from the platform unless their lives show evidence of their belief.  But this is our own fault.  If we are reading and studying God’s Word for ourselves, evaluating our own behaviors against the standard of Jesus with hearts of obedience and surrender, then we understand that perfection will not be found in the lives of humans.  Only Jesus is perfect.  Only Jesus saves us from the world of skepticism, darkness, deception and our own sins with redemption and truth. Only Jesus can provide the Way to Truth that leads us to eternal Life.  No human can provide all we need and should not be expected to—only Jesus who died and rose again can provide all we need to live life to the full. 

This truth alone, aside from all the miracles of healing, the provisions and protection of God through Jesus, is what should impress us to give our whole heart, mind, and soul to Him so that we may have a rich, loving, intimate relationship with God our Father.  God is searching for seeking hearts like this…who will He find?

“The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9a 

When we completely give our hearts to Him, He give us strength beyond ourselves in our daily walk with Him.  The last half of that verse is just as important; “What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”  2 Chronicles 16:9b God is speaking to those who refuse to do what He says.  We live foolish lives when we do life on our own, ignoring messages from God through His leaders who know Him and speak His words to us.  We succumb to foolish habits of calling out to God only in times of trouble, when we want him to please us or when the battle with the evil one overwhelms us.  At the end of ourselves we call out because we are impressed with what we know He can do; but our hearts are far from being fully His.

The back story of this verse in Chronicles that is quoted often is this:  God sent a prophet to tell the king that his treaty with the enemy is not going to work.  Everyone was happy with the results of the treaty except God. God sent the prophet Hanani to rebuke the king and rely God’s message.  

A prophet’s task was to rebuke kings and other leaders, including priests, when they had disobeyed God’s laws. The prophet’s message was clear: If Asa had relied on the Lord, the army of Judah would have defeated both Israel and Aram. Instead, Judah merely gained a few towns, the Lord’s treasury was robbed, and the king was entangled in a sinful alliance with the Arameans. 

So, you see how foolish it is to be merely impressed with God but not listen to what He says.  This is living half-heartedly, relying only on human wisdom.  From the experience of these prophets and now His own, “Jesus knew well from experience that a prophet is not respected in the place where he grew up…”  The home crowd wanted Jesus to perform for them.  They were merely impressed but did not whole heartedly believe in Jesus.   

“Dazzle us, Jesus.”  Oh, what fools we are when we play this game with the One who died for our sins and rose again in power and majesty.

John 4, The Message

^43-45 After the two days he left for Galilee. Now, Jesus knew well from experience that a prophet is not respected in the place where he grew up. So when he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, but only because they were impressed with what he had done in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, not that they really had a clue about who he was or what he was up to.

^46-48 Now he was back in Cana of Galilee, the place where he made the water into wine. Meanwhile in Capernaum, there was a certain official from the king’s court whose son was sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and asked that he come down and heal his son, who was on the brink of death. Jesus put him off: “Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe.”

⁴⁹ But the court official wouldn’t be put off. “Come down! It’s life or death for my son.”

^50-51 Jesus simply replied, “Go home. Your son lives.”

The man believed the bare word Jesus spoke and headed home. On his way back, his servants intercepted him and announced, “Your son lives!”

^52-53 He asked them what time he began to get better. They said, “The fever broke yesterday afternoon at one o’clock.” The father knew that that was the very moment Jesus had said, “Your son lives.”

^53-54 That settled it. Not only he but his entire household believed. This was now the second sign Jesus gave after having come from Judea into Galilee.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Like easily impressed children who are looking to be entertained again by the mesmerizing water to wine miracle man, people’s hearts bear the lack of belief in who Jesus really was and is now.  People in his hometown do not go out of their way to honor Him either. From experience, Jesus is used to this.  How sad.  But from our own experiences, we can understand.  Hometown people who knew you as a kid, freeze frame you as a kid.  Family and friends you related to as a children do not realize you went through normal stages of growth with new experiences that transformed you, right?

But then there’s one man who rises above the crowd of skeptics who truly believes that Jesus is who He is says He is—A court official of the king.  This court official’s son will die unless Jesus intervenes.  His desperate faith in Jesus’ ability to heal his son stood firm as he persistently asked for Jesus’ help for his beloved son.

The court official wasn’t asking for another performance to dazzle onlookers.  His heart was broken for his son.  If you have children you know.  When our children are very ill, we would rather take their place to spare their hurt and pain.  Jesus saw the honest heart of this man and healed his son immediately.  The official went back home to find his son healed.  He believed Jesus then and especially now!  Imagine the testimony he told his family!  Now the whole household believed—because that’s how persistent faith works!

We discover, once again, that a sincere, honest heart of faith grabs the attention of Jesus.  What is in our hearts either fills our souls with His love, mercy, and grace and renews our minds that transforms our behaviors or it does not. It’s a matter of who we allow to control our hearts, minds and souls.

As for me, I choose the One who is looks for hearts committed to Him.  I choose the strength He promises when we commit to Him.  I choose the wisdom of God over folly of man.  I choose Jesus who redeemed me for life!  Thank you, Jesus!  Other choices lead to foolishness that leads to darkness and emptiness. 

Lord,

Thank you for teaching us a new perspective of your multifaceted love, mercy, and grace through this story of healing and faith. Thank you for seeking us and saving us. Thank you for always being with us to provide all we need with protection from the enemy who seeks to distract, deceive, dishearten, and ultimately destroy us.  The enemy cannot separate us from your love.  We can walk away but your love remains intact, so why turn away from a love like that?  There is no one like you, dear Jesus.  Greater are you in me than he that is in the world.  What a promise!

In Jesus Name, Amen