I have been thinking about some examples of great faith that I found in John 4 & 5. Before I get into those two stories, I would like to take a quick moment to mention John 4:1-2. You can almost skim over it as you move into reading about the Samaritan Woman, but we’d be missing a great little nugget of insight. Here’s what it says:

“The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more than John,
although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.“

I really like this because it shows Jesus’ heart for us. Jesus is all about inviting us to join Him and creating spaces for us to serve and minister. I love that about Jesus!

Of course we need a shoutout to the Samaritan Woman, who shows us what great faith and trust can look like. You can read more about her in the November 5, 2020 blog, “Our Story”.

For today, let’s focus on two guys.
The first is found in John 4:46-53. I admire him because I can stuck in the steps that I need to do or how to do it or … a million other things…
We read that a royal official had a sick son and asked Jesus to heal him. Jesus told him in verse 50 “You may go. Your son will live.” But this next part gets me… “The man took Jesus at his word and departed.” He didn’t question the ‘how’ or look for conformation, he just left totally trusting what Jesus said was going to happen. The story goes on to say that his son was healed the same moment Jesus spoke to him. It ends with his whole house believing in God. Talk about a life transformation!

I want faith like that!
Don’t you?
To just take Jesus at His Word!

There are many articles and sermons about our next guy. We know him as the paralyzed man who was sitting by the pool when Jesus told him to pick up his mat and walk. We find his story in John 5:1-15. He was just waiting for his healing. He was discouraged because he didn’t have anyone to help him to the pool when it was stirred.

After his encounter with Jesus, some people saw him carrying his mat and asked why he was doing that. (That was considered doing work and you were not supposed to do any work on the Sabbath). Ok! Here is the part… verse 13 says “The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus slipped away into the crowd that was there.”

His expectation that he would be healed had nothing to do with what he heard about Jesus healing others. He didn’t even know who Jesus was! He was not fixated on a personalty or platform, he encountered hope and grabbed onto it with all the faith and belief he could.

I want faith like that!
Don’t you?

To see how we can have that kind of faith, let’s go to John 5:26:

“For as the Father has life in Himself,
so he has granted the Son to have life in Himself.”

Jesus brought life to each of these men’s lives and their situation, simply by stepping into their story.
Jesus brings life every time He comes near me!
Jesus brings everything I need when He steps into my situation.

God does not ever need anything outside of Himself to meet me and change my situation and my life.
Our faith is in all of Who God is and all that He brings to the table. We simply have to believe.

In my heart I hear myself repeating what the dad said in Mark 9:24 “…I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

I want to have faith like that!
Don’t you?
What would happen in my life if I did?
What would happen in your life if you did?

In my life there have been times that kind of faith and trust has felt as uncertain and scary as walking across a creaky, old wooden bridge dangling a million miles above raging rapids disappearing into thick dark woods. But God has always met me and when I think how gracious He is to me, I am overcome with love for Him and thankfulness.

I pray that the next time we go to God with something, we remember these two guys and believe. Anything is possible when He meets us.

Remember how fiercely you are loved and how incredibly seen you are by Your Heavenly Father!

Have the most amazing day!
All My Love ~
Jodi

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