Vol. 17 No. 21 | May 26, 2014
John chapter 4 contains the story of a desperate father seeking help from Jesus for son who is near death (43-54). After explaining the circumstances, begging for help, receiving what appears to be a bit of a scolding, and being told that his son would be okay, the text says this: “The man took Jesus at his word and departed.” (4:50)
“The man took Jesus at his word and departed.”
What if I take Jesus at his word?
Jesus made other promises.
Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
What if I take Jesus at his word?
John 10:10, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
What if I take Jesus at his word?
John 16:32, “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
What if I take Jesus at his word?
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
What if I take Jesus at his word?
John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
What if I take Jesus at his word?
Matthew 6:28, “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
What if I take Jesus at his word?
Matthew 19:25, When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
What if I take Jesus at his word?
If I take Jesus at his word I could be disappoint. If I take Jesus at his word I might be challenged more than I prefer. If I take Jesus at his word I may experience all kinds of difficulty in this life. If I take Jesus at his word I could experience something amazing.
“If” is the key word in this statement. Let’s remove the “if.” Take Jesus at his word.
Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2014. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.