On Whose Terms?

John 4:49-50 - The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

A lot of us think we know how things should be done. We are convinced that if we push the right buttons - or if the right other person pushes the right buttons – we will get the desired outcome. The government official in the town of Cana was like that. He had a problem. His son was dying. He had heard what Jesus had done for others. Perhaps he had been at the wedding where Jesus changed the water to wine in his town. He believed Jesus had the power to heal his son, but he believed it would happen a certain way.

So, the official came to Jesus and asked him to come down and heal his son before he died. (John 4:47) After Jesus did not say he would come, the man asked again, “Come down before my son dies.” (vs 49) The man believed Jesus could heal his son but only if he was there.

Jesus did not follow the man’s terms. He did not go down. However, Jesus did care, and he did act. He told the man, “Go; you son will live.” At exactly the moment he spoke those words, the official’s son got healthy. (vv 51-53) It did not happen the way the man expected. It did not happen the way he was convinced it must happen, and yet it still happened. It happened on Jesus’ terms.

Often God will do exactly what we in just the way we ask, but quite often he will achieve what it is we really want or actually need in quite unexpected ways. Let’s let him act on his terms and not always expect him to comply with ours.