Captain Bruce Smith

These words were written in big bold letters on the back of a T-shirt. Obviously the Lord had made an impact on the T-shirt wearer. He wanted the world to know there is something incredibly wonderful about Jesus.

My mind goes to the scores of men and women in the Gospels who could easily wear that same T-shirt due to life-changing encounters with Jesus.

All the way through the Gospel of John we see Jesus as ‘the Man who cares for others’ – not only ‘certain others’ but all kinds of others!  We see it with a Pharisee named Nicodemus in John 3. In John 4 it is the woman of Samaria, and we will see it with Lazarus, and the paralyzed man, and a blind man. Again and again we see Jesus love and love and love. And he would meet people in their needs. Not only does Jesus care, but He takes action! I have always appreciated how John Stott worded this in his booklet “Walk in His Shoes”: Jesus saw the need, cared for the need, and responded to the need. See, feel, do. See, feel, do.

Look at how Jesus responds to the nobleman of Capernaum in John 4:46-54. We don’t know much about this man. We know he had a son who, at the time of Jesus’ visit to Cana, was near death. The situation was bleak. Yet there was one glimmer of light for this man: he had heard about Jesus. He had heard about his miracle in Cana, how Jesus had taken everyday water and transformed it into

rich refreshing wine.

How had he heard? Obviously someone must have told him. Someone must have done what so many of us find difficult to do–open our mouths about Jesus. We think, “I’m no theologian. If I knew more about the Bible, then I would gladly talk about Jesus. I’m only a new believer. I’ve only known Jesus for two weeks….two months….two years….twenty years. I’m not qualified to tell others about Him.”

What had the person from Cana told the nobleman? Likely these simple facts: “Jesus turned water into wine and it was simply fantastic!” That may have been all the theology and biblical expertise that person had, but it was all the nobleman needed to hear!

This man heard of Jesus – he went to Jesus – and then we read ‘he begged Jesus’. Look at this picture: this official would normally be directing, commanding, yet we see him begging. Why? Because he is before the Lord, that’s why.

This goes against the proud heart. So very many people stumble at this; they’re unwilling to recognize the need to humble themselves before God. Please don’t let this be the case for you. Remember the One before whom we are to humble ourselves is the same One who humbled Himself for us.

“Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to Thy Cross I cling.” We admit we need help, that there is nowhere else to turn. This powerful man was powerless to help his own son. In desperation he would seek out Jesus and ask, “Please help me”.

This is all the prayer we need to pray: “Jesus, please help me”. Notice how Jesus responds. He looks at this man with eyes of compassion and joy and announces, “You may go. Your son will live.”

John tells us in chapter 20 that “These things are written that you may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.” Jesus is ready to give such life. He is ready to enter your life and bring heaven to you. Are you ready to receive His love, His life, to believe. After all, He loves you, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Try that on for size.