Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. John 4:48
I am not one who suffers much from irrational fears, but I will uneasily confess two. As a young parent I feared that my children might be taken from me, and that I might not be able to identify them months or years later. This fear caused me to study their faces for all the changes that come with growth, and imagine what they might look like in a year or two.
Second fear: If Jesus walked up to me and started a conversation without revealing who He was would I know Him? If He then told me who He was, but He didn’t quite fit the image in my mind, would I believe Him?
So many of the people in the Gospels, like the man in this text, failed to recognize Jesus for who He was, but others seemed to immediately know Him. Would I recognize my Savior? I like to think I would, but, knowing myself, I fear I might not. Would I be rebuked for my blindness like the nobleman in this verse? Would He have to prove Himself for me to believe?
One comfort I have is experience. I have never seen a profound sign or wonder as mentioned in this verse… yet I have followed Him most of my life. I have experienced His grace. Even so… my fear causes me to study Him, and seek to know who He really is… not who I want Him to be.
