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Be Still: The Inside Edition

Today’s scripture: John 4:43-54 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?

My thoughts (Julie Walsh):

A glimpse behind-the-scenes:

Authors of Be Still and Know are assigned a scripture passage to read, reflect upon, and offer insight for you, our dear audience. Sometimes these assigned scriptures cause writers (ME) to beat our heads on the computer screen, searching for just the right inspiration. I churned today’s scripture through my brain for days and day as my deadline loomed (and then whooooshed! on by). I scoured commentaries, consulted with friends, and read through other devotionals on the same subject. I reflected and prayed, asked God for insight and wisdom, and quietly waited for an answer.

What ended up striking me, however, was not inspiration specifically relating to this scripture passage, but rather a different strategy to look at scripture altogether. I began to explore how the order of events in the passage may impact the meaning.

Consider the original order of events as it occurred in this passage:

  1. Jesus: “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”
  2. Official: “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
  3. Jesus: “Go, your son will live.”
  4. The [official] took Jesus at His word and departed.

But what if the order of events was changed? What if the bible said,

  1. Official: “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
  2. Jesus: “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”
  3. Jesus: “Go, your son will live.”
  4. The [official] took Jesus at His word and departed.

Or what if,

  1. Official: “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
  2. Jesus: “Go, your son will live.”
  3. The [official] took Jesus at His word and departed.
  4. Jesus: “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”

If the points of the story are rearranged,

  1. Would it make a difference in the meaning of the story?
  2. Why would it make a difference?
  3. How does that impact us as believers?

In the way this particular passage was transcribed, a statement was made by Jesus followed by the story of the official seeking healing for his child. Perhaps this happened because this is the way the story was handed down in oral tradition. Or maybe there was more behind it. But if we don’t test the order of statements, we may not realize any alternative. Using this method and approach of rearranging sentences may help us identify the importance in one of the layers of meaning within the scripture passage!

Thought for the Day: Sometimes inspiration strikes in nontraditional ways with wisdom that isn’t what we expected. Be open to the Spirit’s leading!

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.