Jeremiah
2:1-13
Psalms
61, 62, 68
Romans
1:16-25
John
4:43-54
Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had
turned the water into wine. And there
was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in
Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who
was close to death. “Unless you people
see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down
before my child dies.” “Go,” Jesus
replied, “your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. John 4:46-50, NIV
The absolute faith of this royal official is
striking, and I’ve wondered at times why he is not more commonly held up as an
example.
This man of apparently high status begs the
carpenter’s son to come to Capernaum to heal his son. Jesus’ reaction to the man’s plea betrays
perhaps a little weariness with the people who are looking for miracles on
demand, rather than truly seeking to know the Father. But the official seems to wave off Jesus’
response, doggedly beseeching Jesus to hurry to Capernaum to save his son. He hasn’t come for demonstrations- he already
believes and is now begging for his son’s salvation. In fact, he believes so strongly, that when
Jesus tells him his son will live, the official does not insist that Jesus come
to his son. Rather he “took Jesus at his
word” and leaves for Capernaum.
Where does the official’s great faith come from? Was he at the wedding in Cana and a witness to
Jesus’ first recorded miracle? John
doesn’t say, although he does note “this was now the second sign that Jesus did
when he had come from Judea to Galilee.” But the official doesn’t just demonstrate a
belief that Jesus is capable of “signs and wonders;” he also shows great faith
in Jesus’ compassion. He is utterly
confident that Jesus can and wants to perform this individual act of
salvation.
Lord,
lead me to a faith as deep and strong as the royal official, to unwaveringly
take Jesus at his Word, knowing he always delivers what he promises.
Karen Montgomery