Day Six: A Child Healed
Jesus’ second sign begins with a distraught father. This father was a prominent official from Capernaum, who served under the rule of Herod Antipas.
In the eyes of the world, he was successful, holding both authority and prestige. Yet this man had a problem that all the money and all the prestige in the world could not solve; his son lay sick and dying.
It does not require one to be a parent to understand the inner aching of this man’s heart and the late-night tears of helplessness.
“When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him (John 4:47).” The desperate father had heard about Jesus from the rumors circulating the region. Knowing that his son did not have long and that by making a trip to Cana he would risk missing the moment of his precious child’s death, he determined to make the 20-mile journey to find the rumored miracle worker.
Finding Jesus in Cana, the father asked him if he would accompany him back to Galilee to heal his son. He expected that if Jesus truly was a miracle worker, as the rumors had suggested, then his miracle-working power had to be tied to the nearness of proximity. In his wildest imagination, he would not have dreamed that anyone would have the power to heal a dying child from a distance of 20 miles.
“Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your son will live.’ The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way (John 4:50).’”
I wonder what that man’s journey was like heading back to his child. Did he doubt the words of Jesus? Did he fear that perhaps his son had died and the glimmer of hope in his heart would fail him? Did he sprint the 20-mile distance with a child-like anticipation? Did he stop every so often, fall to his knees in awe, and praise God?
On the way home, his servants met him on the road and confirmed that his son had been healed at the exact hour that Jesus had said, “Your son will live.”
“And he himself believed, and all his household (John 4:53):” Whatever doubt lingered in his heart over the identity of Christ and the authority Jesus held was removed as he and his entire household rejoiced, though not just for the healing, but for the healer.
Through this second sign of Jesus, we are introduced to a dimension of faith that may guide us through many seasons of life: Believing in the promises of Christ will often mean clinging to a glimmer of hope while walking the long journey home to see how God answered your prayers. We cling to the very words of Jesus, knowing that if he said it, it will certainly come to pass.
What unanswered prayers are you hopefully clinging to God for today? Do not stop clinging. Do not stop praying. He who knows your soul delights in pouring unmerited favor upon his beloved children. Wait on God with a faith-filled wonder.
In the eyes of the world, he was successful, holding both authority and prestige. Yet this man had a problem that all the money and all the prestige in the world could not solve; his son lay sick and dying.
It does not require one to be a parent to understand the inner aching of this man’s heart and the late-night tears of helplessness.
“When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him (John 4:47).” The desperate father had heard about Jesus from the rumors circulating the region. Knowing that his son did not have long and that by making a trip to Cana he would risk missing the moment of his precious child’s death, he determined to make the 20-mile journey to find the rumored miracle worker.
Finding Jesus in Cana, the father asked him if he would accompany him back to Galilee to heal his son. He expected that if Jesus truly was a miracle worker, as the rumors had suggested, then his miracle-working power had to be tied to the nearness of proximity. In his wildest imagination, he would not have dreamed that anyone would have the power to heal a dying child from a distance of 20 miles.
“Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your son will live.’ The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way (John 4:50).’”
I wonder what that man’s journey was like heading back to his child. Did he doubt the words of Jesus? Did he fear that perhaps his son had died and the glimmer of hope in his heart would fail him? Did he sprint the 20-mile distance with a child-like anticipation? Did he stop every so often, fall to his knees in awe, and praise God?
On the way home, his servants met him on the road and confirmed that his son had been healed at the exact hour that Jesus had said, “Your son will live.”
“And he himself believed, and all his household (John 4:53):” Whatever doubt lingered in his heart over the identity of Christ and the authority Jesus held was removed as he and his entire household rejoiced, though not just for the healing, but for the healer.
Through this second sign of Jesus, we are introduced to a dimension of faith that may guide us through many seasons of life: Believing in the promises of Christ will often mean clinging to a glimmer of hope while walking the long journey home to see how God answered your prayers. We cling to the very words of Jesus, knowing that if he said it, it will certainly come to pass.
What unanswered prayers are you hopefully clinging to God for today? Do not stop clinging. Do not stop praying. He who knows your soul delights in pouring unmerited favor upon his beloved children. Wait on God with a faith-filled wonder.
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