Behind the scenes

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. –John 4:46 (NIV)

The official was likely an administrator working in the service of Herod Antipas. He may or may not have been a Jew. He may or may not have had a choice in the role. Regardless, he would have been looked upon with a mixture of distrust and animosity by Jews of the day. But he had position; he had authority.

As we are often prone to do, the man initially wanted Jesus to adjust His schedule to fit his own agenda, a request that Jesus essentially denied. Even so, the official demonstrated some level of belief: “Jesus is a name I’ve heard and a person who may prove helpful.”

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. –John 4:47 (NIV)

Capernaum was “home base” for Jesus’ ministry, being on the Sea of Galilee and hometown to the fishermen – Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Cana was approximately sixteen and a half miles from Capernaum. The official had probably known something of Jesus in Capernaum, heard reports of what He had been doing outside the region, and been waiting for Him to return to Galilee.

He was persistent because he was desperate. He recognized both his need and his inability to do anything about it, an important component in most responses to Christ.

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. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. –John 4:49-51 (NIV)

The willingness of the official to take Jesus at His word and be obedient reflected a new level of belief: “I think that Jesus is going to help me in this situation and I’m going to take this next step.”

There is also a “behind the scenes” aspect at work here. How often do we seek God’s blessing for others – be it friends, acquaintances, or family members – then give up or “go away sorrowful” when the immediate response (from God or the individual) is not what we were hoping for? Has Jesus refused our request? The official trusted that Jesus would do the needful, though distanced by time and location, even though that interaction was not going to look like what he had imagined.

When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. –John 4:52-53 (NIV)

The reaction to this sign represented a third level of belief: “I trust Jesus as the Son of God and Lord of my life. All my priorities have just shifted.” Not only was the official affected, but his whole family became believers. I suspect the son who was healed must have heard that story a thousand times!

Jesus seldom calls us to “blind faith”. He invites us in, on His terms, in His timing, and offers evidence that walks us toward a decision. Just because we don’t immediately see what He’s up to doesn’t mean He isn’t up to something. Will you take Him at His word?