John 4.43-54
43When the two days were over, he went from that place to Galilee44(for Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in the prophet’s own country).45When he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the festival; for they too had gone to the festival.46Then he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum.47When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.48Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”49The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.”50Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way.51As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive.52So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.”53The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he himself believed, along with his whole household.54Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.
Comments: There is quite a wide range of folks who are coming to Jesus: Nicodemus, religious leader who doesn't quite get it; woman of Samaria to whom is revealed that Jesus is hte Messiah, and now a royal official whose son is ill and who begs Jesus to come down with him to heal the son. This official however has no time for conversation, his child is dying. Jesus begins with a bit of a rebuff about folks always wanting signs, but the man is insistant in only one thing, Jesus coming to heal his son. Instead, Jesus simply says--"Go; your son will live." And he believes. And here is the second of Jesus signs. But I have to wonder, is it the sign of the sick child recovering or is it the sign of faith, when someone can believe in Christs words even with no evidence to substantiate his claim. Fith, hears and believes.
Thoughts: Can you take someone at their word or do you need to see everything up front? What kind of faith did the royal officail have. What would it take for you to have such faith?
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