Per the introduction in the previous article, Jesus returned to Cana, where the water was turned to wine (per recent articles’ study of John 2:1-11). We now meet someone new: a father who is also a “royal official”. Like all good fathers, he cares for his son, who happens to be sick to the point where he (i.e., the son) is not expected to make it.
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.
John 4:46-47 NIV
Now, since we’re not positive where Cana was located (since there are multiple possible locations for it), we’re not exactly sure how far away Cana was from Capernaum. However, various estimates are in the range of 20-30 miles. I don’t know the last time that you ran a marathon (which, being 26.2 miles, is in this range), but it seems likely that the father has traveled quite a ways to ask Jesus for help.
The father isn’t too proud to beg, either. Being an official, I suppose that he could have tried to pull rank and order Jesus to heal his son, or perhaps tried to pay Jesus for His help. However, it seems that this man understood his place, with respect to the only One who could heal his son, and so he took on an appropriately humble posture.
Jesus’ reply to an anxious father (and to others around, per Bryant & Krause, p. 138) might seem a little harsh at first, but we know that Jesus loved humankind, so there must be more to it than that.
“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
John 4:48 NIV
This could have been a general statement about the focus of the people on signs (rather than them paying attention to the more important parts of Jesus’ message about the kingdom of God). It may have been a reminder that physical death is less to be feared than spiritual separation from God. I suspect that the man himself, having traveled perhaps 20-30 miles to get help (and leaving his son sick at home), had at least some faith, so perhaps this was meant to be heard by to others around Him.
Remember in the previous article, when we looked the apparent discrepancy between a prophet not being honored in his own country, and the welcoming of Jesus by Galileans? One interpretation was that the Galileans needed to see signs before accepting Jesus (versus the faith of the Samaritans through simple testimony and teaching). I think that this statement from Jesus would tend to support that interpretation. While the Samaritans came out to hear Jesus based on the word of a woman (a woman who appears to have been an outcast, if we read between the lines), the Galileans weren’t as willing to hear Him out without first seeing more evidence (i.e., having less faith and requiring more proof, per Bryant & Krause).
Of course, Jesus was compassionate and isn’t ignoring the desperate father here, but there was a key point to be made (especially since Jesus knew that the son would be healed, in case you aren’t familiar with the rest of this account, which you can read in John 4:49-53).
However, this is a good checkup for us. Is our faith dependent upon ongoing signs, where God has to somehow continue to prove that He’s still faithful? Or, is our faith rock-solid, based on who we have already found God to be, so that when He works in the world around us, we aren’t surprised as His power, but instead we use those opportunities to continue to worship and praise Him for being Himself?
If you’re not sure, I encourage you to read Hebrews 11:1 (or go ahead and read that entire chapter), and consider whether your faith is confidently assured, or if it is dependent upon God continuing to have to prove Himself.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for February 11, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, February 11, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – John, by Beauford H. Bryant and Mark S. Krause. © 1998 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 