11.09.07
Christ’s Authority over Disease (John 4:46-54)
Christ’s Authority over Disease (John 4:46-54)
When Christ returned to Galilee, He came to Cana. It was the home of Nathanael, and perhaps Nathanael provided lodging to Christ and the disciples. Keep in mind that He had been in the region before so there were other disciples (followers) here as well, and no doubt Jesus wanted to minister to these people as well.
During the course of His stay, a royal official approached Christ – and he had a son near death in Capernaum. Perhaps this man had heard of the miracles Christ had performed in other places. We don’t see any evidence of faith in Christ, and what we do see infers (verse 48) that the man had not yet placed his trust and faith in Christ. But when your child is on death’s door…you are not beneath begging anyone that may make a difference.
This man seems to be among those who were debating the question of the person of Christ and withholding faith in Him until more evidence was given. The request given in verse 49 was urgent. Action was needed now, not later. Jesus dismisses him with the promise – his son would live. What follows is pretty cool – the man took Christ at His word, in other words he believed the word of Christ without having to have any outward evidence of its truth.
Evidence arrived before the man ever made it home. The next day, on the way home, servants met him with the good news that his son was alive. Upon further questioning, the man discovers that the sickness left his son at the exact time that Jesus told him that his son would live. Once everyone started to hear all this news in the family (servants and extended family members), others joined in their master’s faith. This was the second authentication of the person of Jesus Christ through signs.
Would that be enough for you and me? Saving a child from an illness that looked to surely kill them? How long would your faith last if this was you?
