Back in Galilee: Jesus Heals Official’s Son

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Wednesday June 12, 2024}

Luke 4:14-15, John 4:43-54

Father, I want to have the kind of faith that does not need the evidence of a miracle for proof that Your Word is true. I want to believe You simply because Your Word tells me to. Amen.

Father, Jesus left the Sychar and Shechem area of Samaria and headed north to the region of Galilee, His “old stomping grounds”, so to speak. He received a hero’s welcome, though most likely without the ticker-tape parade, because word had gone around about the things Jesus had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival. The text tells us that Jesus taught in the synagogues in Galilee empowered by the Holy Spirit. The people praised Jesus for His wisdom and understanding.

Jesus returned to Cana, where He had turned water into wine. A royal official had traveled to Cana from Capernaum in desperation to beg Jesus to travel back with him and heal his son who was near death. The official was convinced that Jesus was no mere man; He believed Jesus was the Son of God. If Jesus can turn 180 gallons of water into the best of wine at a wedding, this man had faith that Jesus could heal his son as well.

Jesus commented to His disciples that the man came to faith only because of the miracle at the wedding. Jesus longs for the faith of someone who believes in Him without Him having to prove it with a miracle:

“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe (NIV).”

Jesus had compassion on the royal official. Compassion is who He is and what He does. After all, how compassionate must someone be to make it Your life’s purpose to die a horrific death on the cross for the sins of the world? Jesus cares deeply for hurting people, especially those who have placed their faith in Him. Jesus also knew there were members of the royal official’s family and friends who needed to experience the salvation of Jesus of Nazareth.

“I don’t need to come to Capernaum with you. Go home and you’ll find out your son has recovered.”

The man believed Jesus and headed back home without Him. On his way back, one of his servants ran into him. He was on his way to Cana to tell the royal official that his son had recovered.  The official asked when he had recovered. He was told about 1 pm on the previous day. The royal official realized that was the exact time Jesus had told him that his son was healed. As Jesus expected, the royal official’s entire family came to faith in Him. Miracles, and good works, are not meant for show with Jesus. They are meant to bring salvation.

The text concludes with the statement that this was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea, where He met with Nicodemus, via the Samaritan town of Sychar, to Galilee. Amen.