The royal official said to him,
"Sir, come down before my child dies."
Jesus said to him, "You may go; your son will live."
The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.
This story bears great resemblance to the synoptic story of the centurion who begs Jesus to heal his servant but will not allow him to "enter under my roof." In John's story the fellow wants Jesus to come but Jesus chooses not to. He simply gives a word, "...your son will live."
In both stories, the man believed what Jesus said to him and left.
The story may have an initial purpose of assuring believers that this man Jesus has authority to heal although he has been crucified, raised and ascended into heaven. He can heal at a distance. Heaven may seem a long way from here but the Lord is near when we call upon him. He hears our prayers.
The more important moral to the story, a major theme of John's gospel, is the faith that believes but does not see.
How difficult it must have been for this royal official to leave the presence of Jesus empty handed. A man of considerable standing in important places, he had humbled himself to approach Jesus. (In other versions of the story, the petitioner sends representatives.) Now he must turn around and go home with nothing more than a word from the Galilean.
We too make our petitions and then hope the Lord will answer our prayers. As desperate as we might be for satisfaction, we have to let it go and wait it out.
A recent scandal concerning college admissions has unearthed the "snowplow parents" who cannot trust their children to make their own way in a difficult, declining America. They want to see their children succeed where others have failed. They hope their children will exceed their own accomplishments. Warding off failure, fearing frustration, avoiding disappointment they clear a way for the gullible youth who don't even realize what is happening.
Consequently, some of these young people, unprepared for adult challenges, cannot bear the slightest setbacks. They return to the parental home with only a vague sense of failure. They're convinced the world owed them more than it would afford.
The royal official in today's story must go home disappointed but hopeful. He did not get what he wanted. Did he get something better than he wanted?
He cannot know until the following day when his excited servants tell him the boy's fever broke "...yesterday, about one in the afternoon!"
As we practice our works of faith, hope and love we too must leave our prayers in the church, chapel or bedroom and return to our busy world. We take our confidence with us as we go, sure that the Lord is with us.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.