Soar Like Eagles (Part 16)
Master of Distance and Time - John 4:43-54

Most Americans can expect to alive between 70-85 years, according to
statistics. But the statistical tables don't always work out with
real-life precision.
For example, we expect to face the deaths of our parents someday. We
don’t expect, however, to face the deaths of our children.
Neither did Nicholas Wolterstorff. But one bright Sunday afternoon, a
numbing telephone call brought news of a mountain-climbing accident. In
his book Lament for a Son, the bereaved father reflects upon his painful
feelings: "Gone from the face of the earth. I wait for a group of
students to cross the street, and suddenly I think: He is not there. I go
to a ballgame and find myself singling out the 25-year olds; none of them
is he. In all the crowds and streets and rooms and churches and schools
and libraries and gatherings of friends in our world, on all the
mountains, I will not find him. Only his absence.
"When we gather now there's always someone missing, his absence as
present as our presence, his silence as loud as our speech. Still five
children, but one always gone. When we're all together, we're not all
together.
"It's the neverness that is so painful. Never again to be there with
us--never to sit with us at table, never to travel with us, never to
laugh with us, never to cry with us, never to embrace us as he leaves for
school, never to see his brothers and sister marry. All the rest of our
lives we must live without him."
As we turn to our lesson today, the emotion of another father who
fears the death of his son bleeds through the page.
"After the two days he left for Galilee. {44} (Now Jesus himself had
pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) {45} When he
arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he
had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been
there. {46} 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."
This third interview of Jesus which closed the series of His public
presentations took place in Galilee two days after the visit to Samaria.
His reception there was the result of His ministry in Jerusalem.
This ministry in Galilee lasted some 16 months. The religious parties
were not so bitter here. The Galileans who had made the pilgrimage to the
feast had seen His signs, or at least had heard of them, and were quite
ready to welcome Him (the reference connects with the narrative of 2:23).
Their belief was grounded on the works that He did, not their faith in
His person. John echoed Jesus' utterance which is quoted in all the
gospels, that a "prophet is without honor in his own country," although
the reception accorded to Jesus in Galilee was more friendly than in
Judea.
Of all places it was in Nazareth where He was known by so many. They
should have had the greatest respect and admiration for Him. But they
seemed of all people the least interested in Him. But isn't that common,
even today? A preacher or teacher who has been faithfully serving his
congregation many years...are members often most critical and
unappreciative?
The same is true in our homes: mothers and fathers who with unselfish
devotion seek to provide the very best for their children, are frequently
misunderstood and even despised by their own children. How tragic that we
do not give respect and honor where it is due.
The key to the healing of the nobleman's son is given in the idea that
he "once more" or "again" was in the city. He had performed a miracle
here before, so He had a reputation as a healer and wonder worker.
"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."
The word translated "royal official" is "basilikos," meaning "king's
man." Obviously a person of prestigious rank, this man is probably one of
Herid's tursted officers...he was possibly a courier of Herod the
Tetrarch.
But his rank means nothing to him now. His son's life is at stake. He
doesn't go to Herod; he goes to Jesus, the very Source of life. His
interest in Jesus was prompted by the sickness of his son, who had been
ailing for some time. The gradual decline of the child's health, with a
sudden turn for the worse, drove him to look for aid wherever he could
find it.
The Greek language also adds a point often missed here: the imperfect
tense of the verb "begged" or "requested" is used, giving the nuance of
continuous action. It could better be translated "he kept on begging Him
over and over again."
Although we can understand his urgency, we shouldn't overlook two
matters:
1. He told Christ how to handle the need
2. He presented the need before presenting himself
This event causes us to think for a moment: isn't it amazing how
infirmity draws people to Christ faster than prosperity does. But
sometimes that's what it takes! C. S. Lewis said: "how hard it is to
turn our thoughts to God when everything is going well with us."
{48} "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus
told him, "you will never believe."
Jesus' answer was a protest against the popular feeling concerning
Him. Before we judge Jesus' words too harshly, we must understand that a
"circus" atmosphere was developing around Christ. Too many peopdle, He
was fast becoming a traveling sideshow: "Come one, come all! See the
Galilean Miracle Worker!" Jesus also had a way of testing men and women
to determine the sincerity of their faith.
Jesus' rebuke should cause us to think about what we do in the name
of helping others. Are we more dedicated to the pursuit of truth or to
the pursuit of comfort? Are we more concerned that people believe qr that
they are delivered from their emotional discomfort?
I have often been warned and rebuked by the following words from Henri
Nouwen:
"A minister is not a doctor whose primary task is to take away
pain....Perhaps the
main task of the minister is to prevent people from suffering for the
wrong reasons. Many
people suffer because of the false supposition on which they have based
their lives. That
supposition is that there should be no fear or loneliness, no confusion
or doubt. But
these sufferings can only be dealt with creatively when they are
understood
as wounds integral to our human condition. Therefore ministry is a very
confronting service.
It does not allow people to live with illusions of immortality and
wholeness. It keeps
reminding others that they are mortal and broken, but also that with the
recognition
of this condition, liberation starts."

I believe that Jesus was deeply concerned for the suffering father and
his dying child, but I believe that He was even more concerned about
their relationship with God. Jesus wanted the child to be healed and the
father's heart not to be broken, but He wanted lost people to be saved
even more.
Jesus saw that the greatest need in the life of the royal official
that day was not deliverance from physical death; it was God! Jesus also
saw that the possible death of a son had opened this man to his greatest
need.
Before continuing the story, we all need to ask ourselves what our
most pressing concern is at this moment. What issue is weighing on your
mind right now? Although it is important to you, it is probably not your
greatest need. However, it may be the very matter that helps you to
recognize your greatest need—-to open your heart to God!
"The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." {50}
Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at
his word and departed."
Without question, the nobleman's comment displayed his faith, though
verse 50 put him in a dilemma: should he take Jesus at his word or not?
To his credit, he did! Standing by and watching as another brings
healing requires little faith...but to believe without being there,
without seeing for yourself? That takes faith!
It should be noted, too, that the nobleman asked for one thing while
God did another..yet the son was healed. This is the way it is today with
our prayers!

Four Important Traits:
1. He did not let position, pride or effort prevent him from coming to
seek Christ's aid.
2. He stood the test of faith.
3. He showed the reckless type of faith (not ignorant) which Jesus
desires; the only way to receive the full benefit of the promises of
God's Word is to believe in Jesus unreservedldy.
4. He became a witness for the Lord. Verse 53 shows that others
believed.

"While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news
that his boy was living. {52} When he inquired as to the time when his
son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the
seventh hour." {53} Then the father realized that this was the exact time
at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his
household believed. {54} This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus
performed, having come from Judea to Galilee."
Again, the Greek language gives us a special picture: the imperfect
tense of the verb "saying" is used in verse 51, again indicating
continual action. Apparently, the slaves were jumping up and down with
joy, repeating over and over, "Your son's alive...he's alive...he's
well."
The healing not only caused enthusiasm on the road, it also created
revival at home: verse 53 shows us the belief of the man and his
household!
An interesting cross-reference is found in Luke 8:1-3: "After this,
Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming
the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, {2} and
also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary
(called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; {3} Joanna the
wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others.
These women were helping to support them out of their own means."
Look closely at verse 3. Joanna was the wife of Chuza, Herod's
steward, who was in charge of the king's financial books--a close,
trusted official, occasionally called "the king's man."
Yet, though the king's man, he and his wife supported Jesus out of
their private means. Very possibly‚ Chuza and Joanna were the grateful
parents of the young man in John 4.

There are a number of facts which make this a notable miracle:
1. It was a cure performed at a distance from the sick child.
Distance is no barrier to God! Location has nothing to do with His
healing. This is one of several miracles at a distance:
- He healed the centurion's servant at a distance (Matt. 8:5-13) and
note that it was also in Capernaum
- He healed the daughter of the Canaanite woman (Matt. 15:21-28)

* These two were Gentiles and, spiritually speaking, were "at a
distance" (Eph. 2:12-13).
2. It was performed for a distinguished officer of the king’s court.

3. Jesus said no peculiar "healing formula."

4. The child evidently did not have any faith in Jesus.

5. The child was at the point of death.

Search the gospel and you will find only one time in the 31 instances
of healing where the Lord required faith: Matthew 9:28: "When he had gone
indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe
that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied."
In nine cases there is no evidence at all of faith; in four others
faith is very unlikely; in four others there is no faith possible(Luke
7:11-17; John 5:2-13; John 11:1-46; and Matt. 9:18-26).
Verse 54 is difficult to comprehend completely: Jesus did the first
miracle in Cana (2:1) and this is called the second. But John 2:23 tells
us that many more were performed in Jerusalem. This was the second
miracle performed in Cana of Galilee!

Last modified: April 18, 2006