“Astounding faith”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Saturday, December 30, 2023
John 4:46-54 (Forward, p. 62) CEV p. 1105
We are so ‘accustomed’ to hearing stories of Jesus’ signs and miracles, that just one more miracle, one more incident of divine healing carried out by Jesus may seem like ‘old hat’, something not at all remarkable. Even so, today’s account, upon reading it yet again, struck me as being quite different from the rest.
For one thing, John, the reputed author of this gospel account, clearly states that this was only the second miracle (‘sign’ is the actual word used) that Jesus worked after He left Judea to come to Galilee. That said, where then would this official from Capernaum have gotten the idea that Jesus was even capable of keeping his son from dying and healing him? (John doesn’t record any other instances, even in Judea before heading up to Galilee). So, did the official have a ‘hunch’, an inspiration? If not this then, then something certainly fueled his faith. We certainly do know that he was somewhat desperate.
That said, there are four other things of note: firstly, that the official himself came, surely a sign of his anxiety and desperation that he didn’t want to delegate it to anyone else but would go in person for maximum effect. (There is nothing like making your appeal in person!) Here is yet another piece of evidence about his astounding faith, in Jesus and what he figured that He could do.
And apparently, even though the distance between Capernaum and Cana—where Jesus was at the time—was only some twenty miles, it was still apparently a two-day journey. That he was willing to make that journey, knowing nothing for sure with regards to ‘results’, but simply trusting, believing for the best. Wow.
And then there is the fact that this official refused to be put off by what many would have taken as an insult, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe’ (verse 48). The official simply ignores this comment and continues with his plea. He is not willing to be put off or deterred from his request. Such is his profound faith, and his deep need!
And, there was the fact that he simply took Jesus at His word, and started back home, still unaware, unknowing, what he’d find back there at home, but simply trusting Jesus and His word. Again, such trust, such faith: what an inspiration and example this should be for each and every one of us. And, what a great way to start a New Year as we stand at its verge. I pray that we, all of us, might have that same incredible faith in Christ as we face this totally unknown and somewhat unsettling New Year.
Forward notes: “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe” (verse 48).
“Jesus makes this cryptic statement to a royal official who begs him to heal his gravely sick son. Jesus seems to be reminding himself that people need something concrete—signs and wonders—to help them understand who he is.
“I struggle over what seems to be a lack of signs and wonders from Jesus in my own time. I comb through these accounts in the New Testament. I seek out writings and sermons. I wish I could back in time and experience these signs and wonders myself.
“But if I open my eyes, I can see wonders and signs today. A while back on a winter evening, I was grocery shopping when I noticed a hollow-eyed man clutching a package of meat and a box, maybe of rice, to his chest. He glances around and, suddenly, marched out the door. There were people around, everywhere, but no one stopped him. I’m certainly not encouraging shoplifting, but that moment felt like a sign—a wonder, a weird fluorescent-lit state of grace where everyone sensed this man needed to eat.”
Moving Forward: “What signs and wonders of Jesus have you seen? Share them with us at #ForwardDayby Day.”
A concluding note: while our author sees ‘this’ as ‘a wonder, a weird fluorescent-lit state of grace’, I think that a greater one wouid have been if the folks standing there had ‘stepped up to the plate’, and paid for his groceries, and not just this but a fuller, more complete meal and more besides! And given him a ride home and gotten to know him a bit. That, to me, would be a real miracle. It would not only have helped him, but also
shown him that people cared, and that he didn’t ‘need’ to live by his wits (that is, by stealing.)