“Hearing a fervent cry for help”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Friday, August 12, 2022
John 4:43-54 (Forward, p. 14) CEV p. 1105
Early on in today’s passage Jesus had said, “Prophets are honoured everywhere, except in their own country.” This may well have been true generally, especially in His hometown of Nazareth, but here is an exception to that ‘rule.’ A government official in Capernaum goes out of his way, travels more than a day’s journey, some 30 km. or 24 miles, to come and see Jesus in Cana and beg for His help. Even with Jesus’ rather terse and dismissive words—“you won’t have faith unless you see miracles and wonders!—the man was not to be dissuaded. He continued begging Jesus, “Lord, please come before my son dies.”
At that sign of faith, Jesus replied, “Your son will live. Go on home to him.” The man believed and started back home. On the way back, some of the man’s servants met him, telling him that his son was better. When asked when this happened, he was told that it was the very hour the day earlier when Jesus had declared him healed. As a result, the man and everyone in his family put their faith in Jesus.
I cannot help but be impressed by this man’s ardent and unflappable faith. He refused to be dissuaded or put off, either by the distance or by Jesus’ seeming rebuff. I cannot help but compare it by what, in most of us at least, is far different—a seeming lack of faith that is dissuaded by almost everything. How seldom do we offer up to God our fervent cry for help—and really mean it? So, why are we so very reluctant? I suspect that we really don’t believe that Jesus can heal, or will heal, or answer our prayer, at least our particular case. And, we feel that we would be shamed or embarrassed if it ‘did not work.’ But then, think how this official would have felt it Jesus had turned him away, especially after making such a long trek. Surely, he—and especially as such a well-known and public figure—would have been even more shamed and embarrassed. My thinking is that we should take a lesson from him and do as he did—believe and trust Jesus to do what we, in our natural state of mind, would consider to be impossible. Amen.
Forward notes: “Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death” (verses 46b-47).
“When our friend’s wife developed Alzheimer’s, he devoted his life to making hers seem normal. He dressed her in her favorite clothing and brought her to church. He cooked her favourite meals and watched over her night and day. Caring for her gave him the comfort of showing his love.
“Like my friend, the royal official whose son was ill faced a heartbreaking situation. So, the wealthy aristocrat—and father—does something extraordinary: he approaches Jesus and asks a favour, even though Jesus has no home, no purse, not even an extra pair of sandals. The royal official receives a gift even greater than he requested.
“’Go; your son will live.’ Those joyful words come true in an even deeper sense. Jesus heals not only the son but also the official’s whole household. They believe! May our love for others open our hearts to the gift of life that Jesus offers to all who turn to him.”
Moving Forward: “When have you received far more than you asked for or expected? Thank God for the bounty and blessing.”