The Healing of a Royal Official’s Son

The Royal Official Had Four Growth Spurts to His Faith

1) He believed enough to walk 19 miles to see Jesus. The Scripture says that he lived with his son in Capernaum on the edge of the Sea of Galilee. He took quite a gamble because he could have used his time to go see the doctor. Instead, he placed his faith in Christ and decided that if he went himself, he would plead with Jesus to travel the nineteen miles to Capernaum to lay His hands on his son. The five-hour walk to Cana, I’m sure, was a time of brokenness and heartache at the thought of losing his son. Had he made the right choice? What if Jesus was too busy? Can He do the things that they say He can do? Do I have enough time to go this far and for Jesus to get back in time? One wonders if the boy was already in a coma when the father left. The royal official was sure his boy was dying (v. 47).

2) He begged Jesus for His help. The words begged him to come, in verse 47, is in the imperfect tense, so it should be paraphrased that he kept on begging Him over and over again. This man would not let up; He put all his hope in Jesus. He made his plea out of urgency and desperation. The very thought of losing his son was unbearable. This was a man who cared deeply, and he would do anything for his son to be better. Wouldn’t you? This desperate man, dressed in his official garb, drew a crowd who wanted to see what was happening. 

3) He believed Jesus’ word that his son would live. The Lord said to the man: “You may go; your son will live” (verse 53). If it had been me, I would have said, “What, no sign! No prayer! What is this? That’s not the way it’s supposed to happen! How can I know that what you say is true? Are you saying that I am just supposed to believe the work of healing has been done without you coming and laying hands on him?” 

When he got home the next day, he found out that the miracle happened at the seventh hour of the previous day (v. 52), exactly at the time Jesus had said, “Your son will live” (v. 53). 

4) He and his whole household believed. When he got home and saw his family, can you imagine the joy that flooded his soul? No wonder his whole household believed when they found out that the very time Jesus told him to go home was the very time his son was healed. Isn’t the Lord amazing?