To read the texts click on the texts: Isa 65:17-21; Jn 4:43-52
The healing of the royal
official’s son (4:46-54) which is part of our text today begins after the
dialogue with the Samaritan woman (4:1-42). The first two verses of today’s
text (4:43-45) serve as an interlude between the two stories. John uses the
saying of the prophet having no honour in his own country, to show why Jesus
came to Galilee. In John, Judea is Jesus’ own country and since he was not
accepted there, he had to go to others including the Samaritans. Like the
Samaritans, the Galileans welcome him.
The first verse of the
miracle story that follows is an introduction narrating the case. The son of a
royal official is ill in Capernaum. The mention of Cana and a summary of the
first miracle of turning water into wine anticipate another miracle. The
healing in this miracle, however, is done at a distance. The official makes a
request for Jesus to come down and heal his son who is at the point of death.
The immediate response of Jesus is directed not to the official alone but to
all. That Jesus did heal the official’s son is an indication that his words are
not meant merely as a rebuke, but go deeper. Though the people will base their
faith in him merely on signs and wonders, Jesus invites them to realize that
these are not what will motivate him to act. He will act only in accordance
with the will of God. Human expectation cannot determine his action. Even after
hearing this seeming rebuke, the official is not deterred. He perseveres in his
request. With a word and from a distance, Jesus performs the healing. The
official’s faith is Jesus is seen in his obedience to the command to “Go”. He
does go on his way.
The attestation of the
miracle is provided by the servants of the official who meet him when he is
still on his way to his home. The official on further enquiry realizes that
Jesus is the one who has performed the healing and is led to faith. The man now
believes in Jesus, not only in Jesus’ word.
At the end of the miracle
John remarks that this was then second sign that Jesus worked after coming to
Galilee. In his Gospel, John always refers to the miracles of Jesus as signs.
Sickness and brokenness are
very much visible in our world today and most are in need of some form of
healing or another. At times doctors are not able to diagnose an illness and at
other times when they are and perform a complicated operation, ask the patient
and family members to pray and have faith. There is only so much that they can
do, the rest is in God’s hands. The official in the story had probably gone to
Jesus as a last resort (his son was not merely ill but at the point of death)
after having explored and exhausted all other avenues. He is single minded in
his purpose and will let nothing deter him. He believes and perseveres. His
faith gains for him not only his son’s life but also the gift of faith in
Jesus.
This means that faith cannot
be based on external signs alone and remain at that level. If it is and does,
then one will look at Jesus as a mere miracle worker. The focus here would be
only on the actions of Jesus and not on his person from which his actions flow.
If one is able to go beyond the action to the person of Jesus, then one will
also be able to see who God is: God with us, for us and in us.
These sickness, troubles, natural disaster too is because of our negative consciousness. If only we could change our mindset and start believing in God then we can find peace and happiness in everything we do.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Brano Willis