The Life & Work of Christ: The Inauguration Period, Pt 2

Last week we began looking at what’s known as the Inaugural Period of Jesus’ life and public ministry. That began with his baptism by John and him being led by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by satan. We examined how Jesus gained victory over satan’s long lived tactics to lure humans into sin. Chronologically following these events, we find in that Jesus converts water to wine in Cana of Galilee, at the first Jerusalem passover of his ministry he drives corrupt business people out of the temple, and then he meets and converts a Samaritan woman at a water well in Sychar, as he’s on his way back to Galilee from Judea. When he arrives at Cana of Galilee, he is approached by a man in desperate need and Jesus addresses his need. But before he addresses his need, we’re going to examine the conversation that leads up to it and learn the importance of possessing faith without limitations and faith in development.

Distressed Circumstance

This man that approached Jesus was a royal official, or one who served Herod the ruler of Galilee, somewhat like a lower tier civil ruler or mayor. He was in a dire and desperate situation because the text says his son was sick in his hometown of Capernaum. Being of such status would have granted him and his family access to many of life’s resources, including the best doctors around. We infer from the text that this man probably had exhausted all options to help his son’s sickness.

Application: Have any of us faced such a desperate need in our lives? Where if the circumstance follows through it will bring a great devastation. Can you imagine the emotional strain and confusion because one of your closest family members is extremely sick and the outcome feels hopeless. What do you do?

Determined Petition

When the official heard that Jesus had landed in Galilee again from Judea, he packed up immediately to find him. Why? Because verse 45 says that some Galileans witnessed his miracles recently performed at the feast in Jerusalem (which is in Judea). Thus in the official’s mind “there’s a man named Jesus who can heal and he has physically returned to Galilee”. Watch the man’s determination!! He’s in Capernaum, Jesus is in Cana. Capernaum is a city adjacent to the sea of Galilee, which is 700 ft below sea level. Cana is a small village 300 ft above sea level in the hills to the west. In addition, the rugged path between the two places makes it a 18 mile, 8 hour journey on foot. He does all that to find the presence of Jesus. When he finds him he won’t stop begging him to do two things: come down; heal my son. This man’s determination for such an urgent request is due to the fact that his son is dying from this sickness.

Application: Many of us are just like this man! Especially when it relates to our children or anyone dear to us. We will take desperate measures for dangerous situations involving them. We will tell our bosses in a heartbeat “I know you’re requiring 8 hours from me, but that’s not going to happen today because my child is sick”.

Defective Belief

But despite his desperate measures to come to Jesus, Jesus’ response is very surprising given the dire circumstance. Jesus knows well what length and height he has traveled to make this request. He then uses the man’s circumstance and request to expose and rebuke a greater issue. He responds to the man’s request, but speaks to everyone in the vicinity who can hear - because the you is plural. Thus Jesus’ response applies to the man, but also to many in that land and generation. The greater and more urgent issue is that they must SEE a manifestation of supernatural power and something to amaze their senses as a prerequisite for belief. The emphasis of Jesus’ rebuking response is toward his request for him to come down! The official felt that Jesus needed to be physically present to heal. Jesus isn’t against signs or wonders or healing for that matter, for he will do many. But Jesus knowing the heart of man, rebukes the notion of belief/faith only hinging on SEEING/OPTICALLY OBSERVING a miraculous manifestation or something to amaze the senses. This reveals that the man approaches Jesus with a very limited faith. He shows some faith by his desperate long walk to beg Jesus. But the reality is that his (and that generation of people’s) faith is limited to seeing! Moreover, due to his circumstance he is seeking the physical presence and sign of healing from Jesus, but not Jesus himself! Would he had sought Jesus in the same manner IF his son was not sick?

Application: Often times in dire circumstances, even the people of GOD in this generation, approach GOD and Jesus with the same type of limited or restricted faith. We are seeking the divine solution to our circumstances and we can become so desperate that we want Jesus to come down from heaven again just so he can address our problems. When the reality is, that GOD fills the heavens and the earth and is not limited by any distance. Then we can get caught up in living by sight, where my complete faith and trust in GOD depends on whether or not I optically see things change for my better. Which will demonstrate that we only have short-lived spikes of belief when we SEE something happen. GOD doesn’t want us to believe in the sign, but in his son Jesus the Christ. Miraculous observations can support and strengthen our faith, but aren’t the security for our faith! Jesus doesn’t want us to be like ancient Israel, who SAW and benefited from many signs from GOD, but they still lacked faith in HIM.

Developing Belief

Despite Jesus’ rebuke, the reality of the official’s son’s circumstance drives him to beg Jesus once more for the same thing. Jesus then responds to him with a command and assurance for his dire need, “Go; Your son lives”. This aligns with Jesus’ rebuke, that he doesn’t need to be physically present to heal. Watch, because the official’s faith now begins to grow and become secured. He came with a limited faith, seeking to see his son healed. Now without seeing anything, he believes the word of assurance Jesus gives that his son is alive and not dying, and obeys Jesus’ command to go back home. Jesus shows such great compassion. Although he rebukes the official and those in the vicinity for having limited faith, he knows that having complete faith is a process!!

Application: Jesus wants us to develop a faith that accepts and obeys what he says. Also a faith that is assured of his presence no matter what circumstance arises. Possessing this strength of faith is indeed a process, else the word would not urge growth of faith. Our dire circumstances should be viewed as a step in our faith development. Not a short-lived spike in faith, but an enduring faith!

Now this official still hasn’t seen the condition of his son, yet is on his way back down this rugged journey trusting in the word of assurance from Jesus. On the second day of his travel, his servants met him to tell him exactly what Jesus said, that his son is no longer in a dying condition but living. The official became very curious of the exact hour his son’s condition changed and they inform him yesterday at 1PM (7th hour). He now knew it was the hour Jesus assured him. Watch again as his faith becomes further secured. After he confirms it was at Jesus’ word, he believed again! And not only him, his entire family!

Application: Many times Jesus will not address our issues in the exact way we would like them handled. But what Jesus will do is address them in a manner to help develop our faith in him and his word! Then we must recognize the potential in helping another’s faith by the growth of our faith. See the main point of this passage is not all about the healing of the man’s son, but even more the faith development of the official and consequently his family. Jesus wants us to trust in him before, during, after, and beyond our dire circumstances. See, because the reality is that one of those days after, the official and his son will still die. What then?

Remember, in , GOD punished David for impregnating Bathsheba and having her husband Uriah killed in battle. The punishment was that the child would die, meaning David knew GOD meant what he said. When the baby was very sick, David fasted and laid on the ground and prayed for GOD’s graciousness for 7 days. His servants tried their best to get David to eat while the child was still alive, but he wouldn’t. When the child died, they were afraid to tell him but he figured it out. Then he got up, took a shower, put lotion on, changed his clothes, and went to worship GOD!!! Then went home to eat. His servants were confused why he eat now versus when the child was alive. He concluded that while the child was alive perhaps GOD would be gracious and allow the child to live, but now that he’s dead there’s no reason to fast. I will go to him, but he will not return to me… This demonstrates the kind of faith that Jesus is looking for in us! It is a dire circumstance, but I will place my full trust in him throughout and beyond.