Jesus Healed the Capernaum Official's Son From Afar

Jesus, because He is God, could easily restore life at a distance. The word of His power spans distance, time, life and even death. The healing power of Jesus is not limited by geography. He is never so far away that He cannot answer your prayers.

Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." (John 4:50a)

Doesn't it seem like Jesus wanted this miracle to seem as unmiraculous as possible? "You don't have to see to believe. First believe -- then you will see," Jesus seemed to say.

John called this Jesus' second sign, but possibly the real miracle is what happened in the official's heart,

The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. (John 4:50b)

Here is an illustration of true faith. The official decided to believe, and the servants, twenty miles away, saw the immediate healing.

It was a real miracle, a stunning one. The man believed the witness of Jesus and acted upon it. He simply trusted what Jesus said to be true and went about his business, He believed without the evidence of a sign or miracle. This is what Jesus consideered to be a strong and more appropriate faith.

For whatever reason, the man did not return to Capernaum the day his son was healed, but instead found a place to spend the night. It's possible that it was too late in the day to start the twenty mile trip home. In any case, the official waited until the next day to start home, and met his servants along the way. The father thought his son would gradually improve,

So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, (John 4:52a)

But above and beyong his expectations, the servants replied,

"Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." (John 4:52b)

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