John 4:47

When this gentleman hears that Jesus returned from Judea and is now back in Galilee, he finds him and begs him to come with him to his house in Capernaum to heal his son, who is on the brink of death.  John 4:47 EFP

I don’t know if this man anticipates Jesus’ arrival in Cana; I am unclear whether he ran the twenty miles to Cana upon hearing he is back from his jaunt to Judea; in fact, I am uncertain if he meets him in Cana at all, although the passage seems to imply to me this is where the encounter takes place.  When I process the request, it really doesn’t matter how or where it takes place, the request is bold on face value.

The official has to have done his homework.  He probably has people on the lookout for Jesus.  Once he knows that Jesus is in the area, he has to anticipate where he is going to be at a certain time.  He has to find him.  Once he finds him, he has to ask, literally beg, Jesus to come back to his house and heal his son who is about to die.  They have never met, as far as I know.  The royal official is a man of stature in the community due to his connection to the royal family.  This may have been good for his pocketbook, but not to his reputation.  The royal families are not known for their high moral standards (e.g. Herod and Herodias).  That does not stop him from approaching the “holy man” to beseech him to save his son.  He sets aside his stature, any decorum, and pleads for his son’s life.  Nothing will impede his determination to ask.

I think more often than not I suffer from a lack of boldness when it comes to my requests of God.  Perhaps it’s timidity.  Maybe I don’t know how to approach the Almighty.  Perhaps it’s just a simple matter of lack of faith, but regardless, I struggle to act upon the invitation to approach and ask.  I need to be reminded that God, as revealed in Jesus, is totally approachable and open to the encroachments by the likes of me. Perhaps the reason some of my requests are not answered is because they are not bold enough.  Can it be that God wants to stretch me? —certainly my requests can’t stretch him!   Boy do I feel faithless in moments like this….  “Lord, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)