He Knows My Plea
Scripture Reading: John 4:43-54
Meditation
The village of Cana is still abuzz about Jesus’ last visit. They all remember the wedding with the heavenly wine. But it was only after the wedding that they found out what had really happened.
The groom had miscalculated—more guests than wine.
Mary, Jesus’ mother, had whispered the news in his ear and he intervened. He changed the water that was stored in six stone jars into the best vintage the village guests had ever had. And no one was the wiser until after the wedding. That was the first miraculous sign Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. There he revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him.
But Jesus is a prophet without honor.
The last time he paid a visit to his hometown of Nazareth, his childhood friends showed him no respect. His teaching offended them. His Messianic claims infuriated them. When he declared that he was the fulfillment of prophecy, they said,
“Enough is enough.”
The very ones that he grew up with grabbed him by the arm, drove him out of town, took him to the brow of the hill on which the village was built, and tried to throw him off of the edge of the cliff in order to kill him. Miraculously, he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. He left Galilee and went on to Jerusalem where he performed many signs.
When Jesus returned to Galilee from Jerusalem, crowds rushed toward him. But when they came, they came looking for a miracle worker, not a Messiah. They wanted signs and wonders, mystical manifestations and feats of power, promising potions, remedies, and elixirs.
They wanted a sideshow, not a Savior.
When Jesus sees the crowd, he sighs. So many signs and yet there has been so little faith. Every healing was a fingerprint left by the hand of God; every miracle a mark of divine mercy; and every wonder a footprint—heaven’s Son is walking among his creation. God is in Galilee.
Though Jesus has posted many signs along the way, the crowds haven’t followed down the road that leads to faith. Those in Galilee are satisfied with the sights and sounds of the Messianic journey but they’ve forgotten that there is a destination. Someone—the Messiah—is waiting for them at the end of the road.
Now, Jesus knew well from experience that a prophet is not respected in the place where he grew up. So when he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, but only because they were impressed with what he had done in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, not that they really had a clue about who he was or what he was up to.1
The crowd that greets Jesus in Galilee doesn’t have a clue as to who he really is. Throngs of people welcome him but they don’t care about what he’s up to. They’re not interested in Jesus the person. They’re interested in Jesus the performer.
They want a good show, a spectacle, something to write home about. Jesus is amazed at their unbelief. And so he makes up his mind; there will be no more signs in Galilee, no show in Cana.
To the east of Cana is a village on the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum. There a royal official in Herod’s Court has just heard that Jesus, the miracle worker, has returned. The official’s son is sick and close to death. He runs to Jesus and pleads with him to come to Capernaum in order to heal his son. The official’s plea is earnest and urgent. It’s a matter of life and death for his son. When he comes to Jesus, he begs for a morsel of mercy but Jesus doesn’t even break off a crumb.
Instead, he puts him off with blunt word,
“Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe.”
But the court official wouldn’t be put off. “Come down! It’s life or death for my son.”2
The father persists. He perseveres. He is tenacious and Jesus honors his plea. But Jesus wants to see if this father’s faith has any legs. Jesus assures him that his son is alive and then orders him to return home. He asks the father to start walking. He gives him no proof, no evidence, no guarantee except the bare word of his promise. Jesus asks the father to turn and run toward home—in faith.
Jesus simply replied, “Go home. Your son lives.”
The man believed the bare word Jesus spoke and headed home. On his way back, his servants intercepted him and announced, “Your son lives!”3
The father walks the long road home. Every step he takes leaves an imprint of faith. Each stride is a statement of belief. Every mile he travels is a testimony. Jesus had honored the royal official’s plea and then the Master had asked him to get a firm grip on a strong promise and sent him on his way.
Halfway home, the royal official’s servants intercept him. As they run toward him, they wave their hands in the air and shout,
“It’s a miracle!
Your boy’s alive! He’s all right!”
The father asks his servants when his son began to feel better. They reply,
“The fever broke yesterday afternoon at one o’clock.” The father knew that that was the very moment Jesus had said, “Your son lives.”
That clinched it. Not only he but his entire household believed.4
The timing is too perfect to be coincidence.
Yesterday, when Jesus spoke, there was no delay. He wasn’t deterred by distance. He spoke and it was done. Jesus gave the word and directed the father to begin the long walk home. Faith led this man and his household right into the kingdom of God. In the miracle, Messiah had been revealed.
No sideshow, only a Savior.
Reflection
When was the last time you pleaded with Jesus, “Come! It’s a matter of life and death!”?
In what way is Jesus asking you to start walking? What bare word of promise is Jesus asking you to hold on to?
What does it feel like to leave the presence of Christ without any evidence?
How has God divinely orchestrated the events of your life? (Occasions when there is no question in your mind that Christ intervened. No thought of happenstance. No coincidence.)
Prayer
Father,
Your Son was a prophet without honor: divinity walking the earth without human applause. He came to his own yet his own rejected him. They embraced his miracles but they shunned him. They came looking for signs and wonders, mystical manifestations and feats of power, promising potions, remedies, and elixirs: not a Messiah.
They turned Jesus into a sideshow and forgot that he was a Savior.
During this day, give me a faith that takes your Son at his word. May I come longing for an encounter with the Messiah and not demanding a miracle. When I beg for mercy, place grace in my hands. When your Son says, “Go,” make my feet move toward home. As I walk, close my hands tightly and help me grip the bare promise of your Word. And when good news intercepts me along the way, may my heart leap, my mind reel, and my soul embrace the Messiah behind the miracle. May Jesus the Christ be a prophet with honor in my life.
It’s in his name that I plead. Amen.
1John 4:44-45 2John 4:48-49 3 John 4:50-51 4John 4:52-53
All Scripture references in the meditation are marked by italics and are taken from the Gospel reading for the day. Those verses quoted outside of the chosen reading for the day are noted. All Scripture quoted in this post is taken from THE MESSAGE: Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001 & 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.