Published in the October 2012 issue of the Record of
the Free Church of Scotland
This incident
occurs after Jesus and his disciples return to Galilee from their first visit
together to Jerusalem for the Passover. It had been an eventful time: Jesus had
cleansed the temple, performed miracles that impressed many people in a
superficial way, spoken with a prominent Jewish leader (Nicodemus), and used
the woman of Sychar to bring spiritual blessing to her small community (John
2–4). Now Jesus had returned to Galilee, but he did not go to Nazareth (he left
there because of the hostile rejection of his teaching by the villagers [Luke
4:16-31]) or to Capernaum (to where the family had moved [John 2:12; Matt.
4:13]). Instead he and his disciples went to Cana. Jesus previously had helped,
in a miraculous way, a couple in Cana whose wedding was threatened by disgrace
when the wine ran out. Probably they were related to his family, and there may
have been other relations there, so Jesus may have gone to the village for a
rest after his journey to Jerusalem.
Jesus also may
have wanted to see what influence his miracle of turning the water into wine
had enjoyed in the community. His words in verse 48 are very striking: ‘Unless
you see signs and wonders you will not believe.’ The ‘you’ is plural and therefore
refers to more persons than the official. Perhaps Jesus was referring to a
discussion that the official may have had with his family before he left home
to try and meet with the Saviour. Yet his words seem harsh towards a desperate
parent. I suspect, therefore, that they were said primarily to curious
onlookers, although there was a lesson for the official in them.
The onlookers
were the inhabitants of Cana and they would have been aware of the previous
miracle, perhaps even had been guests at the wedding. Although Jesus had
performed that miracle in a low-key manner, the servants did know what had
taken place and they would have spread the account. Sadly, that miracle was not
sufficient for them to continue having faith in Jesus as the Messiah. They
would only believe in him if he continued to perform miracles. In their faith,
there was not a personal relationship with Jesus. They were the forerunners of
all the others who professed faith in Christ but who abandoned him when he did
not come up to their expectations.
Some lessons
from the story
The first
feature of this account is that Jesus returned to an obscure place, Cana. I
suppose in this there is a reminder that Jesus liked to return to places where
he had been welcomed formerly. The obvious village of which this was true was
Bethany, where Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived. There is a picture here of how
Jesus acts in grace by returning to a place where he has displayed his glory
previously.
Another detail
to note is the intense prayer of the official, which is a picture of the
earnestness that should mark each of us when we pray on behalf of unconverted
family members. The official did not take ostensible disinterest by Jesus, when
he seemed initially to refuse the request for help, as a reason to cease
praying with great vigour. If anything, the denial made him intercede more
earnestly.
One usual
question that arises from this incident concerns why God allows trouble to come
into one’s life. When his child’s illness began, the official may have imagined
that it would soon clear up. Yet eventually he realised that his young son
would not get better. How little he realised as he began his walk from
Capernaum to Cana that the trouble he so dreaded would become the means by
which great blessing would come into his family! Often physical troubles are
sent to us to bring us to our spiritual senses. C.S. Lewis says somewhere that
God whispers to us in our pleasures but shouts to us in our pain. If any of us
are going through a period of trouble, remember that it may yet be the cause of
great blessing for the whole household.
It is also clear
from this story that troubles can come to any person. The official had a secure
career and the comfortable lifestyle that went with it. Probably he had good prospects
for the future. Prior to the illness of his child, he was probably very
satisfied with life. Now a large shadow loomed over it and the future was dark.
He discovered that there are things that status and riches cannot provide.
The story also
reminds us that Jesus saves people from every kind of background. This man
worked for the family whose ancestor, Herod, had tried to destroy Jesus when he
was born; indeed, he worked for the man who would soon put John the Baptist to
death. In other words, he was deeply involved with those who were opposed to
the extension of God’s kingdom. Yet when he came to Jesus for help, he received
it.
Some details
about Jesus
John highlights
several details about Jesus. First, he points out that Jesus is omniscient. He knew
all about the needs of the man, as well as knowing the hearts of the observers who
only wanted to see signs and wonders. Second, John displays the omnipotence of
Jesus, who is able to cure with a word a life-threatening illness. Third, John
stresses the kindness of Jesus in that he cured the ill child.
Thankfully, we
can meet the kind Jesus today and experience forgiveness of our sins,
compassion in our troubles, aid on our journey through life, and heaven at the
end. All we have to do is come and ask him for his help. We will receive his
grace even although he knows all about our sins; and despite our sins, he will
display his great power on our behalf.
John mentions a
fourth detail for his readers to notice, and it is that Jesus does not have to
be physically present with the needy person in order to provide the cure. This
seems to have been the nobleman’s initial expectation, but he discovered that
Jesus could far exceed such estimations. We are not to limit Jesus according to
our expectations. Maybe we think he will work for us in a manner similar to how
he worked in our parents’ lives or in the lives of our friends. We have to get
beyond such limiting of Jesus and let him decide in what way he will respond to
our plea for help.
The faith of the
official
The details in
this man’s experience have long been recognised as illustrating crucial steps
on the journey of faith. To begin with, the man discovered he had a problem
concerning which he had no remedy elsewhere. No-one, as far as he knew, could help
his child. In this state of desperation, he is a picture of a person who has
experienced a measure of conviction of sin. Such a person eventually discovers
that nothing can help him with his problem.
Next we can say
that his faith was kindled by the report of others. He had heard from them that
there was a man called Jesus who was able to perform miracles, including
healings. Therefore he resolved to try to find Jesus. On the spiritual level,
the experience of others is often what causes a person to begin thinking about
Jesus as the remedy for his cure.
Further, the
official made an effort to see Jesus. Somehow he discovered where the Saviour
was (this was probably not that difficult, since the fame of Jesus was
spreading), so he went to Cana, which was about twenty miles away. The official
did not mind that it was an insignificant village; all he wanted was to meet
the One who could deal with his problem. This has its parallel in spiritual
seeking as well. The person with the burden and who has heard of Jesus will go
to where he is most likely to meet Jesus. That place is a church where the
gospel is preached.
Moreover, the
official discovers that, when he meets Jesus, the Saviour does not seem
initially to listen to him. Instead he hears Jesus criticising those who
followed him for wrong reasons. At the same time, this rebuke was a word of
testing for the official. Would he continue to ask Jesus for help? Thankfully,
the official did. This can happen to seekers as well. They come to church and
discover that the Saviour seems to be addressing the situations of others and
does not say anything that seems to be for them. They are being tested to see
if they will continue asking him for help.
Additionally,
the official discovers that he has to plead for help. I suppose, in his case,
there was the possibility that he would try to order Jesus to help him. His
position in society gave him some authority. Yet he realises that he has no
power over Jesus. Instead the man has to implore Jesus, and implore him urgently.
Again, we have to come to the point where we will implore the Saviour urgently.
Such a manner of request indicates the genuineness of our desire.
Finally, the
nobleman heard from Jesus that his prayer had been answered. Since he was not
with his son, he could only take the word of Jesus for it. This is what faith
does; it takes God at his word and accepts his promise of eternal life to all
who will believe. This attitude does not mean a leap in the dark. Rather, it is
an expression of confidence in a reliable Saviour.
It has been
noticed that the official seems to have taken a long time to get home, which
has led some to assume that he was so sure of the cure he made a leisurely
journey home. Yet I think such a suggestion borders on the absurd, because
surely he would want to see as soon as possible what had happened to his son.
There may have been other reasons for the time taken, which John saw no need to
tell us about.
Others entered
into the blessing that the official had been given by Jesus. His family also
became followers of the Saviour. Again, this involvement of others can happen
in the spiritual life, as family and friends of a new convert are affected by
his new life and become believers as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment