46 So once again [Jesus] came to Cana in Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.

47 he went and begged Him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die.

48 Sir,” the official said, “come down before my child dies.”

50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

52 So he inquired as to the hour when his son had recovered, and they told him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.”

53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.

— John 4:46, 47, 49, 50, 52-53

23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

— Mark 9:23

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace and peace to you from Christ.

After Jesus returned to Cana from Samaria where He revealed Himself as the true living water and Messiah and gained the first large group of people believing in Him, a royal official from Capernaum approached Jesus with an intense personal need. This official’s son was very ill, almost dying. He left his sick son and traveled to Cana to see Jesus. This father faced a need that neither his position nor power could solve. He persistently begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his dying son.

Jesus encouraged this desperate father to take a step of faith and trust His authority and healing power. Jesus told the man, “Go, your son will live.” With His answer, Jesus called this father to believe without visible proof. The official took Jesus at His word and departed for home. His budding faith sprang into action. His son truly revived and the healing occurred at the exact time when Jesus told him that his son would live. This man trusted the Lord’s promise and experienced Jesus’ power and compassion. Hallelujah! Then the man’s entire household came to saving faith in Jesus.