“What about you? Do you find yourself somewhere between Cana and Capernaum? Like the official, you offered a heartfelt prayer. You begged Jesus for help. And, like the official, you didn’t receive the answer in the way you wanted. Consequently, here you are, doing your best to place one foot in front of the other, walking the path of obedience.”- Max Lucado
“The official pleaded, ‘Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Go back home. Your son will live!’ And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.”- John 4:49-50 (NLT)
As Max Lucado moves on in Chapter 3 of Never Alone, he notes the quandary facing the the official in John 4:50. Because the father requested that Jesus go with him to Capernaum. Instead, Jesus told the official to go back home, that his son would live.
Hence, the father faced his moment of truth. For at that moment he set out on his longest walk. He offered his prayer in Cana. Would his prayer be answered upon his return to Capernaum? Since, Max observes, the man didn’t know, he had choices to make:
- Perhaps the official turned on a dime, floating home on the magic carpet of faith – in seventh heaven. Elated, the man skipped and whistled all the way home.
- Or, maybe the father though, what if I arrive home and my son isn’t better? What if Jesus moved on from Cana and I can’t find him again?
Faced with these options, the official made his choice. He chose to believe in the spoken word of Christ. In conclusion, Max explains the significance of this second miracle:
“The miracle was not just in the life of the boy, but in the saving faith of the entire household. . . . The life-giving miracle of Jesus was short-term. The faith-giving miracle of Jesus was eternal. The household believed in Jesus. This belief resulted in eternal life.”
Today’s question: When have you found yourself somewhere between Cana and Capernaum? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Keep walking and believing in our God”
