John 4: 49-50
‘”The royal official said, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’
‘Go,’ Jesus replied, ‘your son will live.’
The man took Jesus at his word and departed.”
Some people in this situation might have come to Jesus and simply poured their heart out saying something like, “Rabbi, my son is dying!” Others might have tried to bring their son directly to Jesus. This man, however, appears to be used to having people do what he tells them. The text tells us twice that he is a “royal official” and we are told later in the story that he has servants. Clearly his concern is for his son, because he leaves his son at home where he can be cared for, and travels to see Jesus expecting that Jesus will drop everything he is doing and come to his house because…
… because why?
Was it because he was used to telling people what to do? Did it have something to do with being a royal official who is used to getting what he wants?
Obviously the man is not to proud to seek out an itenerant Jewish rabbi who is known to have unusual powers. We are told that he “begged” Jesus to come. Clearly he expects Jesus to do what he wants done. We can see that he has thought about this and decided that if Jesus is going to be any help at all he will need to come directly to the boy’s bedside.
There is a story I heard once about my grandmother that happened when I was a small boy. She called her son-in-law, Bob, over to the house and explained that she needed a boulder moved from one part of the yard to another. She explained how she expected Bob to roll the large stone into a wheel borrow, tip the wheel borrow up with the stone in it, wheel it over to the spot where she wanted it, and then carefully roll it out of the wheel borrow and into its new location. Bob, who stood over 6 feet tall and was a burly Irishman smiled down at his diminutive mother-in-law. After listening patiently to all of these instructions he asked, so you want it there? Yes, was the reply. Bob picked up the stone like it was made of wood and set it down where she wanted it. He probably laughed all the way home, and he certainly laughed when he told the story later.
Like my grandmother, the royal official has everything worked out in his head. Like my Uncle Bob, Jesus has a different plan.
“Go, your son will live.”
In a sense, the “royal official” was dealing with another “Royal Official” in Jesus, only he didn’t know it. Jesus responds, not as a subordinate might, but as a royal official of higher rank would respond. “Go, your son will live.” To his everlasting credit, the royal official obeyed Jesus. He did not argue. He did not complain. He did not whine. He obeyed.
Q: How should we look at Jesus? Is he simply this carpenter guy who died so we could get into heaven, or is he more than that?
I think we should look at Jesus as a friend, who gives us access to approach God. And God as the almighty Creator, who is worthy of our praise and glory.
I don’t think Jesus is a magic lamp, who we bring all and wishes to…so that we can have our way.
Anonymous –
Welcome! Thank you for sharing your thoughts here. Please come back often!!
I’m with Anonymous. Jesus is not our magic lamp. He is our friend who seeks to dwell in our hearts as our constant companion and counselor, giving us peace and hope beyond human understanding.
Years ago, I was hesitant to ask His help, I knew He was God, very busy with issues far bigger than anything I could bring to Him. I figured He expected me to take care of some issues by myself.
In time He opened my heart to the fact, He gave Himself for me, KNOWS MY NAME, I am His child and He is eager to have a relationship with me and help me in every aspect of my life.
God confined Himself to flesh, dwelt among men, teaching us in word and deed what He had communicated to us in the OT. He was subjected to every temptation, without sin. He gave His life to pay the price for our sins, rose from the dead and ascended to the Father so the Holy Spirit could come and dwell in the hearts of every believer.
No problem is too small for our Father, and their is no waiting line to make our requests known to our Omnipresent God. In fact God desires we come to Him Boldly, yet with great Humility and Reverential Trust, as we ask His help. By doing this we demonstrate our faith and trust in our Gods power over all things, as well as build an increasing dependence on God as we become independent of this world and our flesh. Rest in God.
I love how the gospels highlight people with incredible faith in Jesus – especially the ‘unlikely’ ones. I am also very against the magic approach’s to Jesus and prayer. God cannot be casually manipulated and knows what is best for his children. I love that we can come to Jesus honestly in humility with our worries, requests, and desires. Even more than this I love that we can trust his will in responding to our prayers. The parent – child description in scripture brings me great joy and trust in God.