The father packed his bags, and prepared to walk on a long journey to find the One they called Yeshua.
His son was dying.
He had only heard stories of the miraculous things this Man was doing.
Turning water into wine.
Talking with a Samaritan Woman as worthy..
Calling tax-collectors to be His Disciples...
But the stories were all he needed. This was his last chance to save his dying son. He kissed his boy on the cheek, and ventured off to find Jesus. The last he heard, Jesus was in Galilee; Cana to be exact.
This was the exact place that Jesus turned water into wine; the first of seven signs that He would perform to show He was the Messiah.
He believed that Jesus could do for Him what He had done before.
The impossible.
"When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 'Unless you people see signs and wonders,' Jesus told him, 'you will never believe.' 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." - John 4:47-50 NIV, Emphasis my own
The father packed his bags, and hurried home on the 22 mile journey which separated him from his son. There wasn't a way for him to communicate back home to see if his son was healed. Phones and wifi didn't exist.
He had to take Jesus at His word and leave the One Person Who could perform a miracle and save his child... even at a distance of 22 miles (the believed distance from Cana to Capernaum.)
Don't Let The Journey Deter Your Faith
What have you been praying for? What are you begging Jesus to do?
Maybe you have a family member dying of cancer, or are battling infertility. Maybe thoughts of suicide continue to suffocate your mind. Maybe you are battling belief in God Himself and are begging Jesus for a sign. Regardless of what you are struggling with today, hear this plea: don't let the journey deter your faith.
The miracle in the making may only be 22 miles away.
The father didn't know for certain that Jesus would heal his son. He had a few stories of past miracles to base his faith on, and yet he walked 22 miles to find Jesus, and another 22 miles home to see if the miracle had happened.
"While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, 'Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.' Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, 'Your son will live.' So he and his whole household believed." - John 4:51-53, NIV
Sometimes the journey can be daunting. Sometimes we lose sight of the One Who saves because the miracle seems out-of-reach. But what would it look like for us to live like that of the father in this story?
Mountains would be moved,
Temptations would be shattered,
And the glory of the Same God who heals the sick would shine through your testimony.
Your miracle in the making may only be 22 miles away... don't give up at mile 21.
Sources for Further Studying:
- Article
- Sermon
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