Capernaum there was an official, whose son was ill, and when he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and asked him
to come and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Jesus said, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe!” The official
said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” And Jesus replied, “Go, your son lives!” The man had faith in the word that Jesus
spoke to him, and went his way. As he was approaching his house, his servants met him, and gave him the good news, “Your son has
recovered!” So he asked them at what hour the child began to recover, and they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday, at about
one o’clock in the afternoon.” And the father realized that that was the time when Jesus had told him, “Your son lives!” And he became a
believer, he and all his family. Jesus performed this second miraculous sign when he returned from Judea to Galilee.
Reflection:
Galilee is the place where Jesus worked His first and second miracle. The
miracle at the wedding in Cana, and now the healing of the official’s son. Galilee
is a multicultural city where gentiles and Jews alike live side by side. This explains
why an official, presumably a Roman official have the audacity to ask Jesus for
the healing of his son. The hostility between Jews and their Roman conquerors is
not much felt in this place where people of other faith and culture live together. And
Jesus is at ease in dealing with people from other religious and cultural background. The
official must have travelled a long way since he only gets to know his son is healed
the following day. He went back with nothing but the assurance of Jesus that his
son lives. That is why, when Jesus’ words are confirmed, he became a believer
together with his family. Thus even when Jesus is still alive, gentiles already flock to His
movement.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2021