The Official's Son

John 4:46-54
It is interesting in this situation that when this man approaches Jesus to ask for healing, Jesus responds by telling him that unless he sees a sign he will not believe (vs. 48).  We are told that Jesus does in fact give this man a sign by healing his son (vs. 50-51), and that this man and his household do in fact believe (vs. 53).  It is interesting because this situation is somewhat similar to the one that occurred in Matthew 12:39 and Matthew 16:4 where he rebukes the Pharisees for asking for a sign.  In both situations a sign is mentioned as the crux of the interaction.  In one it is condemning and deserving of rebuke, in the other it is given as a means to belief.  Why the difference?  The key is the heart.  In the case of the Pharisees, their heart is one of self-righteousness, a prove yourself to us type mentality.  They have come to Jesus not out of a pure heart, but an evil heart that walks by sight, not faith.  They are set in their religious ways and will not abandon them unless one proves to them otherwise (an asking for the opposite of faith: proof).  They are asking for the very thing that contradicts what is necessary: faith.  However, in the case of this official, Jesus simply takes what is already present in his heart and completes it through a miracle.  Jesus said that all it takes is faith as small as a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20).  This man obviously had enough faith to approach Jesus for the healing to begin with (vs. 47).  Jesus' reply indicates that Jesus saw this meager faith that brought the official to him, and insinuates that by performing this miracle, according to this man's faith, he will complete his faith into belief.  If this man did not start with at least a little faith then the miracle would never have been performed (Matthew 13:58).  Jesus' reply is not a condemning remark, but a statement as to why he is going to perform this miracle.  He is going to consent to this man's request that he may believe in him, that the Father may be glorified (John 14:13).  This is the will and the work of the Father (John 6:29).  This is the purpose of the miracles performed, to attest to Jesus' identity so that they may believe(John 10:38).  Jesus has simply honored what faith is already there by completing it through a miracle, not creating faith by performing a miracle, as the Pharisees demanded.  There is a huge difference.  Do we not see the grace and mercy and love of our Savior in this passage?  Jesus had every right to refuse this man's request, as he did with the Pharisees.  But, if Jesus' statement in vs. 48 holds true, then by refusing the miracle, this man would have lost faith and never believed in Jesus and both he and his household would have been condemned.  And Jesus would have been just in doing so.  But he did not.  He showered love and mercy upon him, in accordance with his promises towards our faith (Matthew 9:29).  He does not leave us hanging.  He does not arbitrarily perform miracles and healing, but all have a purpose and it is according to our faith and his mercy and love.  He could have left this man doubting or even driven him away, but he honored what faith was there, even faith as small as a mustard seed.  He completed his faith into belief, thereby saving both him and his household.  What grace.  We truly have a Savior who loves and cares.  Let us then be leery of how we approach him.  Let us not approach him with the attitude of the Pharisees, demanding he prove himself before we will step out and walk according to his commandments.  We must first prove our faith, no matter how small, and he promises that, according to our faith, it will be done to us (Matthew 9:29).  Let us hold to this promise and come to him and we will see miracles!  For although we serve a holy and just God, we also serve a loving and gracious and merciful Savior.  Feel the compassion and mercy that this official experienced and be overwhelmed by Jesus' faithfulness.