Waiting While Walking

The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. (John 4:50b-51)

Capernaum is over 20 miles from Cana. Two days journey, at least. If someone left Capernaum toward Cana and another left Cana toward Capernaum, you might meet up at the end of day one. Assuming the healing of the son took place at 1 pm in the afternoon, the boy’s father and the father’s servants had to spend the night somewhere once it got dark, wake up the next morning to keep going. A significant amount of time when you have a son who was close to death when you last saw him.

The father believed Jesus’s word. He didn’t know how, but he believed and headed home. He knew it was going to be okay because Jesus said so. Though he came to Jesus with the request for Jesus to “Come,” the answer he got from Jesus was “Go.” It wasn’t the answer the father wanted or was looking for. But he believed Jesus and His way was superior to his.

It’s interesting to me that John tells us once the father understood everything that happened, he believed. He and his entire household. The father believed when Jesus told him his son would live. And the father believed when he got home and saw the healing for himself. There was a belief that happened once he could see and a belief that happened before he could see. The man believed Jesus even when he couldn’t see. There was an expectancy before he saw simply because Jesus said so.

True healing comes when we take Jesus at his word while walking back into the situation.

True life happens when we are okay with what Jesus says. Allows. Does.

Most of our lives are spent between getting the reply from Jesus and seeing the actual promise. We ask Jesus for one thing. He grants another. Whether or not we experience peace and joy and life and healing in our souls depends on whether or not we are okay with what He says.

I believe the boy’s father walked away from Jesus still a little anxious. A little curious as to how the healing was going to come about. But I also believe he walked home expectant. He walked home with joy. He didn’t know how it was going to pan out. But he believed Jesus and that was enough. Though Jesus didn’t answer the way he wanted, Jesus said it was going to be okay. He believed and experienced healing.

What about you? Do you follow Jesus as long as it goes according to plan? Or do you follow Jesus because you really believe He and His ways are good?