DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
St. John 4:46-54 (5/12) CHRIST IS RISEN! Gospel for Monday of
the Myrrhbearers
Who Was Healed?
St. John
4:46-54, especially vs. 53: “So
the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him,
‘Your son lives.’ And
he himself believed, and his whole household.” St.
John Chrysostom advances an especially arresting thought about Christ’s
healing of the nobleman’s son: “For here He healeth
the father, sick in mind, no less than the son, in order to persuade us to give
heed to Him, not by reason of His miracles, but of His teaching. For miracles are not
for the Faithful, but for the unbelieving and the grosser sort.” Taking Chrysostom’s thought into
account, let us note for ourselves how the Lord Jesus enlarges the
father’s faith in three steps, each advance healing the man more deeply
than the previous one.
When the nobleman first contacts the Lord
Jesus, his son was “at the point of death” (vs. 47). The father does not ask, he implores. The fear is natural, in the face of
imminent death. He ties together
information he already has concerning the Lord Jesus to the news that the Rabbi
is come into Galilee. Small rural communities have rapid
communication networks for passing news.
There is no reflection on the man’s part. The anxiety mobilizes him, hearing that
Jesus is near: he “...went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal
his son” (vs. 47).
Consider the father’s situation when he
left for Cana. Many remedies had proven useless. The child was dying (vs. 47), and so the
loving parent is open to solutions - to any answer. Normal cures have failed. Since Jesus had been in Capernaum with His family and His disciples
after His first sign, the nobleman knew about His powers (Jn.
2:12). And other reports existed of
Jesus’ capabilities (vs. 47).
Considering these, the desperate father perceives a solution. Jesus is nearby in Cana
(vs. 46). Wine is good for
weddings; but healing will stave off death.
In addition, there were other reports of other
signs while the Lord Jesus was in Jerusalem
(Jn. 2:23).
Many Galileans already believed the Lord was a Prophet (Jn. 4:44,45). Word was out. As a court official, the nobleman was in
close touch with events in the Capital.
This father exhibits a “try-anything,” pragmatic form of
“faith.” His spiritual
state is based on objective action and physical presence. In addition, he could not imagine
“long distance” healing.
Therefore, he wants Jesus in Capernaum
- at the place where the boy lay dying (Jn. 4:47).
Now observe how the Lord begins to heal the
father. First, He chastened him,
but only in
general terms, for in responding to the father, the Lord frames His comments
about signs and wonders to include all who are spiritually dependent on
tangible evidence. Still, in times
of real need there is openness to a new perspective. The official speaks to Jesus with high
respect, even calling Him “Kyrie,” “Lord” or
“Sir” (vs. 49). Thus
the father presses his need, not defending his shallow faith, but taking one
more step toward deeper faith. And
note how his trust grows when the Lord says: “Go your way; your son
lives.” This is evident, for
the father obeyed (vs. 50): be sure to appreciate what St. John adds: “the man believed the
word that Jesus spoke” (vs. 50).
The nobleman had begun to trust in the unseen, spiritual power lodged in
Jesus Himself.
The third phase of the nobleman’s
healing comes when he realized that his son’s health recovered “at
the same hour in which Jesus” had declared the boy well (vs. 53). A third advance occurs in his faith
development. First, the father
trusts in the Lord’s words; then he trusts in the Lord Himself - in His
Person. But now, the nobleman
becomes one of the Faithful, a believer in the Lord, a Christian, a disciple of
Christ - and more! He becomes a man
of contagious faith. He draws his
entire household into the Church (vs. 53).
May God heal each of us with such faith!
O Master, Who lovest
mankind, grant me the healing of my soul and body, a faith unashamed, a love
unfeigned, unto increase of wisdom, and growth in Thy divine grace.
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