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I have this habit of sitting long in a passage I don’t understand on the first read. I’ll pour over the words multiple times in a sitting, I’ll think about them throughout my day, and I’ll revisit them the next time I sit down to read because something inside of me is certain there’s a hidden treasure there, and if I dig deep enough I’ll find it.
That’s how I feel about today’s passage.
Miracles to Grow Your Faith
On the surface, Jesus’ encounter with the official seems like your run-of-the-mill miracle. A man comes to Jesus for help, Jesus does something crazy miraculous, and everyone moves on with their lives, changed by the encounter. But Jesus never seems to do miracles just for the sake of doing miracles. There is always a purpose behind them, whether it’s a sign of blessing, a form of healing, or physical proof of His divinity.
Or, as is the case with today’s passage, to grow someone’s faith.
When the official approaches Jesus, he is desperate for Jesus to come with him and heal his dying son. This man, though we don’t know his name, we do know where he lives; Capernaum. It’s the same town where Jesus performed His first miracle, where He changed water into wine at a wedding. The servants and His disciples were the…
