Jesus is approached by a royal official, whose son was sick at Capernaum. The official– who comes to Jesus with a deep human need, and faith, is looking for action. He wants Jesus to come with him to his home, before his child dies.
Jesus responds instead with a word– a word that, interestingly, is an action for the royal official. Jesus tells him to “go, your son will live.”
John repeatedly uses the word “believe” in his gospel. And the fact that he almost always uses it as a verb underscores that, for John, faith involves action. We see that here as the official responds to Jesus with action. He took Jesus at his word, and departed. And as he was on his way home, he was met by his servants with the news that his son was better– which happened at the exact time Jesus had told him his son would live.
This second sign, where Jesus heals at a distance, reveals both that Jesus, the Word, is indeed God (John 1:1), and that his word alone has power. Jesus’ word is enough.
And it is enough to bring physical life for the official’s son, and eternal, infinite life, to the official’s entire household.
