Signs of Faith

Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

48 "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."

49 The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."

50 Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."

The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour."(John 4:46-52)

An official of Capernaum goes to Jesus in Cana to ask Jesus to come and heal his son. What does Jesus do? He says that unless you see signs and wonders you won't believe. This sounds pretty harsh to me. But the man ignores what appears to be a rebuke and again asks Jesus to come with him to heal his son. The guy didn't appear to be looking for a sign, just to have his son healed. He must have had faith to even ask. He didn't question Jesus but asked for healing. Then he believed Jesus’ word without seeing the results. He didn't go home right away either. He could have easily got home the same day but didn't head home until the next day.

What was Jesus doing with this guy? Was it a test of his faith or was it something altogether different? Is it more for me and readers down through the ages? I think the man delaying going home was his "sign of faith."

 I don't know how to apply this, but one thing is sure if we want a sign to prove who Jesus is we won't get it. If we come to Jesus in faith and ask not to prove who God is but to just ask for our needs Jesus is there for us even if he doesn't answer right away or we don’t understand the answer.