So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
John 4:46-54
Jesus has called us to make disciples. It is helpful to know how that happens. The image we get from observing people coming to faith at mass evangelism crusades like those of Billy Graham or, more currently, Harvest Crusades led by Greg Laurie make it appear that faith in Jesus just happened instantaneously on the spot. And, I will admit, that it may happen that way for some people. However, that is not what we find in the example of the official from Capernaum.
Stories had spread about Jesus turning water into wine and the wedding feast in Cana. Immediately after that incident, Jesus led his small crowd (Jesus, his mother, Mary, his brothers, and his disciples) to Capernaum, where this official lived. They stayed a few days and headed south to Jerusalem for the Passover. While there, Jesus upset a few folks by turning over the tables of the money changers in the Temple and did a few “signs.” He had his famous interview with Nicodemus during this visit. Then Jesus headed back North again. This time through Samaria and stopped at Sychar where he had his famous visit with a disreputable lady by the well. The whole town of Sychar came to believe in Jesus. Then he made his way further North back to Cana in Galilee.
I am placing this story in the timeline to see that stories about Jesus had circulated, especially after causing such a ruckus at the Temple during Passover. So, when Jesus arrived back at Cana, the word was out that he was back in Galilee. This official’s son was very ill. Did the official have saving faith at this point? I don’t think so. At this stage, I think it was more a hope that the stories are true and that maybe, just maybe, he could get Jesus to come to Capernaum and heal his son before it is too late.
The official was serious about getting to Jesus. I did some modern research and did a Google Maps check, and according to Google, to walk from Capernaum to Cana is just over a seven-hour walk. This means he spent the best part of one day getting to Cana. He then had to find Jesus and beseech him to come to Capernaum and heal his son. The official was anticipating another seven-hour walk back and was hoping Jesus would get there in time. Jesus performed a virtual healing. Well, I am likening it to a Zoom meeting. Jesus was in Cana and at the same time in Capernaum via his word. Jesus simply said, “Go; your son will live.”
When the official was on the long walk back home, one of his servants met him and told him his son was getting better. When asked when he began to recover, he was told 1:00 PM, there very same time Jesus had told the official that his son would live.
Now we see saving faith. The official and his household all believed.
This story helps us understand that to disciple people to follow Jesus; is a process of their coming to see Jesus for who he is, and that normally takes a little time. This is why I advocate for a process known as a Discovery Bible Study (DBS). It allows people to discover for themselves the truth of God’s word by reading the Bible with family and friends and asking some simple questions like, “What does this passage tell us about God?” and “What does this passage tell us about people?” and then, “If this is true, what must change in your life because of what you learned here?” Finally, “Who do you know that you could tell this story to?”
The DBS process walks people through key passages in the Bible to discover for themselves who Jesus is and come to faith as the Holy Spirit, the true teacher, reveals Jesus through His word. Once they come to faith, the process continues so they can grow in their faith as they continue to hear from God in his word, obey God’s word, and share with others. To learn more about using Discovery Bible Studies to disciple people into Christ, go to dbsguide.org.
Another great benefit of using the DBS methodology is that the disciple learns how to conduct a DBS as they participate. Hence, they are capable of going to other friends and family and repeating the process with them. This is how disciples become disciple-makers, and the multiplication of disciple-makers begins to take place. So, learn about DBS and put it to work among your family and friends. Begin to make disciples and become a disciple-maker.
