Jesus famously turned water into wine at a wedding in the town of Cana, saving the host family from embarrassment and astounding the servers who saw it all happen.

Do you think the word spread?

Jesus moved on, but later returned to Cana. John tells the story: There was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 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.

We’re told that the man took Jesus at his word and went home to his son, who recovered at that very moment. As a result, he and his whole household believed.

I’m struck by this father. I’m sure he’d done everything for his son. Being a royal official, he likely had access to doctors and medicines, but nothing worked. Then he heard Jesus was nearby, and rushed to the one person in all the universe who might help.

I’m sure this took humility, and I wonder who scoffed at his insistence on finding the preacher? But his child’s life hung by a thread and nothing else mattered.

This story helps me to remember that I might run, at any time, to the one person in all the universe who holds the power to meet my needs.

While a shortage of wine feels desperate, it fails to match the anguish of a dying child. So it’s fascinating—and comforting—to me that Jesus stepped into both situations to bring joy and healing.

John 4 in week forty-three of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Ronan Furuta