Your Miracle Is Waiting

When the two days were over, he went from that place to Galilee (for Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in the prophet’s own country). When he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the festival; for they too had gone to the festival.

Then he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.” The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he himself believed, along with his whole household. Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.

This is the first day of a new month — a month in which we celebrate Easter — and I get the sense that God wants to see his word come more alive in the lives of listeners. By this I mean, that not only does he want these reflections to draw you closer to him and a knowledge of his truths, he wants you to feel the power of his word — in a greater transformation of your life, and in signs of mighty power. That means miracles, and I believe he wants you to see them. What better way to start than today’s gospel reading. 

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus says, “I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). This is a verse I often quote to people who come to me asking for prayers, especially when a miracle is needed, but though they will say “Amen”, I know many have difficulty believing they have already received whatever they have asked for in prayer. But, the royal official in this story does believe. Jesus says his dying son will live and the man believed the word.

How did he believe? He had quite possibly seen the miracles Jesus had worked during his visit to Capernaum, and realized that this was no ordinary man. He was quite possibly divine, which implied two things: he was great, and he was good. Which in turn implied that he could heal his dying son. He was so sure of it, he travelled from Capernaum to Cana, a distance of about 20 miles, most of it uphill, and although he might have gone on horseback, it was still a day’s journey. 

He begs Jesus to come and heal his son. “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go your son will live.” And without another word, the man leaves, believing. And he finds out later that his boy was healed at the very same hour Jesus had spoken. Now I want you to pause and consider all the miracle stories you have heard in the past, both in Scripture and through the testimonies of people through the years, about the mighty things that Jesus has done.

And with simple faith, without trying to analyze anything too much, tells Jesus now to heal you, or bless you, or deliver you, or whatever you want, believing that he is great and he is good. Jesus said that if we, who were evil knew how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our father in heaven give good things to those who asked (see Matthew 7:7-11). And he also said he would do whatever we asked his name (John 14:13).

So, ask. Now. In Jesus’ name. And believe you have received it.