The individual concerned is simply described as a royal official, probably on Herod’s payroll. His anxiety is a deeply human one: his son is dangerously ill at home in Capernaum, some twenty miles away. Jesus’ earlier miracle at Cana is quite probably known to the father and, on the basis of this ‘faith’ in the supernatural power of Jesus, he beseeches him to come to his home and perform a healing miracle on his boy who was apparently, by this stage, at death’s door. Jesus’ rejoinder seems at first blush surprisingly brusque: Unless you people see miraculous signs … you will never believe (48). It is possible, however, to construe this as a challenge to the father to exercise faith in the miraculous power of God operating through Jesus.

If an element of apparent rebuke is present, there is a similarly unpromising response recorded in his reaction to his mother (2:4) and the Syrophoenician woman (Mk. 7:27). As in the other cases cited, the apparent refusal provokes a fuller and more earnest request, Sir, come down before my child dies (49). It is not a moment for discussion of the niceties of faith; action is needed! Action follows though in the form of a promise, You may go. Your son will live (50). It proves sufficient; the official took Jesus at his word (50), and departed forthwith to his home.

The individual concerned is simply described as a royal official, probably on Herod’s payroll. His anxiety is a deeply human one: his son is dangerously ill at home in Capernaum, some twenty miles away. Jesus’ earlier miracle at Cana is quite probably known to the father and, on the basis of this ‘faith’ in the supernatural power of Jesus, he beseeches him to come to his home and perform a healing miracle on his boy who was apparently, by this stage, at death’s door. Jesus’ rejoinder seems at first blush surprisingly brusque: Unless you people see miraculous signs … you will never believe (48). It is possible, however, to construe this as a challenge to the father to exercise faith in the miraculous power of God operating through Jesus.

If an element of apparent rebuke is present, there is a similarly unpromising response recorded in his reaction to his mother (2:4) and the Syrophoenician woman (Mk. 7:27). As in the other cases cited, the apparent refusal provokes a fuller and more earnest request, Sir, come down before my child dies (49). It is not a moment for discussion of the niceties of faith; action is needed! Action follows though in the form of a promise, You may go. Your son will live (50). It proves sufficient; the official took Jesus at his word (50), and departed forthwith to his home.