and he began to be in need

Reviewing John4:46-54 and my eye caught on a minor: royal official. Good model of faith. Can imagine him as me.

I imagine him as a man used to controlling others, a royal official full of power and authority. He tells people what to do all the time. That's, in fact, what he does for a living. And things happen under his watch. He commands a problem fixed and it is fixed. He wants something done and it is done. But this one problem isn't fixing. This one thing isn't getting done. This son of his is sick, still sick, and no amount of power and authority is changing that fact. And after a week or two, and after throwing his weight around and arranging the best medical care possible, still nothing, still this high fever and ague.

And then he hears about Him.

And desperate dad that he is, royal official yes, but still a dad, and he rather than arrange messengers to beseech Him, he knows that wouldn't work somehow, he heads there himself. This time, he is the one doing the something rather than others doing that something. And he arrives before Him, and beseeches Him, this time not throwing power and authority at all to get something done, but pleading for something to get done.

And then he hears Him.

Healed by a word? Dare he believe it? But He is everything he imagined He would be and more and just in His presence he knows that He has true power and authority and royalty and he knows he is nothing before Him and so he goes. Does he look back every now and then? Does he wonder whether or not he should go back just to check? Does he get outraged that He didn't want to personally come? No, his desperation brings him to his realization of need which is the start of all faith and so he goes.

And then he hears them.

Healed. Fever? Healed. Ague? Healed. All? Healed. And he himself believed. And his whole household. And that living that was promised? Not just the son, but all. And the royal official, desperate dad no longer but grateful son himself believed. And his whole household. These minors, good lessons of faith.