Prayer for the Sick: At a Distance

The Nobleman’s Son
John 4:43-54 [show] After the two days he departed for Galilee. (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. 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. 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. So Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 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." 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. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. (ESV)

Wealthy people and the highly appointed were not reluctant to seek Jesus out to heal their children. After Jesus’ first recorded miracle of turning water to wine at a wedding feast, we learn of a nobleman in that region who approaches him to come heal his son who is dying. But Jesus does not go with the man. Instead, he tells him that his son will be well and sends him home.

The man, respecting Jesus’ word, returned to his home believing. Sure enough, the recovery was such that the servants met him along the way to report that the boy had recovered, and it was from the very time that Jesus had spoken it. This is the first instance of distance healing that we observe in the Lord’s ministry, and one of two cases citing a fever.

This teaches us that it is possible to offer effective prayer for the sick when the sick person is not present. The pivotal aspect here, however, seems to be the faith of the person asking for the healing. Jesus refused a visible sign or wonder in his presence. He sent the man away only believing that his prayer had been answered. And so it is with us sometimes.

We must not get into a habit of anticipating instantaneous results. Often healing will begin right away, but with subtlety. It continues progressively until the full manifestation is reached and verified. Also, keep in mind, that while we want to strengthen faith, we do not want to build false hope. It is a fine line that Holy Spirit can keep you from crossing.

In this instance also, we have no report of people around the man injecting doubt. Everyone involved seems to be believing together for results of healing prayer. The boy’s recovery was a joyful testimony.

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