Jesus wasn't passing by

Jesus is in Galilee, specifically in Cana, north of Nazareth, about 16 miles west-ish of Capernaum, as the crow flies.

(I do wonder why we only give credit to crows for flying straight.)

Down in the seacoast town of Capernaum there was an “official.” Other translations call him a nobleman. The Greek, according to Wiki, mentions his connection to royalty. So, I conclude that he is a gentile.

Mr. connected-to-the-emperor had an extremely sick son. He heard that Jesus was up at Cana, surely the water-into-wine news had spread all over the place, so this papa hiked up to Cana to ask Jesus to come to his house—much like Jairus had done.

I find it interesting that that it wasn’t that Jesus was passing by and the father said, “Hmmm, I will try this remedy for my son.”

No. He went looking for Jesus.

This reminds me of Solomon’s prayer of dedication of the temple. He said, “If any gentiles happen to come here to ask of You help with their problems, be so gracious as to grant their wishes.”

The plan back then was that the temple would be a magnet, pulling Gentiles towards it, helping them know the only true and living God. Yet we do not see a whole lot of that magnetism happening mostly, muse I, because the people of God were not a real welcoming bunch.

But in Cana, someone “greater than the temple” was there.

A magnet of a man.

The Messiah.

The father came to Jesus.