Few things bring parents any more grief or drive them to greater desperation than when one of their children is suffering.
In Capernaum there was a nobleman who had a sick child. He may have been a successful businessman. He might have wielded some influence in his community. But the driving factor in his life at that moment was a child who desperately required intervention. The child did not have long to live.
For many leaders, their children can suddenly move front and center into their lives. These people may be successful leaders, prosperous businesspeople, and influential leaders, but when their child begins to struggle, everything else in their life moves to the back burner.
To this man’s credit, he made getting help for his son his top priority. Jesus often came to Capernaum, but this man could not wait for His next visit. He went up into the hills of Cana and sought out Jesus himself. He did not even trust this task with a servant or messenger. The man was determined to do whatever was necessary to obtain relief for his son.
Seeing such determination, Jesus granted his request. His son was healed. This man fades from our view in the Gospels after this. All we know is that, when this man’s child was in distress, the father did everything necessary to save him.