Basic Questions

1. Identify as completely as possible the person in need (e.g., age, ethnic origin, religion, gender, social status).
   Royal official's son.

2. What was the immediate, obvious need?
   Royal official's son was sick and near death (fever).

3. Who took the initiative in effecting the healing?
   The person in need? Others? Jesus?
   How was it expressed?
   Royal official begged Jesus to come heal his son - Jesus said, "Your son will live."

4. Describe the actions or process leading to the healing; that is, what was said (e.g., questions, requests, commands) and what was done (e.g., approaching, following, touching, publicly/privately), and by whom?
   Royal official sought Jesus out & asked. (Jesus is always available to us)
   Royal official took Jesus at his word.

5. Did the person in need or someone else verbally express faith? Non-verbally? Describe how and by whom faith was in involved in this healing.
   Royal official begged Jesus to come (he believed Jesus could do it).
   Royal official took Jesus at his word.

6. What were the evidences that the person was healed?
   The fever left the royal official's son.

7. What were the reactions to the healing?
   The royal official & his household believed.

8. What in this narrative led Jesus to minister healing to the person in need?
   Royal official's repeated request for healing of his son.
   Royal official took Jesus at his word.

Digging Deeper

1. Did Jesus do what the father requested?
   Jesus did heal his son - but he did not physically come.

2. What did Jesus tell the father to do?
   To return to his son.

3. How did the father demonstrate his faith in Jesus? The father asked more than once for healing, and when Jesus said to go & his son would live he took Jesus at his word.

4. When did the healing take place?
   At the moment the father took Jesus at his word.

5. How did Jesus express love, counseling or encouragement?
   Jesus listened & granted the father's request - he also encouraged belief by his statement in v48.

6. How did this healing affect the whole household?
   The whole household believed.

7. What lesson(s) have you learned about healing from this account?
   Pursue Jesus with your request until he answers - when he answers take him at his word.
   Jesus responds to faith.
   Jesus responds to a direct request.
   Jesus is moved by love.
   Jesus doesn't have to be "physically" present to heal.