Cana was not so far from Capernaum but that the officer might have reached his home on the evening after his interview with Jesus; but he did not hasten on the homeward journey. It was not until the next morning that he reached Capernaum. What a homecoming was that! When he went to find Jesus, his heart was heavy with sorrow. The sunshine seemed cruel to him, the songs of the birds a mockery. How different his feelings now! All nature wears a new aspect. He sees with new eyes. As he journeys in the quiet of the early morning, all nature seems to be praising God with him. While he is still some distance from his own dwelling, servants come out to meet him, anxious to relieve the suspense they are sure he must feel. He shows no surprise at the news they bring, but with a depth of interest they cannot know he asks at what hour the child began to mend. They answer, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." At the very moment when the father's faith grasped the assurance, "Thy son liveth," divine love touched the dying child.

Kana lå ikke længere borte fra Kapernaum, end at embedsmanden kunne være nået at komme hjem om aftenen efter sit møde med Jesus; men han havde ikke hastværk med at komme hjem. Det var først næste morgen, at han nåede til Kapernaum. Hvilken hjemkomst var det ikke! Da han drog ud for at finde Jesus, var hans hjerte tungt af sørg. Solskinnet forekom ham grusomt og fuglenes sang en hån imod ham. Hvor var hans følelser forandrede nu! Hele naturen er kommet til at se anderledes ud. Han ser den med nye øjne. Medens han drager af sted i den tidlige morgenstund, er det, som om hele naturen synes at love og prise Gud sammen med ham. Medens han endnu er et stykke borte fra sin egen bolig, kommer tjenere ud for at gå ham i møde, ivrige efter at befri ham for den uvished, han sikkert måtte føle. Han viser ingen overraskelse over de nyheder, de bringer, men med den dybeste interesse, som de ikke kan kende grunden til, spørger han, hvornår barnet var begyndt at komme sig. De svarer: "I går ved den syvende time forlod feberen ham." I samme øjeblik, hvor faderen i tro greb fat om denne forsikring: "Din søn lever!" havde den guddommelige kærlighed rørt ved det døende barn.