And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He said, “From childhood.”
The Lord knew everything, yet He asks so that the father’s pain might be fully expressed and those present might see the long-standing nature of the problem. The word “from childhood” sounds heavy: this was not a random or new trial, but years of suffering, deeply rooted in this family’s life. Christ does not hurry merely to remove the symptom, but opens up the whole story of the wound. This is comforting, because the Lord does not treat people’s pains superficially. He listens to how long ago it began, how deeply it has taken root, and how long it has lasted. Though the illness is long-lasting, it is no obstacle for the Lord and can, in an instant, meet His healing power.