Jesus heals the official's son

John 4:43-54

Key Verse 50

“Jesus replied, 'You may go. Your son will live.'”

The man took Jesus at his word and departed.”

This passage shows that Jesus is pleased to reveal himself, not to sign seekers, but to those who trust and obey his word.

1. Read verses 43-45.

ANSWER:

Jn 4:43-45  After the two days he left for Galilee.  44  (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)  45  When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there.

When did Jesus leave for Galilee? (43)

ANSWER:

Jn 4:43  After the two days he left for Galilee.

After spending two more days in Samaria.

During those two days in Samaria many had believed in Christ to the saving of their souls.

Galilee was Jesus’ original destination: “he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.  Now he had to go through Samaria.” (Jn 4:3-4) 

His steps were determined by God (Jn 2:4, 5:19) and so should ours. No matter how successful and popular we may be in a place, we must move on when God has work for us elsewhere. Failure must not make us lag behind nor success urge us to run before. 

Why does a prophet have no honor in his own home town? (44)

ANSWER:

Jn 4:44  (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)

Because they are too acquainted with his humble origin. Seeing one of such humble upbringing now as their teacher and as one greater spiritually than themselves is something which their pride cannot allow. 

The words, “a prophet has no honor in his own country” is a reference to what Jesus said in his hometown, Nazareth, in Luk 4:24. He was dishonored by those among whom he grew up and he said, “I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.” (He said the same thing on his second visit there in Mk 6:4 and Mat 13:57.) 

What is the significance of this statement?

ANSWER:

Jn 4:44  (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)

From this we understand what was wrong with the Galileans in this passage. Since Galilee was the place where Jesus grew up, their familiarity with his human origin blinded them from seeing his divine origin. In their view, there was no way that this young carpenter, whom they once employed to repair their houses, could have come down from heaven (Jn 6:42).

They were not really familiar with Jesus, for if they were, they would have honored him.

There is such a thing as a false familiarity with Jesus – a dangerous feeling that we know all about him. Such a dangerous feeling leads to a lack of honor towards Jesus.

What would the Galileans have expected from Jesus when they welcomed him? (45)

ANSWER:

Jn 4:45  When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there.

They expected to see more miraculous signs and wonders. They welcomed him as a famous miracle worker and entertainer.

The Jews in Galilee were required to go Jerusalem for the Passover (Deu 16:16). They remembered all the miracles Jesus performed at the feast (2:23-25).

2. Read verses 46-48.

ANSWER:

Jn 4:46-48  Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.  47  When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.  48  "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."

Where was Jesus and who came to him from Capernaum? (46)

ANSWER:

Jn 4:46  Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.

Jesus was at Cana in Galilee

This was the same place where he performed his first miracle (Jn 2:11).

A royal official came to him.

He probably belonged to Herod's court. That he was a man of high position and wealth is evident from the fact that he had servants (verse 51).

Neither rank nor riches exempted him from the common sorrows of human kind. His son lay at the point of death. No doubt he had tried every remedy which money could produce. But money is not almighty. 

The Samaritans were semi-Jews but this man was probably a full Gentile. Thus, he probably did not see Jesus’ miracles at the Passover. In this respect, he stands in contrast somewhat with the Jews of Galilee who did go to Jerusalem and see his miracles.

What was his urgent request? (47) 

ANSWER:

Jn 4:47  When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

He begged Jesus to come and heal his son.  His son had a fever (52) and was close to death.

He believed that Jesus could heal his son based on the reports he had heard of Jesus’ miracles at the Passover.

But this man was incorrect in thinking that Jesus could heal only by being physically present.

Despite his high rank, he went to Jesus personally and begged. His circumstance made him desperate and humble.

What did Jesus say was people's problem? (48)

ANSWER:

Jn 4:48  "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."

They would never believe unless they saw miracles. They would never believe through hearing his words as did the Samaritans.

Jesus rebuked both the official and the Galilean society. Verse 48 says “Jesus told him” and yet says, “you people”. The man’s problem was symptomatic of the whole society’s unbelief problem.

Think about what faith Jesus wants us to have. 

ANSWER:

Jesus rebukes those who require signs and wonders in order to believe.

Seeing miracles can lead a person towards belief in Jesus but not necessarily (Jn 5:14; 1Ki 11:9).

We should not require miracles in order to believe and they shouldn’t be the foundation of our faith. 

Jesus wants us to believe in him based on his word alone as the Samaritans did (42).

3. Read verses 49-50.

ANSWER:

Jn 4:49-50  The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."  50  Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."  The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

What did the royal official beg? (49)

ANSWER:

Jn 4:49  The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."

“Sir, come down before my child dies.”

Again, his incorrect understanding about Jesus is revealed here. He thought that Jesus had no power to heal his son unless he was physically (visibly) present there with him.

Though he was a royal official, he did not become angry in response to Jesus’ rebuke in verse 48. Instead, he continued to plead for mercy. 

The earnestness of this royal official shows the deep and tender anxiety of a father. He was so anxious for his son that he was not willing that Jesus should delay a moment longer – not even to address the people. 

What was Jesus' response to his request? (50a)

ANSWER:

Jn 4:50a  Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."

Jesus did not comply with his request. Instead, he simply told him, “You may go. Your son will live.”

He was to return home without Jesus and without any visible assurance that his son would be healed. All he could do was trust Jesus’ word alone.

Here once more, we are shown the Word (Jn 1:1, 14) at work. The Lord does not go down to Capernaum and take the sick boy by the hand. Instead, he speaks the word of power and he is healed instantly. The "words" he spoke were "spirit and life" (Jn 6:63). 

This imparting of life at a distance by means of the word has a message for us today. If Christ could heal this dying boy, who was miles away, by the word of his mouth, he can give eternal life today by his word even though he is away in heaven (Jn 5:25, 11:43).

Why did Jesus give him only his word?

ANSWER:

He did this in order to reveal himself to this man through the power of his word. 

How did he respond to Jesus' word? (50b)

ANSWER:

Jn 4:50b  The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

He trusted and obeyed Jesus’ word.

What challenge might he have had to obey Jesus' word?

ANSWER:

He might earnestly have wanted some kind of assurance that his son would live in the form of a dramatic miraculous sign perhaps.

His every step home might have been a struggle to believe that he would not arrive home only to find his child dead.

Yet, there are a couple hints that this man perhaps did not struggle with doubts but rather was assured through Jesus’ word that his son would live:

On hearing Jesus’ word, he raised no objection, requested no sign of assurance, and asked no questions but simply accepted it and left.  

He did not appear to have rushed home. It was 1:00 p.m. when Jesus told him that his son would live (52); there were 5 hours of daylight remaining. The trip back to Capernaum from Cana was 16 miles downhill. At a leisurely pace of 3 miles per hour, he could have reached home by sunset on foot (but due to the urgency of his son’s illness, would he not have traveled by horseback?). Yet strangely, he was still traveling home the next day when he heard the news that his boy was living (52).

The KJV translation of verse 50b is, “And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.” The NAS, NET, HCSB and others translate similarly.

4. Read verses 51-54.

ANSWER:

Jn 4:51-54  While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.  52  When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour."  53  Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed.  54  This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

What news did the royal official later receive? (51)

ANSWER:

Jn 4:51  While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.

That his boy was living.

At what time did the son's fever leave him? (52)  

ANSWER:

Jn 4:52  When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour."

At 1:00 p.m. the previous day.

What did the father realize and what was the result? (53) 

ANSWER:

Jn 4:53  Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed.

He realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.”  The result was that he and all his household believed in Jesus and were saved.

This illustrates that Jesus is revealed to us when we trust and obey his word (Jn 14:21, 8:31-32, 8:12, 3:21). The way to increase our faith is to exercise our faith no matter how feeble it may now be. 

This is the second sign. All of the signs are given that we might believe (Jn 20:30-31).

This was the second miracle he performed at Cana. Comparing these two miracles we notice that:

Both events happened on the third day (Jn 2:1, 4:43)

In each case, he rebuked the person who requested the miracle (Jn 2:4, 4:48). 

In each case, we see the obedient response made by those whom the Lord commanded (Jn 2:7, 4:50). 

In both miracles, we see the Word at work: in each miracle the Lord did nothing but speak. 

In both narratives, mention is made of the servant's knowledge (Jn 2:9, 4:51). 

Both times, those who witnessed the miracle believed (Jn 2:11, 4:53)

Both miracles conclude with similar words (Jn 2:11, 4:54)

 Jesus’ arrival in Galilee here in verse 45 might coincide with his rejection at Nazareth, if we assume that by this time John the Baptist was in prison (but Jn 4:1 suggests that John was still baptizing when Jesus left for Galilee). When John was put in prison (Mk 1:14; Mat 4:12) Jesus began his Galilean ministry. This is the same event in Luk 4:14. Jesus then began his Galilean ministry by visiting his hometown, Nazareth (Luk 4:16).

 Jn 4:35 may indicate that it was now December. So, possibly 9 months had gone by since the Passover feast.

 Possibly he was Manaen (Acts 13:1) or Cuza (Luk 8:3).

 “To travel from Capernaum to Cana involves a day's journey of about fifteen miles. The trip is mostly uphill, since Cana lies in the Galilean hill country while Capernaum is several hundred feet below sea level.” (Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: John, Acts, Pg 52)