John 4:43-54

Jesus Heals an Official's Son

43 After spending two days there, Jesus left and went to
Galilee. 44 For he himself had said, “Prophets are not respected
in their own country.” 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the
people there welcomed him, because they had gone to the
Passover Festival in Jerusalem and had seen everything that he
had done during the festival.
46 Then Jesus went back to Cana in Galilee, where he had
turned the water into wine. A government official was there
whose son was sick in Capernaum. 47 When he heard that
Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and
asked him to go to Capernaum and heal his son, who was about
to die. 48 Jesus said to him, “None of you will ever believe
unless you see miracles and wonders.”
49 “Sir,” replied the official, “come with me before my child
dies.”
50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live!”
The man believed Jesus' words and went. 51 On his way home
his servants met him with the news, “Your boy is going to live!”
52 He asked them what time it was when his son got better,
and they answered, “It was one o'clock yesterday afternoon
when the fever left him.” 53 Then the father remembered that
it was at that very hour when Jesus had told him, “Your son will
live.” So he and all his family believed.
54 This was the second miracle that Jesus performed after
coming from Judea to Galilee.

Do not fear God is in control.

After the events surrounding the Samaritan woman at the well,
Jesus stayed two days (John 4:43)

He went on to Galilee, where He had been headed earlier (John

4:1-4)

(John 4:44) "For he himself had said, “Prophets are not

respected in their own country.” 
What was “His own country”?
Some think it was Judea, explaining why He left
But Jn 4:1-4 shows He left Judea because He was too popular,
causing Pharisees to be jealous

Some think it was Galilee, explaining why He had not done

many miracles there

Doesn’t exactly match the words used speaking of honor

Probably it was Nazareth based on Lk 4:16-30

Explaining why He didn’t go to that city

Cana John 4:46 Cana, about 8 kms north of Nazareth

He passed by Nazareth People knew Him from miracles done at
the feast (Passover) As well as the miracle at the wedding feast
in Cana (Jn 2:1-11) Was not well-known at the time, but word
has spread
Capernaum, believed to be near north coast of Sea of Galilee,
abt 32 kms NE of Cana A bigger city, had a tax office and a
Roman garrison

Official or Nobleman – anyone connected to the ruling house

(Herod Antipas) Could be a relative Could be an officer Some
think it might have been Chuza, Herod’s steward (Lk 8:3)

The nobleman’s son John 4:46-47

Imagine yourself in the nobleman’s place. Your son is dying,
doctors are helpless, your wife is crying.
All options are gone, you are ready to take any chance. Then
you hear Jesus is back in Galilee Heard of His miracle in Cana
Heard of His miracles in Judea Too important a mission to send
a servant He goes to get Jesus Cana is physically uphill, so he
begs Jesus to come down to Capernaum

Jesus’ response John 4:48

Jesus doesn’t answer the appeal at first
Makes a statement questioning the motive behind the request
Are you just wanting a sign?
Jn 2:18 – the Jewish leaders wanted signs before accepting
Jesus as having authority Jesus wanted people to believe in Him

John 6:29, 20:30-31 Miracles were a means of confirming who

He was Not a ‘sideshow’ or ‘speedy clinic’ So is the nobleman
asking because he believes or because he is desperate for a
cure?
he response John 4:49 The nobleman merely repeats his plea
He is desperate He does believe Jesus can help Perhaps he can’t
think of anyway to show his belief without requiring a sign to
be done in Capernaum

Go your way John 4:50 Jesus tells him to go home, “Your son
lives”
Now he is faced with the question of beliefHe had meant for
Jesus to come with him and do something to heal the childNow
Jesus says the child is wellIt’s a full day’s walk to get back and if
he’s still sick, another two days to come back to Cana and
returnDoes he believe in Jesus without a sign?
He does believe, and starts down, apparently walking through
the night

The healing
John 4:51-53On the way down, he meets some of his servants
on their way up “Your son lives!” is their greeting Unknowingly
echoing the exact words of JesusHe asks when his son began to
improve A natural healing takes time He might think, ‘Perhaps
Jesus was only telling me that my son was recovering on his
own’ Servants say the fever left him at a certain time Sudden
healing so that they could say, 1:00 pm The exact time Jesus
spoke, and his faith grew

What does this incident teach us?

Jesus’ primary concern is your soul Not your health (2 Cor 12:7-
10)Not your wealth (Mt 6:24)Not your relationships (Mt 10:34-
39,12:46-50) Examples: Thief on the cross (Lk 23:39-43)Didn’t
save his life, but saved his soul James and John (Mt 20:20-23,
26-28)Not concerned with their desire for greatness, but in
their godly service The woman at the well (Jn 4:1-26)Not
interested in her gender, her nationality, etc, but interested in
saving her soul

Jesus’ power is astonishing When you want to know something

will be done properly, you ask for a demonstration Jesus
demonstrated His power Over the elements of matter (Jn
2)Over physical ailments, distance and time (Jn 4)Over physical
laws – feeding 5000, walking on water (Jn 6)Over death (Jn
11)So when He says (Eph 3:20-21)You can believe He can do as
He says His power is astonishing! He can and will keep His
promises

Jesus is not a respecter of persons No special treatment of this

nobleman Didn’t go out of his way to accompany him Jms 2:1-9
– Christians are to show no partiality Gal 3:27-29 – all are equal
in Christ

What does this incident teach us?

Jesus’ power is astonishing
When you want to know something will be done properly, you
ask for a demonstration
Jesus demonstrated His power Over the elements of matter (Jn
2)
Over physical ailments, distance and time
(Jn 4)Over physical laws – feeding 5000, walking on water (Jn
6)Over death (Jn 11)So when He says (Eph 3:20-21)You can
believe He can do as He saysHis power is astonishing!He can
and will keep His promises

15 Conclusion Jesus wants you to believe so that you can be

saved
That’s His, and should be our, top priority
That’s true regardless of who you are (or aren’t)
And He has the power to bring about our salvation
As well as to bless us in so many waysWon’t you come to Him
now?

Father, I come to you today with faith so small that sometimes I

cannot see a way. I want to believe You can do more than I ever
imagine. I want to walk by faith and not by sight. God, please
bring a miracle into my life. I know that you can do the
impossible in my life and I am trusting in your promises. Thank
you for being a God who sees and hears my every need. In
Jesus' name, amen. 

What's the lowest point in your life that you surrender

everything to God, you are asking for His miracle and allow Him
to take control of everything?