NOTES for Joh 4:43-54
43 Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. |
44 For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. |
45 Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast. |
46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. |
47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. |
48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. |
49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. |
50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. |
51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. |
52 Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. |
53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. |
54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee. |
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A certain important man, a royal official, comes to ask Jesus to heal his son. Jesus answers with words that, at first glance, carry a negative attitude toward what is happening; He said something similar to the Pharisees who tested Him (see Mark 8:12). But the royal official is moved by concern for his son, by the desire that his life continue. Jesus simply states a sad fact: without a miracle, it is hard to believe. And yet the Lord came to earth so that people would believe in Him.
The Lord's heart responds to the grief of a man who is losing his son, and He heals the young man. Not wanting to turn the healing into a loud, noisy event, Jesus sends the royal official home with only words about his son's recovery. And for the father He leaves room for spiritual growth - in faith. The royal official had to believe the Teacher's words and go home, even with the fear of finding his son already dead.
He also took the most important step on this path: he did not "steal" this miracle from the Lord. It would have been easy to think that the young man had finally taken a turn for the better. That is, after all, what the servants thought when they went to tell their master. It is sometimes easier for us to think that way too.
Readings for 16 March 2026
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