Healing of Official's Son

Introduction

John 20:30–31 (ESV)

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Upon belief in Jesus, is a command and priority to witness to others of God’s gospel.

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

As we see Jesus second miracle in John we will see that Jesus miracle not only developed faith in the Father, but also his household.

The Event (John 4:43-49)

The Location (4:43–46)

John 4:43–46 (ESV)

43 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. 46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.

Cana, Galilee

Same place as water to wine. (46, 54)

Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for a festival. (John 2:13-3:36)

Returning to Galilee, he traveled through Samaria (4:1-42)

He was welcomed.

John 4:45 (ESV)

45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.

He was becoming known to people.

The encounter (4:47-49)

John 4:46–49 (ESV)

46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

Official (46)

Official - an official directly responsible to a king—‘royal official, official of a king.’ (Louw, Nida)

Traveled to Cana from Capernaum. (PP)

Seek healing for his son. (47)

Son was sick to the point that he would die.

He heard that Jesus came and believed he had the ability to heal his son.

Jesus’ Response (48)

“Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

Jesus is not rebuking the Official , but making a statement to all present. “you” is plural in both uses.

Jesus clears the temple (John 2)

John 2:18–19 (ESV)

18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

I agree with Warren Wiersbe’s assessment “John 4:48 was not a rebuke of this nobleman. Rather, it was our Lord’s lament at the spiritual condition of the people in general, both in Judea and Galilee. “Seeing is believing” has always been the “pragmatic” philosophy of the lost world, even the religious world.” (Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Vol. 1. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996. Print.)

Official asked again (49)

Sir - a title of respect used in addressing or speaking of a man—‘sir, mister.’ (Louw, Nida)

He is persistent in seeking Jesus to come with him to help his son.

Jesus (John 4:50)

The promise (4:50): Jesus says the boy will live.

John 4:50 (ESV)

50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

Jesus said. (50a)

“Go, your son will live.” He did not say, “He is healed.”

I find this more significant with what happens to the Official later in the account.

Grace

Undeserved favor

God is showing His grace to mankind in many ways.

Bible (Revelation)

Common life (breath, food, life, creation)

Jesus (Life, salvation, Gospel)

Withholding Judgment (God has the right to judge anyone at any time)

Exodus 34:6–8 (ESV)

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.

Part of God’s character is one of Grace, compassion, and Love.

Jesus is showing God’s grace to this official and his family by healing his son.

The Official believed Jesus’ Words. (50b)

“The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.”

Believed - to believe to the extent of complete trust and reliance—‘to believe in, to have confidence in, to have faith in, to trust, faith, trust.’ (Louw, Nida)

Believed the Words Jesus Spoke. I see the official leaving thinking that his son will get better and not end in death. I don’t see him thinking of a miracle.

The Official (John 4:51-54)

The physical restoration of the boy (4:51–53a)

John 4:51–53 (ESV)

As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.”

His Son was healed when Jesus spoke the words he believed.

The spiritual redemption of the household (4:53b–54)

John 4:53–54 (ESV)

The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

He believed.

Believed - to believe to the extent of complete trust and reliance—‘to believe in, to have confidence in, to have faith in, to trust, faith, trust.’ (Louw, Nida)

He left Jesus believing his Words, Now he believes in Jesus.

His Family Believed

The official, upon believing, passed on to his household what happened and his new belief. This passing on of what he learned and believe was a witness and worked in the belief of his family.

Life Plan - Keystone Habit #3

Sharing what we’re learning is a vital step in internalizing what we’re learning as well as adorning the Gospel we’re professing. Passing on Gospel truths is a key way for us to help families, including our own, win at life to the fourth generation. (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:1-2)

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (ESV)

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

2 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV)

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Takeaway

“Miracle 2 shows we are saved by grace through faith.” (Jack Kelley)

God is gracious to sinful mankind.

Withholding judgment and offering salvation instead.

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Accept the Gospel by faith and pass it on to others.

We need to respond to God’s grace of forgiveness of our sins through Jesus by faith.

We need to pass on to Family and others.