The Healing of the Nobleman’s Son

43 Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee.

44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.

1. (verses 43-44) Why did Jesus testify that a prophet has no honor in his own country? Why would this be?

We know from Luke 4:22-30 and Mark 6:1-6 that some of the people of Nazareth were offended by Christ and did not believe in him. So the question might be asked why did he return to his own country? Perhaps these verses refer to the fact that Jesus was going to a different part of Galilee than Nazareth. Or it might be that Jesus was giving these people another chance to accept his ministry.

Barnes remarks, "Everywhere else he had been more honoured than at home. There they knew his family; they had seen his humble life; they had been his companions; they were envious of his wisdom, and too proud to be taught by him."

45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.

2. (verse 45) Why did the Galileans receive him now? What wrong motives do people have today for seeking Christ? What is more important to you – what God can do for you, or what you can do for God?

The Galileans had rejected Christ before, but now they had heard about the great miracles Jesus performed in Jerusalem. So they flocked to him hoping to see the spectacular. There are many people today seeking Christ for the wrong reasons. There are those today who are looking for the spectacular as well. God will perform miracles, but he doesn’t want us flocking to be entertained by them. He wants us to come to him because we love him. Too many modern Christians are more interested in what God can do for them instead of what they can do for God. Jesus wants us to be willing to minister to others and be a blessing as we share his love. If all we ever do is seek an "experience" with God, how can we ever be helping others. Quite frankly, the greatest blessings come when we are willing to help others and see God work through us to touch other lives.

46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.

3. (verse 46) What occurred at Cana of Galilee earlier? Why was it so significant?

Remember, in our study of John chapter 2 we learned about Christ’s first miracle of turning the water into wine when he and his disciples were at the wedding celebration. Now he was back in Cana and about to perform his second miracle in the area. Since Christ performed two miracles here, it seems that this city was highly favored. Cana probably comes from the Hebrew qana which means reeds or city of reeds. It was a lush area with abundant water.

Both times Christ visited, there was a large crowd – the first time for the marriage feast, and this time to hear Jesus, the church’s bridegroom. Both times there were people that didn’t understand Christ’s miracles, but there were those who did. The first time it was the servants who realized the true miracle of the wine, and this time it is the nobleman who witnesses the miracle of healing. It is interesting that the Hebrew word qana is used in Isaiah 42:3 in the prophecy of the coming servant, "A bruised reed He will not break...." Jesus was that coming servant. He did not come to break the reeds, but to minister among the reeds. And that’s what he did in Cana, the city of reeds.

47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

4. (verse 47) Why do you think the nobleman came to Christ?

I believe there are three reasons the nobleman came to Christ. 1. He had heard about Christ’s healing power. 2. He had faith that Christ could heal his son. 3. He loved his son and was willing to do whatever was necessary to help him. All three of those elements were necessary. Many have heard that Jesus heals, but unless they believe it, they are probably not going to do anything about it. Others have faith in Christ, but they have never heard that God wants to heal them, so they never reach out to him in faith. Still others have heard about Christ’s healing and have faith that he can do the work, but are not willing to take the steps to come before God and ask as the nobleman asked for his son.

48 Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."

5. (verse 48) Do you think Christ was rebuking the nobleman? Who do you think Jesus was talking to? Why do you think he said this?

I don’t believe Christ is rebuking the nobleman, but the crowd. However, I do believe Jesus was preparing the nobleman for what was to follow. The crowd had come to see miracles. MacDonald comments, "It is characteristic of man that he wants to see before he believes. But the Lord Jesus teaches us that we should first believe, and then we will see."

49 The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!"

6. (verse 49) What does this verse tell you about the nobleman’s love for his son? What extraordinary things have you done for your children?

Here we see the nobleman’s great love and concern for his son. The father wanted this healing for his son very much. He was willing to travel a great distance, endure hardship, and even suffer ridicule. How much do we love our family? Are we willing to pray for them daily? Are we willing to make the difficult decisions to help our children to be trained according to God’s teachings? Are we willing to go the extra mile?

50 Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.

7. (verse 50) What is the significance of the phrase "the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him"? Do you have difficulty accepting God’s promises on faith?

When Jesus rebuked the crowd for wanting to see signs and wonders, I believe Christ was also preparing the nobleman to receive this word. Notice this verse tells us "the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him." What tremendous faith this man had. He did not need Christ to come and lay hands on his son. He did not need Christ to make a long and official-sounding prayer. He simply believed the words of Jesus. As the Believer’s Bible Commentary tells us, "Without any miracle or visible proof, the man believed the word of the Lord Jesus and started for home. That is faith in action!"

Do you have difficulty accepting God’s promises? Are you plagued by doubts and confusion? Are you waiting for a sign or miracle to confirm your faith? God has given us so many wonderful promises in the Bible if we would only accept them and believe them. Take those promises from God’s word, latch onto them, make them your own, and go in faith as the father did. Christ is still healing the body, healing the mind, and healing the spirit. Will you believe his promises?

51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!"

52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."

53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household.

8. (verses 51-53) In verse 52, why do you think the nobleman asked about the hour of his son’s healing? In verse 53, what would influence all the nobleman’s household to believe in Christ?

I find this fascinating that the father inquired concerning the hour of his son’s healing. He was so assured of Christ’s promise that he wanted to confirm the very hour of the healing. I’m sure he was filled with joy over the healing, but notice his focus is on the truth of Christ’s words. It’s as if he wishes to confirm that his son was healed at the very time that Jesus spoke the words. Indeed, his faith is confirmed.

MacDonald points out, "This should encourage all Christians in their prayer life. We have a mighty God who hears our requests and who is able to work out His purposes in any part of the world at any time."

Now the joy for his son turns to praise toward God’s son. He now has the assurance that God not only loves his son, but also him. He senses God’s presence, and he can’t help but share this new-found joy with his family. The result is the whole family turns their heart to God. What a wonderful testimony of the power of family members sharing their faith with each other.

54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

9. (verse 54) What does it mean that this is the second sign? Didn’t Jesus perform a lot of miracles in Jerusalem?

Notice that John calls this the second sign when Jesus came out of Judea and went into Galilee. We assume Christ performed many miracles in Jerusalem. But this miracle was special because it was in his home country of Galilee. Jesus’ headquarters was in Capernaum, and he was born in Nazareth, and now he has performed two miracles in Cana. It is exciting to hear about God’s blessings on other churches across the country or even in other nations. But it is especially moving when we see God work in our own church and in our own lives. It makes us realize that God loves us, small and insignificant that we may appear, as much as he loves anybody else.

Footnotes:

Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament pg. 66, Kregel Publications



	A Study of John 4:43-54