John • #2 of 7 signs

John 4:46-54 • The healing of the Nobleman's son...

• John's motivation to write? That we might receive eternal life by believing in Jesus.

John 20:30-31 → 30Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

• The signs that John mentions are 7 which he recorded in his gospel. They are...

► Sign 1, Water to Wine, Jesus is the master of the ELEMENTS → John 2:1-12

► Sign 2, Nobleman's Son, Jesus is the master over DISTANCE → John 4:46-54

► Sign 3, Lame Man at Bethesda, Jesus is the master over TIME → John 5:1-18

► Sign 4, Feeding of 5,000+, Jesus is the master over DIMENSION → John 6:1-15

► Sign 5, Jesus walks on water, Jesus is the master over NATURE → John 6:15-21

► Sign 6, The Man Born Blind, Jesus is the master over HISTORY → John 9:1-41

► Sign 7, The Raising of Lazarus, Jesus is the master over DEATH → John 11:1-46

• Sign 2, Nobleman's Son, Jesus is the master over DISTANCE

John 4:46-54 → 46Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine.

• Like returning to the scene of the crime, both of Jesus' 1st two signs happened in the same place.

• Jesus had just returned to this area from Jerusalem where He had entertained the questions of Nicodemus, confusing him by telling him that "you must be born again" (John 3:1-21).

► We can only guess at Nic's response at the time, but later we will see that he helped prepare Jesus' body for burial after the crucifixion.

•He had also stopped in Samaria, where He told the woman at the well, when she mentioned to Him that "the Messiah is coming", that "I who speak to you am He" (John 4:4-42).

► We do know that not only did the woman believe, but she introduced Jesus to the men of the city and many would come to Christ at that time.

And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.

• "Royal official" probably someone in the service of Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee.

• "Capernaum" - this city is about 16 miles away in a straight line, but more than likely, based on current roads, the actual trip to see Jesus would have probably been more like 27 miles. Even on horseback this trip would have taken several hours.

► Also keep in mind that Cana would have been about 1,138 ft in elevation. The Sea of Galilee is at -695 ft. Meaning that in addition to the miles to travel to the west, he'd also have to go uphill almost 2,000 ft.

48So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”

• It appears that Jesus was frustrated with the repeated requests to perform signs, but apparently with little regard for understanding just who the Healer was. One might question why Jesus was reacting this way when this is only His 2nd miracle, but keep in mind, it's only the 2nd one that is recorded in this gospel. He performed many, many others.

49The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

• The official's request is simple and direct - "Sir, come down before my child dies." He clearly believes that whatever ails his son is fatal. But he also clearly believes that Jesus can do something about it, if He can only get to Capernaum in time.

50Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.”

• Jesus' response is equally simple and direct - "Go; your son lives." Again, no fanfare, or combination of chants, or waving of wands, just a simple statement.

The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.

• The man's response is awesome. No cajoling to try to get Jesus to come. No begging and pleading for Him to lay hands on the child. He just started back, having believed Jesus words, and anticipating seeing the results with his own eyes.

51As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living.

• Some of his servants met him on the road to tell him the good news that his son had been healed.

52So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household.

• When the official had confirmed not only that his son lived, but that he had been restored to health at exactly the same moment that Jesus had spoken those words, "your son lives", at that moment I think that his belief went beyond just a confidence that Jesus had the power to heal, but now extended to a saving trust in Jesus as his Lord and Savior. And the evidence led all of his household to believe also!

54This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

• I think that people today fall into the category of the members of the household. None of us have personally heard Jesus command disease, or dismemberment, or death to be rebuked, but we can read these stories, and like the members of the royal official's household, we can choose to acknowledge that Jesus is more than just a super hero. Jesus is our Savior and Lord, and with our trust in Him, envelopes us with eternal life.

• Jesus is the master over DISTANCE

“Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995

by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org”