November 1, 2016
THE CLIFF IS CLOSE, JESUS IS CLOSER
John 4:46–54
Marshall Nunley
Central Truth
A desperate plea for healing meets the right person at the right time. Did the place matter? Of course not! It's Jesus.
Key Verse | John 4:50
Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. (John 4:50)
John 4:46–54
Jesus Heals an Official's Son
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 1 4:48 The Greek for you is plural; twice in this verse see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 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. 51 As he was going down, his servants 2 4:51 Or bondservants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour 3 4:52 That is, at 1 p.m. the fever left him.” 53 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. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
Dive Deeper | John 4:46–54
Before the interaction in this short section of Scripture occurs, there are a few scene-setting items to note:
1. Something amazing has already occurred in this small town—namely, instant wine.
2. This is no ordinary dude coming to Jesus, but rather a royal official with legal authority over him, approaching him in submission.
3. Oh, and the official's problem is really in Capernaum, which may have been almost a 20-mile walk away. Hey, at least it’s downhill!
The encounter begins when Jesus addresses both the official and the people around him in verse 48. In those days, there was often a “seeing is believing” mentality among the people (similar idea: John 2:18; 6:30; 20:29). Here's a quote that has stuck with me: “A wise person learns from his own mistakes, but an even wiser one learns from the mistakes of others.” I often believe the lies that I could never commit adultery or murder someone or that I am actually a good person. But learning from the mistakes of others (Cain/Esau/David/Solomon) teaches me that I am one step from the edge of the cliff. The only thing keeping me from falling is the blood of Jesus on the cross and the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit that intercedes when my flesh fails me.
The response from the official is one of desperation, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” (Verse 49) He is clinging to Jesus as his last hope. There is no Plan B. The official likely exhausted all his son's options in Capernaum given the fact that he was willing to travel so far to find Jesus.
So when Jesus says “Go” (verse 50) with the assurance that He's healed the son from miles away, the official went! Scripture says the official believed what Jesus said and went to be reunited with his son. He believed; that's it.
The only way the official leaves without Jesus coming in contact with his boy is that he believes in the authority of Jesus' word. Notice that the official believed Jesus' word without believing in Him as his Savior. At first, he believed the message and not the Messenger, then he and all his household came to believe both (verse 53).
Discussion Questions
1. Do you have to see everything to believe it? You may have never seen Antarctica in person, but you most likely believe it exists because of maps, pictures, and others' experiences. Today, we have the testimony of people (1 John 5:6-12), God’s Word (Gen-Rev), His Creation (Romans 1:20), and historical records pointing to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Why is it so much easier to believe Antarctica exists than a Savior who came and died for you and me?
2. This encounter takes some major faith on behalf of the official. Do you have faith that can move mountains? (Matt 21:21) How do you really know the kind of faith you have? (Mark 4:35-41; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 4:13-25; 1 Timothy 1:5; Hebrews 11)
3. Do you believe in the authority of His Word? If not, why not? If so, are you obeying it?