John 4:39-54
39 From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.”
40 So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.
41 Many more believed because of His word;
42 and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”
43 After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee.
44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.
45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast.
46 Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum.
47 When 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.
48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see asigns and wonders, you simply will not believe.”
49 The royal official *said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
50 Jesus *said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.
51 As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living.
52 So 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.”
53 So 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.
54 This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
Commentary
The people of Samaria heard the testimony of the woman and went to see who this person was that she posed the question: could this be the Messiah. Their belief in Jesus began with the word and testimony of the woman. But as they spent two days with Jesus there faith was now built directly on the words of Jesus Himself. In verse forty-two they state “we have heard ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world”.
Spending time with Jesus will change our lives. From this account of the women of the well and the people of Samaria coming to saving faith we see that the gospel of Jesus Christ and the gift of salvation is for all people. It is not merely for the Jews or the religious. Jesus is for all people but to receive Jesus one must place their faith and trust in Christ alone. It is not true that all ways lead to God. There is only one way that leads to God and His name is Jesus.
These people urged Him to stay two days with them. I can only imagine all the things that Christ shared with these people in two days. But what we see that truly transforms a person is the truth of God’s word revealed to the heart of a person. Sometimes we think that if a miracle happened that someone’s life would be changed. But honestly the greatest transformation happens when we simply spend time with Jesus. He desires to spend time with us. The Holy Spirit desires to teach us so much. Our Father in Heaven desires our company. Hopefully we have not allowed our lives to become so busy we have no room for the Lord.
Jesus spent two days with the Samaritans and now makes His way back to Galilee. It is here that Jesus will heal the son of a richman or nobleman. But one of the things we find is that Jesus rebukes His own people for their need for signs to come to faith. While those in Samaria who were not God’s covenant people simply came to saving faith based on the words of Jesus.
Jesus says that a prophet is without honor in His own hometown. Jesus had made this statement while in Nazareth (Mark 6:4, Matthew 13:57). Those in Nazareth simply viewed Jesus as the son of Joseph and Mary. Their unbelief caused Jesus to not do many miracles in their midst. One of the things we find in God’s word is that faith is essential to see the power and might of God displayed. Because of their unbelief, Jesus was rejected.
The Galileans receive Him because of the miracles they saw Jesus perform at the wedding. Turning water into wine had become well known and the news of it well circulated. But we must remember Jesus' words at the end of John gospel concerning those who come to belief and have not seen. They are more blessed than those who have seen and believed. What truly changes the heart and mind of a person is the truth of God’s word. Sadly, throughout His earthly ministry Jesus was rejected by His own people because in the end they rejected truth.
Jesus now returns to Cana of Galilee where He had turned the water to wine. People there were already made aware of what Jesus could do and most likely were continuing to talk about what had taken place at the wedding. But here we see that a nobleman’s son lay sick and it sets the stage for Jesus to heal. One thing we must always remember is that with Jesus there is always hope. No matter how desperate a situation looks, in the hands of Jesus, anything is possible.
This nobleman is in a desperate situation. Here we are told that his son is at the point of death. Before Jesus arrives this man is trying to figure out how to save his son. Upon hearing that Jesus has come into the area this man seeks Jesus for help. If Jesus is able to turn water into wine then surely he would be able to help his son.
Jesus brings a rebuke before he brings for healing. Jesus makes the statement “unless you people see signs and wonders you will by no means believe”. We must remember that a few days ago Jesus had gone through Samaria. With no signs performed, the Samaritans had come to saving faith. Jesus is now dealing with fellow Jews and rebukes them for their need for a sign to believe. Throughout its history the nation of Israel continually walked in unbelief. But even though Jesus brings a rebuke, He does not abandon the need that stands before Him.
The nobleman implores Jesus to come down before his child dies. Even if the child had died, Jesus could have brought the child back to life. For He is the author of life. But the earthly ministry of Jesus is only beginning. Everything John includes in his gospel is so that those who read it will come to believe. Every sign John highlights is to reveal who Jesus is and His full deity. Jesus isn’t just a great teacher or prophet. He is the Son of God, He is God Almighty.
To heal the child Jesus doesn’t need to lay hands on the child or even be in the presence of the child. Jesus simply says “go your way; your son lives”. At the spoken word of Jesus the man believed and went his way. How many of us are simply willing to stand upon the word of God and believe the Lord to do what He has said He will do. Jesus may have rebuked the people and even this father, for the need of a sign to believe, but Jesus never abandoned the child who was in need. Sometimes we wonder how much God loves us or if He is truly concerned with our needs. But no matter how great or small the Lord cares. Nothing is impossible for the Living God. The more time we spend in the Lord’s presence, the more faith and trust grows in the Lord.
The nobleman now returns to Capernaum. The trip from Cana to Capernaum would have been between eighteen to twenty-two miles by foot. Upon arriving home he is told the news that his son lives.
When the man inquired as to when his son began to get better and he recovered, the nobleman found that it was the same hour in which Jesus had spoken the words “go your way, your son lives”. Seeing that at Jesus words his son is healed, not only did this man come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, but his entire household.
John points out that this is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea in Galilee. We must remember that John wrote at the end of his gospel that if all the things that Jesus did were written down that there would not be enough books to record everything He did. John is numbering the signs he is highlighting according to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Every sign John includes in His gospel is to show that Jesus is God.
As we journey through the gospel of John we come to know who Jesus is. We come to know that He is not only the Son of God, but He is God. The concept of the trinity is something beyond our human understanding and mind. But throughout the gospel of John, Jesus refers to God as His Father. They are one and through Jesus we are brought into right relationship with God Almighty. As we grow each day in our relationship with Jesus we are eternally transformed. But the way we come to know Him is through His word with the help of the Holy Spirit.
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