The Miracles of Jesus Part 2: The Healing of an Official’s Son
The Miracles of Jesus Part 2: The Healing of an Official’s Son
John 4:46-54 Believe without Signs and Wonders! Know that Jesus is there for the happiest occasions AND the most distressing trials in our lives.
“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. 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. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” The royal official *said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus *said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. 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.” 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. This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.”
John 4:46-54 NASB1995
According to my list of miracles, this long-distance healing is the second one documented in the Gospel of John and is believed to be the second sign and wonder formally documented in the Gospels; as I noted before, there were likely many other miracles before this point, because Jesus’ reputation as a healer is becoming widespread, but I’m relying on the “official” lists to help me with this series.
To set the context, Jesus and His disciples have just returned to the Cana area in Galilee after having traveled into Samaria, where our Lord has His encounter with the woman at the well and many Samaritans are brought to belief, without evidence of any miracles occurring. Jesus was, at this point, likely already living in Capernaum and has realized that He has no home or honor in His own country (Nazareth).
The royal official comes to Him while He is still in Cana, obviously in a hurry due to the urgency of the situation. The use of the term “royal official”, according to several Biblical commentators I read, meant that he was probably part of the court of Herod Antipas. He comes himself, rather than sending a servant, and asks Jesus to come with him back to Capernaum because his son is very ill. Jesus responds in a way that is startling - He rebukes this person in no uncertain terms. Here is what David Guzik says about our Lord’s response:
Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe: Jesus rebuked those who depended on signs and wonders before they would believe. It might seem that Jesus was harsh towards this man who wanted his son healed, but He encountered many in Galilee who were interested only in His miracles – He therefore questioned this man accordingly.
Signs and wonders can lead a person towards belief in God, and can validate a heavenly messenger – but they can also have no effect on a person, and Satan can also use lying signs and wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
Signs and wonders from God are obviously good things, but they should not form the foundation of our faith. We should not depend on them to prove God to us. In themselves, signs and wonders cannot change the heart; Israel saw incredible signs at Mount Sinai and even heard the very voice of God (Exodus 19:16-20:1), yet a short time later they worshipped a gold calf (Exodus 32:1-6).
“These words imply the contrast between the Samaritans, who believed because of His word, and the Jews who would not believe but through signs and prodigies.” (Henry Alford)
The royal official appeared to take no offense and he asks Jesus to come with him to his son. So there are two things so far that we can glean from this encounter: Jesus wants people to believe without having to resort to seeing signs and wonders and the royal official has faith only so far that he believes that Jesus can heal, but that He must be there in person for that miracle to happen.
When Jesus replies, “Go; your son lives”, something must happen to the official that instantly relieves him of his distress. He ran to Jesus at Cana (quite a distance) and now leisurely returns to Capernaum, where he meets his servants along the way and they confirm that the son was healed at the exact time the day before when the official was talking to Jesus.
His whole family now believes and the incredible power of our Lord is clearly demonstrated. Jesus eliminated time as a factor in the miracle of the water to wine, bypassing the complexity and duration of the wine-making process. He eliminated space as a factor in this miracle, showing that His healing power is not limited by distance or having to see the person being healed. Here’s a great summary to this second miracle, again from David Guzik:
This again is the second sign: In the Gospel of John the signs are given to lead the reader to faith (John 20:29-31). The relation between belief and signs is clear in John chapter 2 and chapter 4.
· The first sign persuaded His disciples.
· The second sign persuaded a Jewish nobleman and his household.
· The Samaritans believed without a sign.
The first two signs in the Gospel of John took place at Cana of Galilee. The first was at the best party ever – a wedding party. The second was connected with the worst tragedy ever – the illness and soon [to come] death of a child. Jesus is real in both aspects.
Can you have faith without signs and wonders? Be like a Samaritan! Jesus will perform many more miracles, some in front of His worst critics, who were not persuaded in the least, but accused Him of being a demon or worse and hastened to bring about His death. Jesus could stand in front of a crowd in Times Square tonight and perform signs and wonders and would be believed by some, mocked by others, and cause terror in a few more (and probably many 911 calls). Some will still believe tomorrow but, sadly, many others will return to their Golden Calves of distractions and idols from this life.
In this day and age of armchair quarterbacks who are cynical and so self-righteous about every single event that happens, can we let a miracle through? Do we believe we are healed or do we “reason” our way out of the supernatural? Or will the naysayers (led by many alleged believers) gain the upper hand and squash a manifestation of God’s power like a bug or at least make sure that it is not discussed?
I have seen things recently that tell me that God’s power is moving through people and places, but I might be told I’m not “discerning” enough or I’m easily fooled or I’m in the wrong type of church or follow the wrong “orthodoxies”. Yes, pray for discernment and check everything against His Word, but also have that childlike wonder that acknowledges that the God of the Universe that loves us is indeed POWERFUL!
My next devotional examines a miracle documented in the Gospels of Mark and Luke: Jesus Drives out an Evil Spirit from a Man in Capernaum.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear God, Creator of the Universe - I am in awe and fear of your incredible, infinite power! Please help my belief to go beyond signs and wonders to a unshakeable faith in You and Your Word, but also help me to see your signs manifested in this fallen world. In Jesus Name. Amen.
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
Commentary by David Guzik on Enduring Word is used with written permission.