Bible Study Weekend - John 4:43-54
John 4:43-54 (New International Version)
Jesus Heals the Official's Son
43After the two days he left for Galilee. 44(Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there.
46Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
48"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."
49The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."
50Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour."
53Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed.
54This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.
Questions:
1. Jesus has the power to heal. Share the testimony of God's healing power in your life or someone you know.
2. What can we learn from this passage?
3. Why do you think Jesus points out that a prophet has no honour in his own country?
Comments
2. Jesus is able to heal completely, just by the power of His word.
3. This is an interesting question. It's like when we, as Christians, try to minister to our own family and they reject us. It's as though they cannot believe that the Lord would anoint us to preach, teach and/or minister-that He would not pour out such blessings on us or choose us. Then when we try to minister to someone outside our circle, they receive from us without such reservations. I think this is what Jesus meant when He referred to a prophet having no honour in his own country.
Q2: This passage shows us that the Lord is pleased by simple faith. The moment we ask for something, with simple trust and faith, He is able to deliver what we ask for, before we even see it manifested. He can also heal without actually orchestrating human contact, although in some cases He does choose to work through the laying on of hands. This passage also shows us that Jesus and His Word are dependable: whatever He says He will do, He will be sure to do.
Q3: When people are comfortable or familiar with us, they are less likely to show us the respect that would have been afforded us if we were unfamiliar to them, yet held a position of authority or honour.
Here is a note from an online commentary I saw, that was ver interesting:
Jesus then performs the second miracle that is called a “sign” (John 4:54, see Signs in the Gospel of John). Jesus’ interrupted journey has been completed, and he arrives to a warm welcome in Galilee (John 4:43-45). Although John 4:44 holds an ominous hint at future rejection. Jesus returns to the site of his first “sign” (cf. John 2:1-11) and is met by a Royal Official who had heard of Jesus previous miracles, and travelled from Capernaum (about 14 hours’ travel[3]) to ask him to heal his Son. The Official appears to show no interest in the usual questions of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah, but is only interested in his healing abilities. This causes Jesus to comment on the need of the people to see miracles before they believe (John 4:48). This, coupled with the previous negative statement about his home town (John 4:44) suggests that the people of Galilee had faith in Jesus’ miracles, rather than in his identity as the Messiah. [4] Jesus heals the child with a word, and sends the man home. When he hears of the miracle, the man and his whole household believed.
It is possible that this man was a Gentile member of the court of Herod Antipas.[5] If so, this miracle shows a progression over the past two chapters: Jesus first talks to a Jewish religious official, then to a Samaritan woman, then to a Gentile. This progression matches the paradigmic statement of Acts 1:8, and the expansion of God’s grace from being a Jewish privilege to an offer to the whole world.
Marsalia Largaespada
Thank you so much for your encouragement. We have been so blessed by the Lord to be able to do this. We hope that it ministers to God's people. Welcome to BGO!!