Jesus just had a wonderful ministry in Samaria and other places outside of his hometown. Nicodemus, women at the well. Now he is returning home. Jesus knows the people’s hearts. They will welcome him, but not with honor, not in the right way, but with improper motives. This is the scenario that leads up to Jesus’ second miracle in John.
John 4:46-54
So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. 48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. 49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. 54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.
A person in need of help.
We Have no idea who this man was (vs. 46). The Greek word used, “basilikos” just means the subject of the king. He could have been a royal advisor, accountant, worker, or someone of importance in King Herod Antipas government. We do not know who he was, but we are aware of the one he would seek for help. This man found Jesus because he had heard of the other miracles Jesus had performed. He knew that his son would die unless Jesus healed him. It was the only way, and he came to Jesus with faith for this healing.
However, Jesus did not seem like He was going to help this man’s son. What was going on in this situation? Jesus was aware of the traps his hometown had fallen into concerning His fame. They were proud of their relation to someone special. We do this as well. A sense of pride can be found among believers in an individual church, movement, song style, methodology, preacher, or singer. Jesus’ followers had fallen into the trap of feeling entitled. They felt that Jesus owed them miracles. Falling headfirst, they only wanted Jesus because of the miracles He could perform.
Jesus, the giver of good gifts.
This man pressed on that he needed Jesus to heal his son or else he would die. What Jesus did next was perform a miracle even though the man was not seeking Christ for salvation. Jesus gave a good gift even when he is disappointed with the majority of people’s motive. Grace that healed, regardless of the distance, immediately. The man’s son was healed, and the man went home trusting that the healing had taken place while he was with Jesus.
While the man may have been seeking only a miracle, no doubt, his faith on Jesus increased. Scripture goes on to say that after arriving home and finding his son alive and well, the man and his whole house believed in Jesus. Romans 2:4 says, “despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” The everyday gifts from God that sustain life and the supernatural works of God are given to us from the Lord to strengthen our faith and draw us closer to him.
Proverbs 3:5 reads, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Don’t be afraid to cry out to God. Call on God first and seek Him early. Not a last resort but as the only one. The Lord is full of goodness and mercy. His grace is sufficient for salvation and for every need that we have on a daily basis.
Jeremy Kamer Ministries 