John 4:43-5443Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. 44For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honor in his own country. 45Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast. 46So 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. 47When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea 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. 48Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. 49The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50Jesus 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. 51And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 52Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 53So 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. 54This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judea into Galilee. (John 4:43‑54)
There is not much told about this boy, only that he was so sick, he was “at the point of death”, then suenly he was made well, His home was in a town near the Sea of Galilee, and it must have been a good home, for his father was a noblan, one in a high position with the ruler, but the best home cannot keep illness or death away.
It is not told if this man had seen Jesus, but he had heard of the great things He had done in Jerusalem, and that He was on the way back to Galilee, and he thought He could save his son, and started himSelf to ask Him.
It was at the town of Cana that the father met Jesus, and begged Him to come to heal his son. The location of the towns is not certain now, so we do not know just the distance, but it was not very near, as the man could. not get back that same night, All the people were anxious for Jesus to do for them, without thinking much of Who He must be, or of bow caress they had been of God’s words: and Jesus said to the man, “Except ye see signs and wonders ye will not bieve.”
Still the man thought only of his sick son and said, “Sir, come down ere my child die.”
The Lord Jesus cured the boy, though He did not go with the father; He simply said to him, “Go thy way; thy son liveth.”
The man believed the words of Jesus, and did not keep on asking Him to come with him, but started back to his home. The next day as he was returning, servants from his home came to him and said, “Thy son liveth!”
The father at once asked they: what hour his boy became better, ay they told him, the hour the fever him, and the man knew that was time Jesus said to him in Cana, “The son liveth.”
When the man told his family and the servants what Jesus had said, they all believed on Him, and later when Jesus was in that town and near there so much, they must have gone to see Him, and to hear His words and they learned of Him as the One to save their souls from God’s punishment of sins, that would be more wonderful to know.
It is hard to have fevers and pains or to see those we love ill, as that was, yet the time has not come for all to be free of illness. This teaches us that even then, God wanted the people who knew His words to think more of Who had come to earth, His Son, than of cures for themselves. Though His word tells to ask His help in all troubles and to trust His will.
ML 07/28/1946