Even noblemen need Jesus

 

4v43-54   Return to Galilee   The second sign

It is well documented that Galilee was Jesus’ “own country”, the place where He was brought up and where He was best known-Matthew 13v54-57; Mark 6v1-4; Luke 4v23-24; John 4v44.  Country is native or father land.  The inference here is that Jesus had left Galilee because they had not honoured Him as they should, following Him for the miracles, rather than for who He was in person.  He returns home after a spell away, and His reception by them is a little better, although not as pronounced as in Samaria.  The Galileans accepted Him for His works, not for His words. 

He comes to Cana where He performed the first miracle, and now He will perform the second sign(miracle).  The result of this sign was that the nobleman believed-v53; the result of the first sign was that His disciples believed-2v11.  This is the theme of this gospel, the manifestation of who He is and people’s belief in Him.  

“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.  When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea to into Galilee, he went out to Him and besought Him that he would come down and heal his son:  for he was at the point of death.”

The nobleman (a government official) walked about 20 miles to see Jesus and addressed him as "Sir." This tells us that even though the man had legal authority, he was submitting to Jesus. The man travelled this distance to ask Jesus to cure his son, who was very sick and near death.

We note a number of things in this account.  The officer believed Jesus could heal and acted in that faith.  However his faith differs from the Samaritans in that the word of Jesus was enough for them- 4v41; the nobleman wanted Jesus to travel the distance to his son.  Jesus said “Except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe.”

In the original Greek, Jesus' meaning in this verse is easier to see.  The word "you" or “ye” in English can refer to a single person or a group of people. The Greek terms used in this verse are plural: Jesus is saying, "you people" want signs and miracles. His criticism is not of this man alone, but of the general attitude people have toward faith. This was a common problem in Jesus' day-Matthew 16v1–4 and is common in ours as well.

Jesus' approach here is meant to show the difference between "knowledge" and "faith." Biblical faith is really trust—it is not enough to know something, one has to rely on it, and act in accordance with it.  Christ often made comments that seem blunt, dismissive, or even bizarre at first Matthew 15v26; John 4v17–18; John 6v51.  His remarks always had a purpose, however and mostly, this was meant to cause the other person to reveal their true intentions.  Jesus is setting up a spiritual challenge for this man: are you willing to really trust me, without seeing proof, or not -John 4v49–50.  The man believed Jesus could heal his son but only if He was near him. The point of the story is that distance is no barrier to the master-healer.  He said “Go thy way thy son liveth.”
The man believed Jesus' word and went back to Capernaum, persuaded that his son was healed.  He was greeted with the news, as he arrived back home that his son was well just as Jesus had said.  Upon enquiring when his son was healed, he noted it was at same hour that Jesus had spoken.  As a result of the nobleman's testimony, his whole household believed.  His own faith was strengthened, and the event is great affirmation of the power of Jesus.  The point of the healing of the nobleman’s son is that distance is no barrier to the majestic son of God.  At His word, the disease was cured.