YOUR SON WILL LIVE

Passage: John 4:43-54

Key verse: 50

NIV

Jesus Heals an Official’s Son

43 After the two days(A) he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)(B) 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival,(C) for they also had been there.

46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine.(D) And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea,(E) he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,”(F) Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”

The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”

53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household(G) believed.

54 This was the second sign(H) Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

43 After (A)the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified (B)that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, (C)having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For (D)they too had gone to the feast.

Jesus Heals an Official's Son

46 So he came again to (E)Cana in Galilee, (F)where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus (G)had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, (H)“Unless you[a] see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down (I)before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants[b] met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour[c] the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, (J)and all his household. 54 (K)This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

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Footnotes
  1. John 4:48 The Greek for you is plural; twice in this verse
  2. John 4:51 Or bondservants
  3. John 4:52 That is, at 1 p.m.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus returned to Galilee and was met by a large crowd. They had witnessed his miracles, but Jesus knew they still did not believe in him. Our faith must not only come from witnessing miracles but through the word of God. A royal official approached Jesus, pleading for healing for his dying son. Jesus challenged the man by saying that unless they saw miracles and signs, they would never believe.

The royal official persisted. He begged Jesus to go with him. Instead, Jesus said, “You may go. Your son will live” (50). The man took Jesus at this word and obeyed. On his way back to Capernaum, the man’s servants met him with news that his son was alive! The fever left at the same time Jesus told the man he could go. What changed the situation was this man’s obedience and attitude to Jesus’ words. When he believed, his son was healed.

In desperate situations, we long for a miracle or a sign of assurance. In such moments, we can put our expectation, hope, and faith in Jesus by taking him at his word. Heaven and earth will pass away, but Jesus promised that his word will never pass away (Mt 24:35)! His word makes the dead come alive and heals the sick. May our faith be rooted in the word of Jesus.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for seeking a sign from you. You have given me your life-giving word. May I accept your words today.

One Word: Take Jesus at this word