(I want to acknowledge the source of most of the material for these lessons is found in: The Miracles of Jesus Christ by Rick Renner. These video lessons can be found on Renner.org and on YouTube.)
John 21:25 NKJV And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
What Jesus did, He still does!
As we study these miracles of Jesus, I want us to remember that Jesus WANTS to move on our behalf. All He is looking for is FAITH.
Jesus always sought to move the people He was ministering to, to a place of faith where they could receive from Him what He desired to do.
(I want to acknowledge the source of most of the material for these lessons is found in: The Miracles of Jesus Christ by Rick Renner. These video lessons can be found on Renner.org and on YouTube.)
Jesus Heals a Nobleman’s Son
SCRIPTURES AND SYNOPSIS
The emphasis of this lesson:
The second miracle that Jesus did when He came into Galilee was healing the sick son of a nobleman from Capernaum. In addition to the son’s miraculous healing, the nobleman and his whole house surrendered their lives to the Lordship of Jesus.
The city of Capernaum was Jesus’ ministry base, and many notable miracles happened in and near there. For instance, there was a nobleman from Capernaum whose son had become deathly sick, but when he learned that Jesus was nearby in Cana, he swiftly left where he was and sought out Jesus to heal his boy. This is the story of the boy’s miraculous healing and the salvation of his whole family.
John 4:46-54 NKJV So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. (47) When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. (48) Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” (49) The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” (50) Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. (51) And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” (52) Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” (53) So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household. (54) This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
(46) So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.
- “nobleman” — βασιλικὸς (basilikos): royalty; nobility; pictures a prince, possibly a Jewish prince or even Roman nobility
- “son” — υἱός (huios): son; in this case, a future royal inheritor
- “sick” — ἀσθενέω (astheneo): pictures one feeble or frail in health; fragile, faint, incapacitated, or disabled; one in such poor health that he would be difficult to transport
Capernaum was the leading city in Galilee at the time of Christ’s ministry. It was a very prosperous border town with a thriving fishing industry, abundant travelers and tourists, a strong military base, a tax-collection center, and a very large synagogue. Not only did many people come in and out of Capernaum, there were also a number of wealthy nobility living there. This brings us to a story that begins in John 4:46.
“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.”
First, notice the word “nobleman” — the Greek word basilikos. It is taken from the Greek word basileuos, which is the Greek term for a king. Basilikos describes royalty or nobility. It pictures a prince, possibly a Jewish prince or even royal nobility. Capernaum was a high-level, affluent town, so it is no surprise that someone of royalty or nobility would be living there.
Verse 46 also discloses that this nobleman’s “son” was sick. The word “son” is the Greek word huios, which describes a son, and in this particular case, a future royal inheritor. The word “sick” is the Greek word astheneo, which pictures one feeble or frail in health; fragile, faint, incapacitated, or disabled; one in such poor health that he would be difficult to transport.
The sickness with which the nobleman’s son was afflicted was “fever,” which is the Greek word indicating a scorching fiery heat; a fever that is prolonged and can’t be brought under control. This fever was very similar to the one Peter’s mother-in-law had. Fevers were quite serious and even fatal at that time.
(47) When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.
- “besought” — ἐρωτάω (erotao): to fervently demand; pictures a strong request; the tense conveys an incessant appeal
- “heal” — ἰάομαι (iaomai): to cure; to progressively reverse a condition; often denotes healing that comes to pass over a period of time; depicts sickness that has been progressively healed rather than instantaneously healed
- “at the point of death” (v. 47), “die” (v. 49) — ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnesko): to wither away; to waste away; to slowly die; to gradually die
John 4:47 says, “When he [the nobleman] 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.” As soon as this man heard Jesus was nearby, he quickly went to see Him and “besought
The word “besought” is the Greek word erotao, which means to fervently demand. It pictures a strong request, and the tense used conveys the idea of an incessant appeal. The nobleman placed a strong demand on Jesus to come at once to heal his son, expecting Jesus to respond in a positive way, which we know He did.
The word “heal” used in verse 47 is the Greek word iaomai, and it means to cure. What makes iaomai unique from other Greek words for “healing” is that it means to progressively reverse a condition. It often denotes healing that comes to pass over a period of time. It depicts sickness that has been progressively healed rather than instantaneously healed. Along with the gift of the working of miracles, which happen instantaneously, the Holy Spirit also provides us with the gifts of “healing” (iaomai) — the progressive, day-by-day recovery in which one grows stronger and stronger (see 1 Corinthians 12:9-11).
By using this word, we can determine the nobleman’s level of faith. He wasn’t asking for instantaneous results. He just believed that if Jesus would come and speak a word of healing, his son would begin to fully recover. His son’s condition was serious, “for he was at the point of death.”
The phrase “he was” is the Greek word mello, which means he was about to arrive at the point of death. The Greek word for “at the point of death” is apothnesko, and it literally means to wither away; to waste away; to slowly die; to gradually die. This father was saying, “My son is dying right before my eyes — he’s wasting away day by day, losing weight and becoming weaker and weaker.” Scripture says “he was” at the point of death. Indeed, this was a critical situation.
It took great faith and humility for this powerful man of nobility to seek out Jesus. Nevertheless, he was desperate. His son — likely the heir to his position — was at death’s door. Therefore, he laid aside his dignity, his status, and his wealth and fervently demanded Jesus to come down and heal his boy.
(48) Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”
- “signs” — σημεῖον (semeion): used in the Gospels primarily to depict miracles and supernatural events
- “wonders” — τέρας (teras): something that baffles, bewilders, astonishes, and leaves one at a loss of words; shock, surprise, or astonishment felt by bystanders who observed events that were contrary to the normal course of nature; miraculous events so shocking, they left people speechless, bewildered, baffled, stunned, and in a state of wonder
In John 4:48, Jesus said to him, “…Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” On the surface, Jesus’ response may seem like a rebuke, but it wasn’t. Here, Jesus was acknowledging that He understood the human need to see the power of God demonstrated in order for faith to be ignited.
A better translation of this verse in the Greek would be, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”
The word “signs” is the Greek word semeion, and it is used in the gospels primarily to depict miracles and supernatural events. The word “wonders” is the Greek word teras, and it describes something that baffles, bewilders, astonishes, and leaves one at a loss of words. The word “wonders” is actually not a second category of supernatural activity; it is the people’s response to the “signs.” Therefore, Jesus’ words in this passage could be better translated, “Unless you see signs that baffle and signs that cause wonder, it’s difficult for you to believe.” This is why we need the power of God displayed as we evangelize and share the message of Christ.
(49) The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”
- “Sir” — Κύριε (Kurie): a recognition of Christ’s power, lordship, and mastery (v. 49)
- “child” — παιδίον (paidion): a child under parental authority
John 4:49 says, “The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.” Notice, he addressed Jesus as “Sir.” This is the Greek word Kurie, which is a form of the word kurios, and it means lord or master. It is a recognition of Christ’s power, lordship, and mastery. In that moment, the nobleman recognized Jesus as Lord of the situation with his son. He said, in effect, “Lord, Master, I’m submitting to You. I know You are the only One who can change what I’m dealing with. Come down or my son will die.” The word “die” is the Greek word apothnesko — the same word translated “death” earlier. It means to wither away; to waste away; to slowly die; to gradually die.
(50) Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.
- “Go thy way” (v. 50), “went his way” (v. 50) — πορεύομαι (poreuomai): to go on a journey; to be on your way; communicates, “it’s time for you to be on your journey”; get going; get moving
- “believed” — ἐπίστευσεν (episteusen): depicts a faith that is released at a precise moment
“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” (John 4:50). The phrase “Go thy way” is the Greek word poreuomai, and it means to go on a journey; to be on your way. A better translation would be, “Get going; get moving.”
Why did Jesus tell him to “get moving”? The reason was that his “son liveth.” The word “liveth” is the Greek word dzao, which means full of life; full of vitality; no longer lifeless or dying. Upon hearing these words, “the man believed the words Jesus had spoken.” The word “believed” is the Greek word episteusen, and it depicts a faith that is released at a precise moment. The instant the nobleman heard Jesus say that his son “liveth,” he didn’t argue or question. He believed the word Jesus spoke and claimed it.
(51) And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”
- “son” — παῖς (pais): small boy; a young child
- “liveth” — ζάω (dzao): full of life; no longer lifeless or dying
The Bible says, “He went on his way.” The Greek tense of this phrase indicates he quickly or immediately “got moving” and headed for home. “And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth” (John 4:51). The word “saying” in Greek means to repetitiously say something. In other words, the nobleman’s servants were so excited that the boy was recovering, they kept saying it again and again: “Your son is alive! He’s turned the corner! Your son liveth!” Again, the word “liveth” is the Greek word dzao, meaning full of life; no longer lifeless or dying.
(52) Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”
- “inquired” — πυνθάνομαι (punthanomai): to learn by asking questions; to inquire; “give me evidence” or “give me facts”
- “amend” — κομψότερον (kompsoteron): well-dressed; to be bettered
Immediately, the nobleman “…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” (John 4:52). The word “inquired” is the Greek word punthanomai, and it means to learn by asking questions; to inquire. It’s the equivalent of saying, “Give me evidence,” or “Give me facts.” He wanted to know when and where the healing occurred.
Specifically, the man asked to know “when he began to amend.” The word “amend” is the Greek word kompsoteron, which means to be well-dressed. This lets us know that the child was no longer lying flat on his back with fever. He was up, well-dressed, and getting around nicely. The fever had “left.” The word “left” is the Greek word aphiemi, which means to permanently leave or permanently be dismissed. When the fever left the boy, it never came back, and it went away at about the seventh hour.
(53) So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.
- “whole house” — ὅλος (holos): whole; complete; entire; it is where we get the word “wholeness”
Verse 53 says, “So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.” The word “whole” is the Greek word holos, meaning whole; complete; or entire. It is where we get the word “wholeness.” Remarkably, the nobleman and his entire household believed in Jesus that day and received “wholeness.”
(54) This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
- “did” — ποιέω (poieo): to make; to create; carries the idea of creativity
John 4:54 tells us, “This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.” The word “did” is the Greek word poieo, which means to make or to create. It always carries the idea of creativity. Jesus released creative power in the life of the nobleman’s son. He did what could not be done in the natural. With the power of His spoken word, He not only healed the boy of sickness, He changed the eternal destiny of the entire family.