Notes

A Nobleman - who loved his son A nobleman was a man of royal blood or royal service. They were usually prominent and well respected. This nobleman was likely in the service of Herod, stationed in Capernaum at the sea of Galilee which was a day's journey away from Cana where Jesus was at the time. Here is a respected nobleman that seeks urgently the help of a carpenter. But not to build him something from wood but with a request of healing. Wouldn't a doctor be the right person to go to? It certainly would and he surely did. He probably got the best doctor available to save his son who was at the point of death. Even the best doctor is limited at some point and soon there was no hope to keep the son alive. Now the news about Jesus supernatural power to heal people had reached the nobleman too and as natural and instinctive to people when in deep distress they often cry "O my God", he reached out to the perfect image of God in human form, Jesus. The nobleman believed the many reports of the power of Jesus to heal. Jesus was now his only hope for having his son healed. He could have sent one of his best servants but this task was of utter importance so he took it on himself to make the days journey to ask Jesus for help. Jesus - Lord over time, matter, and space Jesus was capable of building furniture because that was his trade. Joseph taught Jesus many years till he was a skilled carpenter. Now Jesus said that He could do only the things He sees His Father doing (5:19). His mother was Marry and His Father was God in heaven. God is not limited by time, space, and matter. Jesus proved His power over matter by turning water to wine at the wedding in Cana. The sign of healing the nobleman's son displays further dimensions of the power of Jesus and ultimately that He was a man but also God. Jesus spoke "Your son lives" and the nobleman believed Him and this event enters our history in proving that Jesus surpassed the limits of time and space. Here is how: The son was instantly well when Jesus spoke the words 4:52-53 - Jesus is Lord over time. The son was well, even though he was a day's journey away from him 4:49-50 - Jesus is Lord over space. Time, matter, and space are absolutes in our human sphere . Our good and bad choices were irreversibly done within these limits. Though there may be corrections to mistakes - the bitter fact is that all of us have made and failed countless times. Not only can we measure up with the signs of healing that Jesus did, but we also were not able to be morally perfect as He was and God intended us to be. As much some want to be God - we are not. I have and those who are honest would admit that at some point we have consciously and maliciously lied, and a correct understanding of the 10 commandments leaves us all guilty in the sight of God. God - who is good Now, why did Jesus help the nobleman? This is the point that drew me and many followers of Jesus closer to God. It is God's love, grace, and mercy! Jesus didn't need to heal the nobleman's son but He did it because He loved His fallen creatures. He loved us so much that he took the guilt and punishment for our failures from us to present us perfect and acceptable in the sight of God! Christians are humbled by their failures and instead of cursing when things go wrong, they look to a bright future in the presence of Jesus and without failure. For now, they look to Jesus who represents them perfect and guiltless in the presence of God. Some build their own righteousness in their minds by keeping rules to put on a nice display for others but it is important to know that a follower of Jesus fails just like all people do. Yet, he is humbled by his mistakes and looks to Jesus who works, by this process, His righteousness more and more into the follower's life.

notes

Phrase

NT

John 4:43-54

nkjv

From Samaria to Galilee

Now after the two days

Temporal

He departed ... and went to Galilee.

from there

Seperation

For Jesus Himself testified

Ground

that a prophet has no honor

Content

in his own country.

Locative

So when He came to Galilee,

the Galileans received Him,

having seen all the things He did

in Jerusalem at the feast;

for they also had gone to the feast.

So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee

where He had made the water wine.

A nobleman's request for the healing of his son

And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick

at Capernaum.

When he heard that Jesus had come

out of Judea

Source

into Galilee,

Destination

he went ... and implored Him to come ... and heal his son,

to Him

down

for he was at the point of death.

Then Jesus said to him,

“Unless you people see signs and wonders,

Condition

you will by no means believe.”

The nobleman said to Him,

“Sir, come down before my child dies!”

Jesus said to him,

“Go your way; your son lives.”

So the man believed ... and he went his way.

the word that Jesus spoke to him,

The Miracle - the son is healed

And as he was now going down,

his servants ... told him, ... “Your son lives!”

met him and

Accompaniment

saying,

Manner

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.”

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.

This again is the second sign Jesus did

when He had come

out of Judea

into Galilee.

The honor he received by the Samaritans was greater than how he was treated by His own people.

phrasing

Main point summary

Jesus went to Galilee where he met a nobleman whose son was at the point of death. The nobleman implored Jesus for help and Jesus healed the nobleman's son by the power of His word. The nobleman and his household believed as a result of this event.

Discourse

editing

John 4:43-54

Now after the two days

He departed from there and went to Galilee.

temporal

For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor

in his own country.

locative

ground

So when He came to Galilee,

the Galileans received Him,

having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast;

for they also had gone to the feast.

ideaexplanation

progression

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.

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.

Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders,

you will by no means believe.”

conditional

The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down

before my child dies!”

Jesus said to him, “Go your way;

your son lives.”

questionanswer

So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.

actionresult

situationresponse

And as he was now going down,

his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”

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.”

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.

This again is the second sign Jesus did

when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

discourse