#29 Healing the Nobleman's Son

#29 Healing the Nobleman’s Son

Please first read: John 4:46-54; JST John 4:55-56

Jesus and John the Baptist have both been preaching in the same general areas. John is now in prison and has been telling his disciples and friends to follow Jesus. As Jesus proceeds, the scriptures show a change in emphasis, from “repent and be baptized,” to “repent, believe, believe the Gospel.”

It appears that Jesus is now unattended by his first followers for a period of time.  He has now returned to his general home area of Galilee and things are different. The first time he was received as the “carpenter’s son,” accepted as untrained and unschooled in the finer points of the Law. Since then there have been many witnesses and words about the miracle of wine at Cana. Many Galileans also know of the marvelous works and miracles of Jesus at the Feast in Jerusalem. He is now invited to preach in the Synagogues and received with reverent attention.

The nobleman’s father is obviously aware of Jesus and some of his activities. We know the nobleman is a person with authority … possibly he could be even a civil or military officer of Herod’s court, but that is unknown. There may be a personal reason for him having faith that Jesus could heal his son, or it may be a loving father reaching out as a last resort to anything or anyone to save his son who is dying. We may reasonably assume that other efforts to heal have been tried to no avail. From Cana to Capernaum is about twenty miles, the father does not send a servant but goes himself, he hopes to get Jesus to return with him immediately, which would be a very strenuous journey of forty miles. His voice seems to be one of faith as he pleads with the Lord to come with haste before the boy dies.

Other items of interest regarding this event:    

     

There are a number of recorded cases in Jewish history of seriously ill people being healed by the faith and prayers of celebrated Rabbis. A devout Jew would not be surprised at such an occurrence. The practice of laying on of hands was practiced in Israel. The nobleman may have been aware of happenings such as this and felt to exercise a bit of faith and seek help from such source. What did he have to lose?

All who saw this event take place witnessed the Lord’s authority … he did not have to be geographically present to heal, or even speak about it; he merely said, “go thy way.”

     

Jesus’ comment about seeking signs (John 4:48) would be lost on the nobleman. This was the Lord again chastening the Jews for their demand for a sign before believing. There is also a contrast here with the Samaritans who just recently accepted him as the Messiah.

“Himself believed, and his whole house.” (John 4: 53) The nobleman had slaves, servants, and hirelings … in the society of that day, as the master believed and decided so did the household.

Glenn R. McGettigan   

November 2014

References:     

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark   

“Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Edersheim 

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” McConkie    

“Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ.” Volume 1. Holzaphel  

“Gospel of John.” Volume 1. Brown    

“Study of the New Testament, the Four Gospels.” Ludlow   

“Days of the Living Christ.” Volume 1. Skousen    

“Miracles of Jesus the Messiah.” Howick