Bible Studies
Healing A Royal Official’s Son (Jn. 4:46-54)
Series: Additional StudiesIntroduction:
1. This reading records the second major miracle of John’s gospel. 2. The first, recorded in chapter two, is the account of His turning water to wine at the wedding feast. Both miracles occur in Cana of Galilee. 3. Jesus has performed other miracles between these two. These all occurred at Jerusalem during the Passover. Note Jn. 2:23. These are passed over by John without detail, but this one receives particular attention. Why? 4. John identifies his purpose in recording the miracles in his gospel in 20:30-31. Since he is recording these events “that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” and that through this belief we may have life it is appropriate that we consider it from this standpoint and ask, “How does this miracle help bring us to belief?” 5. Obviously John did not use all the miracles that Jesus performed to develop his thesis. What is special about this one? 6. Let’s analyze the text and try to draw some relevant conclusions.Discussion:
I. John presents this miracle in the context of Jesus coming into Galilee motivated by the recognition that “a prophet has no honor in his own country” (4:43-44).A. After the wedding in Cana of Galilee Jesus had gone down to Capernaum (2:12).
B. From there he had gone up to Jerusalem for the Passover (2:13).
1. In Jerusalem he had cast out the merchandisers from the temple (2:13ff).
2. He performed signs while in Jerusalem (2:23)
3. Entertained a conversation with Nicodemus about being born again (3:1ff).
4. When he left Judea he journeyed toward Galilee, but went through Samaria (4:1ff).
5. It was here that he conversed with the Samaritan woman at the well.
C. After two days he went into Galilee and is met by this royal official.
1. The people of Galilee “having seen all the things he did in Jerusalem” (4:45).
2. We can only conclude that the royal official has either seen or at least heard of Jesus’ power to perform miracles. John has left us with two sources of this information: 1) the miracle at the wedding feast; and 2) the miracles in Jerusalem.
II. There are many questions left unanswered by this account.A. Who is this royal official? We have heard nothing of him before. He is unnamed.
1. Was he an attendant at the wedding in Cana? Was it his son that had gotten married? Was he a friend of that family or of no acquaintance whatsoever? We do not know.
2. The confidence that he has to come to Jesus to make such a request says something about his knowledge of Jesus. Where did this come from? Had he been in contact with Jesus in Jerusalem? Was he one of the Galileans who had witnessed Jesus’ signs in Jerusalem? Interesting questions, but John gives us no answers.
B. This son... How old was he? What was his illness? How long had he been sick? Again John gives us no information about this.
C. Evidently such considerations are of no significance to John’s objective,or the Holy Spirit’s for that matter, who guided the selection and highlight of this event to be recorded.
D. I call these things to your attention because I believe what is left out is left out for a reason and what is included is included purposefully. This reminds us of considering what is said over against what is not said.
III. Observations about the royal official.A. He has knowledge of Jesus and His special abilities.
B. He has confidence in Jesus ability to heal his son.
1. He seems to think it Jesus would need to come “down to heal his son.”
2. The son is at Capernaum and the royal official probably had come from there.
3. There seems to be an urgency since “he is at the point of death.” The royal official is asking for healing not a resurrection from the dead.
C. When Jesus tells him his son lives he seems to be satisfied with Jesus’ word on the matter.
1. He does not insist that Jesus come to Capernaum.
2. He does not protest, object or hesitate.
3. Do you accept Jesus’ word in such a ready manner?
4. He is described as “believing the word that Jesus spoke.” He acted accordingly and started off. Belief is accompanied by the appropriate action.
D. Jesus does not condition the son’s healing on the son’s belief or the royal official’s belief. At least John does not reveal anything about the healing being conditioned on their belief.
E. Instead both Jesus and John use the miracle as something that brings belief (v. 48; 20:30-31).
F. The royal official questioned his slaves about the time his son made the change from death to life.
1. Some might question his faith here.
2. But as much faith as he had he had to ask this question.
3. He therefore drew a necessary conclusion that since it was the very time that Jesus had said, “Your son lives,” that he lived as a result of Jesus’ intervention.
G. The miracle led to his belief and to the belief of his whole household. He has ably convinced his household that Jesus miraculously healed his son.
IV. Considerations regarding application.A. Do you have confidence in Jesus’ abilities to give life?
B. Do you accept Jesus’ word and act accordingly?
C. Do these miracles lead you to believe?
D. Do you influence the belief system of others so that your household also believes? Unbelief tends to result in unbelief in others. Hesitation tends to lead to hesitation in others. Being convinced tends to lead to others being convinced.
E. Jesus has ability to grant life.
F. Time and space are not limitations.
1. The son was healed immediately—at the time Jesus said, “Your son lives.”
2. Jesus was not limited by space. He did not have to be present with the son in order to heal him.
Conclusion:
1. Our belief hinges on God’s ability to give life to the dead. 2. This is evident throughout Scripture from the creation, to Abraham and Sarah having a child, to offering him as a sacrifice, the resurrection of Christ, to baptism as the time God raises to spiritual life, to the coming resurrection. 3. The healing of the royal official’s son connects to one of the most significant elements of our belief in God—His power to raise the dead. 4. This miracle validates Jesus as the Son of God and draws us to belief in Him as the giver of life. 5. How did John put it? “These have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing you may have life in His name.”
