John 4:46-54

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. 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.

“Your Son Lives”

As we follow the footsteps of Jesus through the book of John, we find Him back in Cana where He performed the water to wine sign/miracle. A nobleman approaches Jesus, and wants Him to come and heal his son who is very sick and close to dying. This nobleman was a royal official of King Herod Antipas. He was probably a Gentile. He had traveled from Capernaum to Cana which is around 15 to 20 miles. He had traveled quite a ways to get to Jesus, because he had heard that Jesus was there. This shows the urgency of the situation. Here was a desperate father whose only concern was saving his son. He saw Jesus as the only hope for his son to be healed. Obviously, the man knew that Jesus’ performed miracles. I mean…..if it were my child, I would do the same thing. 

In verse 48, Jesus makes a profound statement…..”if you don’t see me perform signs or miracles, you will not believe”. However…..the “you” here in this verse is plural. Jesus was talking to a group of people, and this nobleman was a part of the group who had this shallow type of belief. It sounded for a moment like he wasn’t going to help the man. Remember….Jesus could see the man’s thoughts and He knew that He wouldn’t be there unless he needed a miracle from Jesus. But I ask you…..wouldn’t we all do the same thing if this was our child? We would go to the ends of the earth to save our babies. Jesus knew the panic this man was feeling. The nobleman ignored Jesus’ statement in verse 48, and in verse 49, said  with respectful pleading, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” He was not giving up. His child’s life hung in the balance. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t give up either. You know…..belief usually does begin shallow. That’s ok. It just can’t remain shallow. We must work and study to deepen our understanding, and progress from milk to meat (1 Cor. 3:2, 1 Peter 2:2, Hebrews 5:13-14). Our belief has to lead to obedience, and a transformation of our hearts.

After the man persisted in verse 49, Jesus told the man to go home. He told the man, “Your son lives.” Now, up until this point, the man expected Jesus to come with him. He probably just assumed that Jesus would need to be present in order to perform a miracle such as this. However, something seemed to switch in the man when Jesus told him to go, and that his son was going to live. Verse 50 says that the man believed Jesus and went home.  No arguments. This man’s belief was beginning to grow. First, he came to Cana because he had heard about Jesus, and needed Jesus to come to his house and heal his son who was about to die. Now, he is taking Jesus at His word. Jesus says the boy is fine. “Ok, Jesus. I believe you. I’ll go home now.” And he was 20ish miles away!! So he wouldn’t see his son for a while! He didn’t continue to beg Jesus to come. He seemed to have complete confidence in the words that Jesus spoke to him at that moment. This was a growing faith similar to the Samaritans’ faith. To begin with, they believed because of the woman’s testimony. Later, that belief turned into a deeper faith because they heard Jesus for themselves. In verse 53, we saw the man’s faith come full circle when he arrived home to find his son alive and well. Not only that, he found out that the boy’s fever had left him at the very hour that Jesus spoke it away! Then, he shared this faith with his family who also believed. This man was leading his family spiritually. Faith can start shallow. I mean…..everyone has to start somewhere in their walk with Jesus. It is what we do with that first glimmer of belief that is vital to our salvation. Like James 2:19 says, “You believe in God; you do well. Even the demons believe and tremble.” Belief is not enough, and will not save us. I am reminded of the parable of the sower. I don’t want to be the “wayside”, where the seed falls, and is snatched up by the birds. I don’t want to be the rocky soil where the seed has no root (Matthew 13). Belief has to lead to obedience, and a life of service to God. 

Another interesting point that I found when studying this account was that Elijah said the same words to the widow whose son he raised from the dead…..”Your son lives” (1 Kings 17:23). It makes me wonder…..could the nobleman’s son have actually died while the man had been traveling that day? Jesus could have said, “Your son has been made well”, but instead specified that the boy was alive. Hmmmm…..it’s possible. Elijah, however, had to be there with the boy to raise him up, and even had to lay on top of the boy three times, and cry out for God to save him. All Jesus had to do was say the words from 20 miles away. He didn’t have to cry out to God, because He WAS God. Like it says in Hebrews 1:1-3, paraphrasing, “God used to speak to us through prophets, but in these last days speaks to us through His son whom God made heir to everything, and who made the universe.” It also says that Jesus is the exact representation of God Himself, and sits at the right of God in heaven. Jesus is superior to everyone before Him. 

In verse 54, this miracle is called a sign. It is the second sign of the seven signs found in the book of John, the first being the “water to wine” miracle at Cana. This means there is a deeper meaning behind the miracle. Could the deeper meaning be in the words of Jesus? Jesus’ words “your son lives” can be said about us on the day we are baptized into Christ. I was dead spiritually, and when I came up out of that water a new person, Jesus said “Greta Hoover lives”! Put your name in there. He said that about you the day you were born again to a new life in Him! Again, we see another parallel of physical life and spiritual life. Jesus could restore physical life to people when He was on earth. He gives us spiritual life for eternity if we live in obedience to Him. When we become wayward, He will restore our spiritual life if we come back to Him and repent. Let’s look at Ephesians 2:1, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins…..” How does He make us alive? He makes us alive when we obey His words in Mark 16:16, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. He that believes not shall be condemned.” It doesn’t get much plainer than that. And when we obey His words, we come into contact with His blood in the waters of baptism. In the waters of baptism is where the trespasses and sins that once caused our spiritual death are washed away. This is how we are brought to life through Jesus. As John says in John 1:4, “Jesus is life”. I give all glory and thanksgiving to God because He loved me so much that even though I was lost and in sin, He allowed His only Son to die for me so that I could be brought to life spiritually (Romans 5:8). He knew me even then. I thank God for His patience with me over the years, and His patience with me now. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Can we even fathom the love that Jesus has for us? Ephesians 3:19 says that His love is so great that it surpasses knowledge. This knowledge of this world cannot understand His love for us. The world cannot comprehend such love. But, because we are in Christ, we can know and experience His love from now throughout eternity, and nothing can separate us from it (Romans 8:38-39). 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better…..to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat wondering what is going to happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you Father for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about how to be saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus, and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves…..and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! 

Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? If you aren’t, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are…..believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan that God has set forth in His Word, for humankind to receive His grace that leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

Then, we remain faithful in our commitment to Christ until death. (Revelation 2:10, 2 Peter 2:20-22)