According to John
Chapter 4
Verses 43-45
43 After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. 44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast.
Verses 46-54
46 Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum . 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” 49 The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. 51 As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. 52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. 54 This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
COMMENTARY
Verses 43-45
After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. Remember, Jesus took a detour from the normal Jewish route, to go through Samaria. The accepted clean "non-associative" route led travelers to traverse the Jordan River when traveling from (to) Judea in the south to ( from) Galilee in the north instead of going straight through Samaria. These two days refer to the time spent with the Samaritan woman and those of her Samaritan city. That part of the story is told in the paragraphs immediately before in According to John. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. John, the Disciple, Apostle and writer of this account, gives us an interesting statement here. John remembers hearing Jesus saying this about Himself. It was more than a Jewish idiom. At its core we have the subject of "honor" introduced like a fly darting across your field of vision. "Honor" as translated in the New American Standard is τιμὴν (timen) in the Greek language. Even though it is not a major issue in this story, I would like to take this time to begin a cultivation of its meaning so we will have a foundation as we continue through John's account. From the root word, , meaning I. worship, esteem, honor, and in pl. honors, such as are accorded to gods or to superiors, or bestowed (whether by gods or men) as a reward for services, 2. honor, dignity, lordship, as the attribute of gods or kings, 3. a dignity, office, magistracy, and in pl., civic honors, 4. present of honor, compliment, offering, e.g. to the gods, II. of things, worth, value, price, 2. valuation, estimate, for purposes of assessment, III. compensation, satisfaction, penalty. The opposite of honor is shame. Honor is to speak well of or to attribute worth to or to place a great price on. Shame is to speak badly against or to attribute uselessness to or to devalue something or someone. Let me ask you a question. Does your speech, the words that come out of your mouth, sound like honor? Do you honor and build people up? Or, do you shame and tear people down? Now! I know I don't have to look far past my family relationship to see how I have to fight to keep honor in my speech. But, do you honor and build YHWH up in your life? Or, do you shame HIM? I think that John remembered Jesus' comment for this reason. We can sometimes allow familiarity to breed dishonor. Familiarity in any realm of life can provide us with the opportunity to abandon our awe which leads to dishonor. Keep that in mind as you study the whole of God's Word and see how His people frequently fail when familiarity attacks the freshness of their fellowship with YHWH. You must never say (for it is never true), "been there, done that" with YHWH. HE IS........... So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast. The Galileans, these are the ones that Jesus said that they did not honor him, yet they searched Him out because of what He did in Jerusalem. More than likely these Galileans took the trans-Jordan trek from Judea instead of following Jesus through Samaria. They were probably asking each other about Jesus, his doings and sayings, as they reached Galilee from their time in Jerusalem. Jesus was the buzz of their conversations and they were looking to be with Him. Yet, a prophet has no honor in his own country. Their receiving Him might have a superficial flavor to it.
Verses 46-54
Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. Jesus and his followers, our author included, return to the site of Jesus' first miracle. Remember, Jesus performed this miracle at a wedding and his miraculous deed was behind the scenes to save the face of the bridegroom. If anyone ever understands the role of the bridegroom in a wedding, it is Jesus Christ.
And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. It was approximately 25 miles from Cana to Capernaum. Remember that Cana is inland on a slope fit for vineyards. Capernaum was a coastal town on the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee. Regarding the royal official this is no ordinary government bureaucrat. The Greek word here, , tells us and the Greek reading audience that this man was royal, kingly, one who has proven himself truly kingly, and acted with kingly authority. He either belonged to a king, in this case Caesar, or he was the king's friend or officer. He was a little more that noble. John use this term to accentuate this man's tie to royalty so that we see that people from all walks of life came to Jesus for answers and healing. Remember, this falls on the chronological heals of Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well. The next chronological event, if I may presume, is Jesus speaking with a crippled man. Jesus was known for interacting with all walks of life. Jesus has not changed and He will not change. He can meet you at the point of your need no matter how abased or kingly.
When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. This royal man heard, went and implored. What an example of someone desperate to have an encounter with Jesus. The word translated heard is the Greek word ἀκούσας is a primary verb meaning to hear (in various senses) -- give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand (Strong's Concordance). Have you heard anything concerning Jesus? Then, the royal man went to Him. As a result of hearing about Jesus, the man went to Him. Have acted on your hearing of Jesus by going to Him? Then the royal man was imploring Him. The word translated implore is ἠρώτα from ἐρωτάω meaning to interrogate; by implication, to request -- ask, beseech, desire, entreat, pray. W.E. Vine (Expository Dictionary of N. T. Words, p. 79. Thank you Chris F. for the gift of this book years ago.) states that ἐρωτάω more frequently suggests that the petitioner is on a footing of equality or familiarity with the person whom he requests. It is used of a king in making request from another king.... In this respect it is significant that the Lord Jesus (always used ἐρωτάω) in the matter of making request to the (His) Father." The royal man, with the use of this petitioning word, states his appropriate high view of himself. The man respectfully asked and beseeched Jesus for his son was dying. Death was out of the control of this royal man who desperately dared to put himself on the same footing with Jesus. Are you desperate? If so, then respond to what you have heard, go to Jesus and petition him for life in the areas of death: light in the areas of darkness; peace in the areas of unrest; understanding in the areas of bewilderment; strength in the areas of weakness...
So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” The word translated signs is the Greek word σημεῖα meaning a sign from the gods, omen, wonder, portent, as in LXX Exodus 4:8; Matthew 24:24; John 4:48, cf; especially of the constellations, regarded as signs. The Greek word for wonders is τέρατα sign, wonder, marvel, portent, a sign of coming battle; especially of signs in heaven; in concrete sense, monster; of a serpent, of the Sphinx; used by Cicero of Caesar, Att.8.9.4; monstrous birth, monstrosity. The word translated believe is πιστεύσητε in Greek. This word carries much to be investigated regarding its use and meaning, not only to Christian literature but to the whole of Greek literature as it reflects Greek culture. It carries the simply meanings of: trust, put faith in, rely on a person, thing, or statement. Also, certain nuances such as certainty and confidence highlight the central heart felt expression of this royal man. For he said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." A simple request in a time of great need. And Jesus said to him, "Go, your son lives." The word that all parents of dying children would love to hear. The Word in flesh, the great I AM, YHWH, the Lord Jesus Christ speaking to you saying, 'your child lives.' Note the reaction of the child's father. The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. There is our believe word again. This time can you feel the confidence that the royal man had in a simple word from Jesus? No questions. No requests to have Jesus repeat what He said. He was sitting on all confidence that expressed his faith. Jesus said it, the man believed it and that settled it. Your son lives. WOW! What faith. What confidence. I only desire to live a life that expresses such simple confidence in Jesus. A faith that does not ask questions nor does it need to understand everything before I accept His Word.
As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. Can you imagine the celebration of life? Do not confuse these slaves situation with their master, the royal man, and the slavery so cruelly forced upon Africans and children in our past and present. New Testament slavery is a subject for interesting study but not at this time. These slaves were trusted with the household while this royal man carried out his duties and visit to see Jesus. They were caring for the son while the father went to beg Jesus to heal his son. Be careful to note the spread of confidence in Jesus throughout this household which more than likely included the slaves. Does your household have a confidence in Jesus? No matter how high socially, politically, economically and scholastically you are, or think you are, there is much to be gained by confidently trusting in Jesus, even for the life of your child.
As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. Can you imagine the celebration of life? Do not confuse these slaves situation with their master, the royal man, and the slavery so cruelly forced upon Africans and children in our past and present. New Testament slavery is a subject for interesting study but not at this time. These slaves were trusted with the household while this royal man carried out his duties and visit to see Jesus. They were caring for the son while the father went to beg Jesus to heal his son. Be careful to note the spread of confidence in Jesus throughout this household which more than likely included the slaves. Does your household have a confidence in Jesus? No matter how high socially, politically, economically and scholastically you are, or think you are, there is much to be gained by confidently trusting in Jesus, even for the life of your child.
This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee. John's remark here brings us to reflect on Jesus' first miracle in Cana when he turned water into wine at the wedding feast. Both of these miracles were in the private realm with those immediately affected and the disciples. John primarily focuses on the private moments in the life of Jesus. He and his life account are different from the other three gospel writers, Matthew, Mark and Luke.
SUMMARY
This portion of chapter 4 is often overlooked. It stands in the middle of some of the great quoted passage from well known stories from the Bible. Yet, what an example of the authority of Jesus and the confident faith of the high ranking royal man. There is much to be applied from their brief encounter. Act on what you have heard about Jesus. Let those words draw you to him with the aches of your heart. Plead with Him for intervention into your life circumstance(s). Then, accept His word to you, which is a promise of His care for you. If you truly come to Him confidently and then go confidently, then your household will be full of confidence as they trust in Jesus. He is faithful to pull you out of the kingdom of darkness, lies, and death by transferring you into His Kingdom which is the kingdom of light, truth and life.
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