2. Your Son Lives
John 4:43-54

3. Introduction
After the events surrounding the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus stayed two days
John 4:43
He went on to Galilee, where He had been headed earlier (John 4:1-4)

4. His own country John 4:44-45 What was “His own country”?
Some think it was Judea, explaining why He left
But Jn 4:1-4 shows He left Judea because He was too popular, causing Pharisees to be jealous
Some think it was Galilee, explaining why He had not done many miracles there
Doesn’t exactly match the words used speaking of honor
Probably it was Nazareth based on Lk 4:16-30
Explaining why He didn’t go to that city

5. Cana John 4:46 Cana, abt 4-5 miles north of Nazareth
He passed by Nazareth
People knew Him from miracles done at the feast (Passover)
As well as the miracle at the wedding feast in Cana (Jn 2:1-11)
Was not well-known at the time, but word has spread

6. Capernaum
Capernaum, believed to be near north coast of Sea of Galilee, abt 20 miles NE of Cana
A bigger city, had a tax office and a Roman garrison
A nobleman – anyone connected to the ruling house (Herod Antipas)
Could be a relative
Could be an officer
Some think it might have been Chuza, Herod’s steward (Lk 8:3)

7. The nobleman’s son John 4:46-47
Imagine yourself in the nobleman’s place
Your son is dying, doctors are helpless, your wife is crying
All options are gone, you are ready to take any chance
Then you hear Jesus is back in Galilee
Heard of His miracle in Cana
Heard of His miracles in Judea
Too important a mission to send a servant
He goes to get Jesus
Cana is physically uphill, so he begs Jesus to come down to Capernaum

8. Jesus’ response John 4:48 Jesus doesn’t answer the appeal at first
Makes a statement questioning the motive behind the request
Are you just wanting a sign?
Jn 2:18 – the Jewish leaders wanted signs before accepting Jesus as having authority
Jesus wanted people to believe in Him
John 6:29, 20:30-31
Miracles were a means of confirming who He was
Not a ‘sideshow’ or ‘speedy clinic’
So is the nobleman asking because he believes or because he is desperate for a cure?

9. The response John 4:49 The nobleman merely repeats his plea
He is desperate
He does believe Jesus can help
Perhaps he can’t think of anyway to show his belief without requiring a sign to be done in Capernaum

10. Go your way John 4:50 Jesus tells him to go home, “Your son lives”
Now he is faced with the question of belief
He had meant for Jesus to come with him and do something to heal the child
Now Jesus says the child is well
It’s a full day’s walk to get back and if he’s still sick, another two days to come back to Cana and return
Does he believe in Jesus without a sign?
He does believe, and starts down, apparently walking through the night

11. The healing
John 4:51-53
On the way down, he meets some of his servants on their way up
“Your son lives!” is their greeting
Unknowingly echoing the exact words of Jesus
He asks when his son began to improve
A natural healing takes time
He might think, ‘Perhaps Jesus was only telling me that my son was recovering on his own’
Servants say the fever left him at a certain time
Sudden healing so that they could say, 1:00 pm
The exact time Jesus spoke, and his faith grew

12. What does this incident teach us?
Jesus’ primary concern is your soul
Not your health (2 Cor 12:7-10)
Not your wealth (Mt 6:24)
Not your relationships (Mt 10:34-39,12:46-50)
Examples:
Thief on the cross (Lk 23:39-43)
Didn’t save his life, but saved his soul
James and John (Mt 20:20-23, 26-28)
Not concerned with their desire for greatness, but in their godly service
The woman at the well (Jn 4:1-26)
Not interested in her gender, her nationality, etc, but interested in saving her soul

13. What does this incident teach us?
Jesus is not a respecter of persons
No special treatment of this nobleman
Didn’t go out of his way to accompany him
Jms 2:1-9 – Christians are to show no partiality
Gal 3:27-29 – all are equal in Christ

14. What does this incident teach us?
Jesus’ power is astonishing
When you want to know something will be done properly, you ask for a demonstration
Jesus demonstrated His power
Over the elements of matter (Jn 2)
Over physical ailments, distance and time (Jn 4)
Over physical laws – feeding 5000, walking on water (Jn 6)
Over death (Jn 11)
So when He says (Eph 3:20-21)
You can believe He can do as He says
His power is astonishing!
He can and will keep His promises

15. Conclusion Jesus wants you to believe so that you can be saved
That’s His, and should be our, top priority
That’s true regardless of who you are (or aren’t)
And He has the power to bring about our salvation
As well as to bless us in so many ways
Won’t you come to Him now?