Official's Son

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Jesus Heals the Official’s Son

    Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

    “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

    The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

    Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.”

    The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.”

    Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed.

    This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee. -- John 4:46-54

The applicant

  • Rank
    • Nobleman
    • Tradition: related by birth to Herod Antipas
    • Resided in Capernaum
  • Affliction
    • Son was ill
    • Probably only son
  • Concern
    • Father had done all that was possible
    • Wealth could not obtain health

The nature of the request

  • Object of his request
    • Health of child
  • That Christ would come heal his son
    • While the Jewish leaders scorned Jesus, and treated him with disdain, this nobleman came to him with deference
  • Fervent plea

Evidence of faith

  • Made the journey
    • Had heard of Christ
    • May have witnesses healing miracles
    • Believes that Messiah could heal child
  • Prayer to Christ
    • That he would come and heal his son
  • Exhibited no doubt
    • “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
    • The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
  • His response to Christ
    • Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.”
    • The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

Application of the miracle

  • The divine power of the Son of God
    • Power over sickness
    • Distance does not affect his power
    • He can do the same for sicknesses of the soul
  • The importance of a living, vigorous faith
    • Faith brings us to Christ
    • Faith gives power to our pleas
    • Faith overcomes obstacles
  • The interest we should have in the well-being of our children
    • Desire their moral restoration to the image of God
    • Plead with the Lord for them
    • Persevere in the midst of discouragement

Compare

  • Matthew 8:5-13
  • Luke 7:1-10

 

 

 

 

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