Second Sign

John 4:43-54

43 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. 46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe”. 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

Notes

The Samaritan woman told the people in the town about her encounter with the Lord Jesus. Her story brought the people to Jesus. Many of the Samaritans believed Him. Then the Lord proceeded to Galilee after two days in Samaria. The writer narrated that the Galileans welcomed Him because of what they witnessed in the Passover feast (John 2:23).

1. Royal official

   An official heard that Jesus went to Cana; the official went out to meet Him. The official probably served under Herod Antipas. He appealed to the Lord to heal his son. But the Lord rebuked him for needing signs and wonders to believe.

   
   46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe” (John 4:46-48).
   
   

2. Believing

   Even though the Lord rebuked those who sought signs and wonders before believing, the official determined to seek the Lord’s healing. Jesus proclaimed that the child would live. The official believed the Lord’s word even though he had not witnessed the healing.
   
   49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way (John 4:49-50).
   
   

3. Healing

   The official’s servant brought the news that the child was recovering. He then asked about the time when his son got better. It coincided with the time that the Lord said that his son would live. As a result, the whole household believed.

   
   51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee (John 4:51-54).
   
   

Application

1. Don’t focus on the miracles

   Remember the Lord’s rebuke about people who need signs and wonders to believe. Our focus should be on who He is and the significance of His completed work, not on signs and wonders. The focus should be on His word.
   

2. Believe His word

   Let us believe His word. We should anchor our minds and hearts on His word. It is not enough to acknowledge Him; it is not enough to welcome Him. We must honestly believe the Holy Scriptures, putting aside our desire for signs.
   

3. Spread the word

   The official believed His word. On the way home, the official confirmed the healing of his son. After this, his whole household also believed. Let us bring others to Christ by sharing our testimony and the gospel.
   

Reflection & Discussion

1. Why did the Galileans welcome Jesus?

2. What was Christ’s rebuke? Explain.

3. What was the response of the official to His word?