YOU MAY GO, YOUR SON WILL LIVE

John 4:43-54

Key Verse 4:50

“Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed.”

Recently we heard what happened to Bin Laden. When the CIA first found his hiding place they were surprised because it was not in the mountains but in a city near a Pakistani military academy and 35 miles from the capital Islamabad. However, when they gathered more information about the house their confidence that he must be there increased. The house was surrounded by a high, 12-18 foot wall with only one guarded entrance. It had no windows facing the street, no telephone lines, and no internet line. Finally, no trash came out of the house. All of these facts worked as signs about what kind of people were living there. 

In today’s passage Jesus healed a royal official’s son. This is the Jesus’ second miracle, which the Bible calls ‘a miraculous sign’. Why is the healing of the royal official’s son a sign? The word “sign” indicates that the healing shows something more, beyond the bare facts of the healing itself. What does Jesus’ healing of the royal official’s son in reveal? This is the question that we want to ask, and one that the passage answers. 

I. Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders (v.43-49)

John 4:43-45 

“After the two days he left for Galilee. [44] (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) [45] When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there.” 

“After the two days he left for Galilee.” Jesus had a good time with the Samaritans for two days because they believed his word when he taught them. They learned and believed that he is the Savior of the world. Some people may spend twenty years studying the Bible and still never personally learn that Jesus is the Savior of the world, but the Samaritans listened to the word of Jesus for only two days and believed this important truth. They were able to accept this because they truly believed Jesus’ words. After spending two days with them Jesus left for Galilee as he had planned.

Now before Jesus had left for Galilee, Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country. Jesus’ disciples might have expected a home-coming ceremony for Jesus in his own country, especially after they had experienced such a warm welcome from the Samaritans, a typically anti-Jewish community. Jesus, however, knew that a prophet has no honor in his own country because of human pride and prejudice. 

But when he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. Their response was the opposite of Jesus’ expectations. Why was this so? “They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there.” What did Jesus do in Jerusalem? According to John 2:23, Jesus performed miraculous signs. 

John 2:23 

    “Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.” 

So the Galileans welcomed Jesus because of His miraculous signs, which probably involved physical healing. We would behave the exact same way as the Galileans. If there were someone among us who could heal diseases, even incurable ones, free of charge and without any painful medical procedure, would we not welcome that person? Of course we would. We would highly honor him or her.

John 4:46-47 

    “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. [47] 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.”

Now in Galilee, once more Jesus visited Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. Why did Jesus revisit Cana where he had performed his first miracle? We don’t know. Maybe he wanted to see the effects of his miracle after he had left the town. He might have wanted to know if some people were growing in faith. We know that people in Cana must have welcomed Jesus more than the people of other towns because they may have remembered his miracle. In fact, some of them might have already expected another free wine festival. Whatever the case, we do know that Jesus was attending a divinely appointed mission just as He had had a divinely appointed mission with a Samaritan woman.

When Jesus had arrived in Galilee there was a certain royal official in Capernaum. The descriptor “royal official” indicates a personage that was somehow related to King Herod Antipas or working for King Herod. As a royal official he must have had a certain amount of power and authority. He was probably rich as well. However, his power, money and prestigious position did not exempt him from the common troubles of life. One day his young son became sick. At first no one thought that it was serious, but as time went on the sickness turned out to be deadly. 

The royal official must have done everything within his power to heal his son. Nothing worked out. While he was in Capernaum, he heard the news that Jesus had arrived in Galilee. In the past he must have heard about Jesus and his miraculous healing. Then he realized that Jesus might be able to heal his son. Unfortunately, Jesus was in Cana and the royal official lived in Capernaum, about a 20-mile distance between the two towns or 12 hours distance by walking. In addition, Jesus was a country carpenter, and this father was a royal official. It is also possible that the official was a Gentile, which adds a racial, cultural, and religious barrier. This official loved his son, however, and did not send his servants to Jesus.  He came all the way by himself and begged Jesus to come and heal his son who was close to death. To some people to curve their pride is the last thing that they want to do. This is true especially among those who live decent lives. Because this man loved his son he gave up his pride and humbled himself. His love for his son compelled him to overcome all obstacles and come to Jesus.

There is nothing wrong with a desperate father begging Jesus for the life of his young and dying son. It is even commendable, and Jesus is the merciful Messiah. Jesus could have had great compassion on him and could have gone with him to his house at once. But what did Jesus tell him?

 [48] "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." 

It seems that Jesus was not happy with the official. When Jesus said to the royal official, there must be some Galileans around him. Or Jesus was not speaking to him as an individual but as representative of all Galileans because he told him, “Unless you people.” In fact, the royal official could represent all people who will never believe unless they see miraculous signs and wonders. 

Why did Jesus say to the royal official in such a way? Because Jesus wanted his miracle for this man’s son not to be misunderstood or taken for granted.  He wanted this man to have true FAITH and not just faith that comes from some small benefit alone.

What was the response of the royal official? Did he say, “Lord, I am sorry, I made a mistake. Please forgive me.”? No.

    [49] The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 

The royal official was persistent. His heart was burning because his son was close to death and could die any moment. So he just pressed his cause once more pleading, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 

Notice that the royal official’s words reveal how limited his faith in Jesus was. He believed that Jesus could heal his son only if he comes to his house and only before his child dies. He also called Jesus, “Sir”. To him Jesus was a miracle worker, and not the Lord. 

The response of the royal official shows the problem of people who will never believe unless they see miraculous signs and wonders in two ways.

First, their problem is that they are seeking immediate answer. They want to see miracles and wonders now. Instant answer and quick solution is what they want. The royal official also meant ‘Sir, come down now!” “Answer me now” is what we have for God when we are in desperate situation . 

Secondly, the problem of people who will never believe unless they see miraculous signs is that they are ONLY interested in what they want and what they can get from Jesus. Therefore they come to Jesus only when they need Jesus’ help.  They are not interested in Jesus or the relationship with Jesus or what Jesus wants. 

Ultimately if we believe Jesus for our benefit we will leave Jesus when we do not receive any benefit from believing in him. As I said before, if we honor someone because of his miraculous healing for us we will not welcome him when he cannot heal us anymore. 

When Jesus fed 5,000 people with just 5 loaves and 2 fish, people were amazed and they all believed in Jesus. They not only believed in Jesus, they also wanted to forcibly make Jesus their King. They became so excited. Let’s read John 6:14-15.

John 6:14-15

    “[14] After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." [15] Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.”

When these same people realized that Jesus would not perform miracles by feeding them with free bread anymore, they grumbled and dishonored him and left him. Many of them later even shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 

Jesus knew what was in man, so he told the royal official, “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders you will never believe.”  

II. You may go. Your son will live. (v.50-54)

What did Jesus say to the man?  [50] Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."

Jesus challenged the royal official and did not go with him. Jesus only gave him his word of promise: “Your son will live.” The man did not see any miracle or visible sign because Jesus’ word is invisible. There was no guarantee that his son would be healed other than Jesus’ word and if Jesus’ promise was not fulfilled, the cost would be the very life of his own son. 

Now what was the response of the royal official when Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.”?

    The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 

The royal official could have doubted the love of Jesus and become furious, or could have even threatened him with the political and social power that he had as a royal official. Alternately, he could have begged Jesus once more. Amazingly, he took Jesus at his word and departed. He exercised his faith and he became a different man when he believed the word of Jesus at the cost of his own son’s life. He honored Jesus by believing the word of Jesus.

[51] While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. [52] 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." [53] Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." 

When the man heard the testimony of his servants he fully realized that the healing was a miraculous one. The boy’s condition did not improve gradually. He was healed immediately, and the fever left the boy at the seventh hour instantly. It was so sudden and dramatic that all of the people around the boy including the servants could see that the boy was living and could know the exact time. So the servants could tell their master so confidently, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” The seventh hour is 1 pm according to the Jewish calendar. When the father heard the testimony of his servants, his faith was confirmed. He was rewarded for his faith.

So he and his household believed. 

The word “So” means ‘as the result of what had happened”. The man believed that Jesus could heal his son, who lay 20 miles away, based on Jesus’ word alone. Now he had faith in Jesus based on his word, after which he and his household would come to know that Jesus is the Savior of the world. Through this faith, he can receive eternal life and inherit the kingdom of God. Believing the word of Jesus is the beginning of Biblical faith and only such faith brings salvation.

The result of Jesus’ challenge shows that Jesus not only wanted to heal the boy but also wanted to save his soul. Jesus not only answered the prayer of the royal official but also saved the father’s soul. Jesus even saved the servants because they also came to believe. The father became a great blessing to his family. He loved his son and his past troubles became great blessings, not only to him but to his whole household. What a great blessing it was to take Jesus at his word and depart. 

    [54] This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee. 

As the Bible says here, the healing of the royal official’s son is a miraculous sign, and shows something more than just the healing itself. What then does Jesus’ healing of the official’s son reveal? I believe it reveals two things:

First, Jesus’ healing of the official’s son reveals that the word of Jesus has the authority to give life. When Jesus said to the royal official, “Your son will live” his son lived again although he was close to death. This shows that the word of Jesus has power to give life. 

Jesus did not even need to know what caused the boy to be sick. When he simply uttered the word, “Your son will live” the fever left him in obedience to Jesus’ word. Indeed Jesus’ word has authority to give life.

No one among us is physically seriously sick enough to die. But spiritually-speaking many of us are suffering from sickness or symptoms of death. For example, if we complain about someone because we are suffering from that person’s weakness, we become spiritually ill. The more we think about it the bitterer we become. Our temperatures go up, we become heated. We suffer from an unknown, invisible fever. Certainly complaining is a symptom of dying. Do you know what is the symptom of living? Thanksgiving. Now if we do not have enough strength to carry out our duties we are spiritually weak. Lack of power is symptom of sickness. If we entertain the idea of giving up our spiritual struggles or if we suffer from depression we are weak. If we suffer from lack of self control in our eating or a quick temper we are ill. If we suffer from the cravings of our sinful desires such as physical relationship, computer games, we are spiritually sick. If our hearts sink and if we despair whenever unfavorable things come in our way we suffer from pain. I do not know how sick we are but it is very clear that we are suffering from all kinds of sickness and the elements of death. What then will save us from the power of death and give us life? What can give us the life that we need? The answer is: The word of Jesus. The word of Jesus can give us life that we need because it has the authority to give life. 

A few days ago I saw a T-shirt that read “Do not steal” on the front. There was nothing other than “Do not steal” on it. You can find the same words in Leviticus 19:11. Both versions have the same words and the same meaning. What then is the difference if there is difference? 

The difference between the text on the t-shirt and the text in the Bible is origin and authority. The words on the shirt came from man and the word in Leviticus came from God. The former is the word of man and the latter is the word of God. Man’s word has the authority of man, but God’s word has the authority of God. By appearance we cannot see the difference because they are the same words and the authority is invisible. What we believe inside of us is also invisible. However, what we believe determines our life and death. If we believe that the word of God has authority to give life, we live. If we do not believe this, we do not have any way to escape death. 

Once Mother Barry taught me that the secret of a fruitful ministry is to believe the authority and power of God’s word. Then I asked her what it means to believe the power and authority of the word of God. She thought about it a little bit and said, “I let the book judge me. I do not judge the book.” When she said this, I pictured her holding the Bible over her head in honor of its authority. One of the things she meant could be that ‘she sees her thoughts and actions under the word of God, and her behavior will all be judged according to the word of God.” Then she told me this story:

Billy Graham had a close friend when he was young, and both started God’s ministry. After a while his friend went to seminary but Billy Graham did not go. Since they were close friends, they spoke to each other whenever they got the chance. His friend was influenced by liberal scholars in seminary school who did not believe that the Bible is the word of God. They did not believe in the authority and power of the word of God. Graham’s friend began to share the same opinion about the Bible to Billy Graham. Graham resisted the idea for a while but little by little, it soaked into him. Then one day he realized that he could not bear the conflict anymore. He had to decide and believe one way or the other. So that very day while on his way to somewhere, he knelt down before God and confessed, “Lord, I cannot bear the conflict anymore. Here and now I decide to believe that the Bible is the word of God and it has all the authority and power of God.” After that event his ministry took off. I still remember Mother Barry’s usage of the expression “took off”.  This phrase means ‘soared’ or ‘became extremely fruitful.’ What happened to Billy Graham’s friend? I do not know. Indeed the word of God has power and authority of God. In today’s passage Jesus’ healing reveals that the word of Jesus has authority to give life.

Second, Jesus’ healing of the official’s son reveals that Jesus came to restore man’s faith in the word of God. Jesus performed many miraculous signs in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast after his first miraculous sign, but John’s gospel recorded today’s event as the second miraculous sign. Why? Probably because the miracles Jesus performed in Jerusalem were not based on the word of God. However, in today’s passage Jesus helped the royal official to believe the word of his promise. It shows that Jesus came to restore man’s faith in the word of God. Unbelieving the word of God is the fundamental problem of man. In the Garden of Eden God said to Adam, 

Genesis 2:16-17 

    “And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; [17] but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." 

God wanted Adam to believe the word of God and obey it. God did not show any miracles. Adam did not see death, and death even did not exist. God simply gave him the word of his promise. As long as Adam believed the word of God and obeyed he could eat the tree of life and enjoy eternal life. But Adam disobeyed the word of God. Then sin and death came through his disobedience. Since man’s fundamental problem comes from unbelieving the word of God Jesus worked hard to restore man’s faith in the word of God when he came. Today’s passage is one example which shows how much Jesus struggled to help man to believe the word of God. 

 In conclusion, what does Jesus’ healing of the royal official’s son reveal? It reveals that the word of Jesus has the authority to give life. It reveals that Jesus came to restore man’s faith in the word of God. 

One word: You may go. Your son will live.

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