John 4:43 - Meaning and Application

In these verses we see Christ’s return to Galilee, John 4:43. Though the Samaritans welcomed him gladly, and he had great success among them, he left after two days. He did not leave because they were Samaritans, as if he wanted to confirm their prejudice against him, since some said, “He is a Samaritan” (John 8:48). He left because he must also preach in other towns (Luke 4:43).

He went into Galilee, where he spent much of his time. He went through the country parts of Galilee, but not to Nazareth, his own town. Jesus himself gave the reason: “A prophet has no honor in his own country.” Prophets should be honored, because God has honored them and people may receive good from their ministry. Yet they are often denied that honor, especially among their own people. This is usually true, though not always. Joseph was first hated by his brothers, David was looked down on by his brother (1 Samuel 17:28), Jeremiah was opposed by the people of Anathoth (Jeremiah 11:21), Paul was rejected by his fellow Jews, and Christ’s own relatives spoke lightly of him (John 7:5).

Pride and envy often make people scorn those they once knew as equals. People also tend to admire what is new, distant, or costly, while despising what is familiar to them. For a minister, it is a heavy discouragement to labor among people who place no value on him or his work. Christ would not go to Nazareth, because he knew how little respect he would receive there. And God is right to withhold his gospel from those who despise his messengers. Those who mock the messenger lose the benefit of the message (Matthew 21:35, 41).

When Christ came into Galilee, the people there received him gladly, John 4:45. They welcomed him and listened eagerly to his teaching. Christ and his gospel are never sent in vain. If some do not honor him, others will. The reason given for this welcome is that these Galileans had seen the miracles he did in Jerusalem. They had gone up for the feast of Passover. Galilee was far from Jerusalem, and the road passed through Samaria, which was troublesome for a Jew to travel through. Yet they went in obedience to God’s command, and there they met Christ.

This teaches us that those who faithfully attend public worship and God’s ordinances often find more spiritual good than they expected. At Jerusalem they saw Christ’s miracles, and those miracles strongly recommended both him and his teaching to them. The miracles were done for the people in Jerusalem, yet these visitors from Galilee gained more from them than the people for whom they were mainly performed. In the same way, a mixed crowd may hear the word, and occasional listeners may benefit more than the regular audience.

When he went to a city, he chose Cana in Galilee, where he had turned water into wine (John 4:46). He seems to have gone there to see whether that miracle had left any good fruit behind, and, if so, to strengthen their faith and water what he had planted. The evangelist mentions that earlier miracle here to teach us to remember the works of Christ.

Next we come to the healing of the nobleman’s son, who was sick with a fever. No other Gospel writer records this story. The man who came to Jesus was a nobleman, and the patient was his son, John 4:46-47. The word used can mean a court official, a man of rank, or one with authority under the king. Some think he was connected with Herod’s court, perhaps Chuza, Herod’s steward (Luke 8:3), or Manaen, Herod’s foster-brother (Acts 13:1). Even in Caesar’s household there were saints.

The father was a nobleman, yet his son was sick. Rank and honor do not protect families from sickness and death. This man lived in Capernaum, about fifteen miles from Cana, where Jesus was. Still, the trouble in his family drove him that far to Christ. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, and saw that Jesus was not coming toward Capernaum, he went to him himself and begged him to come and heal his son.

This shows both tender love and respect. He would spare no effort to help his son, and he humbled himself before Jesus. Though he was an important man, he came as a beggar. When people come to God, they must come in that way. His faith was mixed. He truly believed that Christ could heal his son, even though the case looked hopeless. He had likely already used doctors, and they had given up. Still, he believed Jesus could cure him.

Yet his faith was weak in one respect. He believed Jesus could heal his son, but he seems to have thought Jesus could not do it from a distance. So he asked him to come down and heal him, as if Christ needed to be present and touch the patient. We are often tempted to limit the Holy One of Israel and shape his power by our own ideas. The centurion, a Gentile soldier, had stronger faith when he said, “Lord, I am not worthy for you to come under my roof” (Matthew 8:8). This Jewish nobleman wanted Jesus to come down, even though it was a good day’s journey, and he almost despaired of healing unless Christ came in person.

We are encouraged to pray, but we are not allowed to tell God how to answer. We may say, “Lord, heal me,” but we must leave it to him whether he does it by a word or by a touch.

Jesus also gave him a gentle rebuke in this answer (John 4:48): “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The Samaritans believed without seeing signs and wonders, so Christ was saying that this man and others around him were depending too much on miracles. Even though he was a nobleman, was grieving over his son, and had shown great respect by coming so far to Christ, Jesus still corrected him.

A person’s rank in the world does not place them above the rebukes of God’s word or of providence. Christ does not judge by appearance, but with righteousness and fairness (Isaiah 11:3-4). Notice the order here: Christ first exposes the man’s weakness, so he can be ready for mercy, and then he grants his request. Those Christ means to honor with his kindness, he first humbles with his warnings. The Comforter first convicts.

Herod wanted to see some miracle too (Luke 23:8), and this royal official had the same mindset, as did many people. What was wrong with them was this. First, they had reliable reports of the miracles Jesus had done elsewhere, yet they would not believe unless they saw signs with their own eyes (Luke 4:23). They wanted to be honored and satisfied on their own terms, or they would not be convinced. Their hometown had to be given special attention, and their curiosity had to be pleased, or they would not believe.

Second, they had already seen many miracles they could not deny, and these should have led them to seek Jesus’ teaching. His doctrine, by its own goodness, would have gently led them toward spiritual maturity. Instead, they would not believe any farther than miracles pushed them. The power of the word did not move them or draw them, only the visible power of miracles did. But miracles are for those who do not believe, while preaching is for those who do believe (1 Corinthians 14:22). Those who admire miracles only and look down on preaching place themselves with unbelievers.

The man kept pressing his request (John 4:49): “Sir, come down before my child dies.” The word “Lord” would be a better rendering here. In his reply, there was something commendable and something blameworthy. He took the rebuke patiently and spoke respectfully to Christ. Though he was a man of standing, he could still bear correction. Rank does not make anyone too high for Christ’s word. It is a sign of a good spirit, especially in great men, when they can be told their fault without anger.

He also did not treat the rebuke as a refusal. He kept asking until he received what he sought. Indeed, he may have reasoned like this: if Christ heals my soul, surely he will heal my son; if he cures my unbelief, he will cure the fever too. This is the way Christ works, first on us, then for us. There is hope if we see him beginning that work in us.

Yet there was also weakness in him. He seems to have ignored the rebuke completely, saying nothing to confess it or excuse himself. He was so absorbed in worry for his child that he could think of nothing else. Worldly sorrow can greatly hinder our growth from Christ’s word. Heavy care and grief are thorns that choke the good seed (Exodus 6:9).

He also still showed weak faith in Christ’s power. First, he wanted Jesus to come down, as if Christ could help the child only if he were physically present. It is hard for us to believe that distance in time or place is no obstacle to our Lord’s power or knowledge, yet it is true. He sees from far away, and his word, the word of his power, runs swiftly.

Second, he believed Christ could heal a sick child, but not raise a dead one. So he said, “Come down before my child dies,” as if it would be too late after that. But Christ has the same power over death that he has over sickness. He seems to have forgotten that Elijah and Elisha raised dead children, and Christ’s power is not less than theirs. Notice how urgent he is: “before my child dies,” as if Christ might miss his moment. The one who believes does not need to rush in panic, but leaves himself with Christ, saying, “Lord, as you please, when you please, and how you please.”

At last Christ gave him the peace he asked for (John 4:50): “Go, your son will live.” Here we see Christ’s power, because he could heal, and heal with great ease, without going to the man’s house. Nothing is said, nothing is done, nothing is ordered, and yet the cure happens: “Your son will live.” The healing rays of the Sun of righteousness spread their good influence everywhere, and nothing is hidden from their warmth. Though Christ is now in heaven and his church is on earth, he can still send help from above.

The nobleman wanted Christ to come down and heal his son. Christ healed him without coming down. In this way, the cure happened sooner, the man’s mistaken idea was corrected, and his faith was strengthened. So Christ’s way turned out better than the man’s request. When Christ refuses what we ask, he often gives what is far better for us. We ask for relief, and he gives patience.

We also see Christ’s pity. He noticed the man’s pain for his son, and that natural fatherly concern showed itself in the words, “before my child dies.” So Christ let the rebuke drop and gave him assurance that his child would recover. He knows how a father feels for his children.

The nobleman believed the word of Christ and went away. Though Christ did not go down with him, he was satisfied with Christ’s way and counted the matter settled. How quickly, and how easily, what is lacking in our faith is completed by Christ’s word and power. He saw no sign or wonder, and yet he believed that the wonder had been done.

Christ said, “Your son will live,” and the man believed him. He believed not only that Christ knew the child had recovered, but that Christ’s word had brought the healing about. He had left the child dying, yet when Christ said, “He lives,” he believed, like Abraham, against hope but in hope, and did not waver through unbelief. Christ also said, “Go,” and as proof that his faith was real, the man went his way and gave neither Christ nor himself any further trouble.

He did not keep pressing Christ to come down. He did not say, “If my son gets better, even a visit will be enough.” No, he seems no longer anxious. Like Hannah, he went on his way, and his face was no longer sad. He was fully satisfied, so he did not hurry home that night. He returned at an easy pace, as someone who was completely at peace.

The nobleman’s faith was then confirmed again when he compared what happened with what his servants told him at his return. His servants met him with the good news that the child had recovered (John 4:51). They likely met him not far from his house, and, knowing how worried he had been, they wanted to ease his mind as soon as possible. David’s servants were reluctant to tell him when his child had died, but here Christ had said, “Your son lives,” and now the servants said the same thing. Good news meets those who hope in God’s word.

He asked what hour the child had begun to get better (John 4:52). He did not ask because he doubted that Christ’s word had worked. He wanted his faith strengthened, and he wanted to be able to answer anyone to whom he later spoke about the miracle. This was an important detail. It is good to gather every solid proof we can to strengthen our faith in Christ’s word, so it may grow into full assurance. “Show me a sign of your favor” is a fitting prayer.

Careful comparison of Christ’s works with his word helps confirm faith. The nobleman asked the servants when the child started improving, and they said, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” That means about one in the afternoon, or, as some think John counted time, seven in the evening. Not only did the child begin to recover, he became well all at once. So the father knew it was the same hour when Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” Just as God’s Word, when studied well, helps us understand his providences, so God’s providences, when watched carefully, help us understand his Word. God is always fulfilling Scripture.

Two things would have especially strengthened his faith. First, the recovery was sudden, not gradual. They named the exact hour. “Yesterday, at the seventh hour, the fever left him.” It did not slowly fade, or begin to ease. It left him in an instant. Christ’s word did not work like medicine, which takes time to act. No, with Christ, what he spoke was done. He did not speak and set it in motion, he spoke and it happened.

Second, the recovery happened at the very same time Christ spoke. That kind of match between events adds beauty and order to Providence. Watch the time, and the event itself becomes even clearer, because everything is beautiful in its season. It happened at the appointed time, like Israel’s rescue from Egypt (Exodus 12:41), and like Peter’s rescue from prison (Acts 12:12). In human work, distance causes delay. It is not so in Christ’s work. The pardon, peace, comfort, and spiritual healing he speaks in heaven can, if he chooses, be worked at the same time in believers’ souls. When those two are compared on the last day, Christ will be glorified in his saints and admired in all who believe.

The cure brought salvation to the whole household. The nobleman himself believed. He had already believed Christ’s word for this one need, but now he believed in Christ as the promised Messiah and became his disciple. A person’s own experience of the power and goodness of one word from Christ can be the means by which Christ gains the whole heart. Christ has many ways of winning a person, and by giving a temporal mercy he may open the way to greater blessings.

His whole household believed too. This was partly because they all had a share in the miracle, since it saved the child and the hope of the family. That touched them all and made Christ dear to them. It was also because of the influence of the head of the house. A father or master cannot give faith to others, and cannot force them to believe. But he can remove outside prejudices that keep people from seeing the truth clearly, and then much of the work is already done. Abraham was known for this (Genesis 18:19), and so was Joshua (Joshua 24:15). This man was a nobleman, and likely had a large household. When he entered Christ’s school, he brought them all with him. What a blessed change came to that house through the child’s sickness. That should help us accept affliction, since we do not know what good may come from it.

It is likely that the conversion of this nobleman and his family at Capernaum later led Christ to settle there as his main base in Galilee. When important people receive the gospel, they may help bring it into the places where they live.

John then remarks that this was the second miracle, referring back to the turning of water into wine in John 2:11, which was the first. That first sign happened soon after Christ’s first return from Judea, and this one soon after his second. In Judea he had already worked many miracles (John 3:2; John 4:45). They had the first offer, but when they drove him away, he worked miracles in Galilee. Christ will find welcome somewhere. People may, if they choose, shut the sun out of their own house, but they cannot shut it out of the world.

John notes that this was the second miracle for two reasons. First, it reminds us of the first sign done in the same place some months earlier. Fresh mercies should bring former mercies back to mind, just as former mercies should strengthen our hope for more. Christ keeps count of his gifts, whether we do or not. Second, it shows that this healing came before the many healings the other Gospel writers mention in Galilee (Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:34; Luke 4:40). Since the patient was a man of rank, the cure was probably widely talked about and brought many other sufferers to Christ. When this nobleman came to him, crowds followed. What great good can come when great men are good men.