YOUR SON WILL LIVE

John 4:43-54 / Keywords 4:50

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

Jesus Heals an Official’s Son

4:43 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 Festival, for they also had been there.

46 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.

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

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

50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”

The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 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, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”

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

54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.

1. Jesus returned to Galilee and was met by a large crowd. They had witnessed

his miracles, but Jesus knew they still did not believe in him. Our faith must not

only come from witnessing miracles but through the word of God. A royal official

approached Jesus, pleading for healing for his dying son. Jesus challenged the

man by saying that unless they saw miracles and signs, they would never believe.

2. The royal official persisted. He begged Jesus to go with him. Instead, Jesus

said, “You may go. Your son will live” (50). The man took Jesus at this word and

obeyed. On his way back to Capernaum, the man’s servants met him with news

that his son was alive! The fever left at the same time Jesus told the man he could

go. What changed the situation was this man’s obedience and attitude to Jesus’

words. When he believed, his son was healed.

3. In desperate situations, we long for a miracle or a sign of assurance. In such

moments, we can put our expectation, hope, and faith in Jesus by taking him at

his word. Heaven and earth will pass away, but Jesus promised that his word will

never pass away (Mt 24:35)! His word makes the dead come alive and heals the

sick. May our faith be rooted in the word of Jesus.

Prayer Lord Jesus, forgive me for seeking a sign from you. You have given me

your life-giving word. May I accept your words today.

One Word Take Jesus at this word