John 4:46-52 – Jesus is the answer to man’s faith

Let’s take a minute and put ourselves in the shoes of the Nobleman. Nothing in life can be more miserable, more devastating than to have one’s son at the jaws of death. Here was a royal official of Herod’s court. He had everything he wanted at his disposal, yet he was at a point in life that the very thing he wanted most, the wholeness of his sick son, seemed to be eluding him. We are told that all these took place in Cana of Galilee, the town where Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding, by turning water into wine. This nobleman must have heard of the miracles that Jesus had done and knew that his only hope was in Him. On hearing that Jesus was in town, this ruler from Capernaum bee-lined for Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, who at this time was at the point of death. The word “imploring” in verse 47 is in the continuous tense. It is better translated as “begging” or “pleading.” This royal man, who had hardly bent his knees to anyone, would now be at the feet of Jesus and continuously begging Him to come and heal his son.    

Jesus words in verse 48 were dampening words. These words seemed cold, calculating and cutting. It’s like pouring cold water on that nobleman’s faith. He said, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” Was Jesus discouraging him? Of course not! However, this man was the representation of man’s imperfect faith. We would often come to Jesus not because we recognize Him for who He is, but more for the signs and wonders we could get from Him. This man’s experience challenges us to believe in miracles, but we must always trust in the Lord. The Lord’s words here are an expression of His desire to see people wanting more of Him than just merely chasing what He can give. What Jesus said here is not an indication of His reluctance but a demonstration of His grace. For we see later that the son was indeed healed.

In John 4:49-52, we will see the faith of that man tested and strengthened. He did not come down and try to pull rank on Jesus. He was a nobleman after all. Instead, his cry was for mercy. He said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus’ reassuring words, “Go; your son lives” was met with unfeigned faith. Without hesitation, he got up and believed every word of Jesus.  Acting on Jesus words is a clear demonstration of trust. No questions of “…what if or but”, this man just got up and went on his way believing that what Jesus had said would come to pass. This is faith. It is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence or conviction of things unseen. People say, “Seeing is believing” but the assuring words of Jesus brought about an unusual reversal to that statement. For every Christian whose trust is in the Lord, “Believing is seeing.”

The tell-tale sign that this nobleman had completely trusted Jesus can be seen in the time indication in verses 52-53. He left the place at the seventh hour which is 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Traveling by a horse he should have been home by 5 pm. But we are told that the healing took place at 1 pm yesterday. It simply meant that the nobleman had stayed a bit longer in town. He trusted Jesus’ words so completely that he just took his time to travel home leisurely. Perhaps he went about doing his other business and was no longer worried about his son’s condition. One word from Jesus was more than enough. There was a marked difference between his urgent and breathless ride to Cana, and his casual and leisurely ride back home. Faith made the difference.

Jesus is the answer to man’s faith. That nobleman was rewarded for trusting Jesus. Like him, we must take Christ at His word. When he got home his whole family, and even his servants, were all willing to trust in Jesus as well. All of us have opportunities in life to develop faith in Jesus. No one is exempted from difficult circumstances in life. In our trials, God has a certain word for us in each of them. The pertinent question is: do we dare to trust Him?  Faith will be strengthened every time we put action to the word of God. No matter how trying our circumstances may be, let’s come to Him to hear His word and then to obey Him unquestioningly. It is the only way to a strengthened faith and a rewarding life.