The Nobleman's Miracle

The Passage

John 4:46-54

⁴⁶So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. ⁴⁷ When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. ⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”

⁴⁹The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”

 ⁵⁰Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. ⁵¹And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”

⁵²Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” ⁵³So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.

⁵⁴This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

A Little Background

Jesus went back to Cana, the sight of His first miracle where He turned the water into wine. That miracle was described as the first of seven signs of Jesus Messianic identity in John’s Gospel. This event is the second sign.

The nobleman was from Capernaum which is about 20 miles from Cana. He was very likely an official in Herod’s palace. Those who aligned with Herod were known as Herodians.

Some Explanation

“And there was a certain nobleman...” The Greek indicates that his position was related to royalty in some way.  That he was a certain nobleman suggests that there was something notable about him. We read in Matthew 4:23 that Jesus had been going all around Galilee teaching and preaching the Kingdom, and healing all kinds of sicknesses and diseases. The nobleman would have heard about Jesus’ healing and quickly ran to him for the sake of his son who was close to death.

“...signs and wonders...” Greek: semeion is a miracle that authenticates and teras is a wonder or miracle. They are very similar in meaning and are usually used together in the New Testament. Jesus was performing various signs, wonders and miracles to authenticate, or confirm His deity.

Observations and Insights

Jesus’ response to the nobleman seems odd to us; He rebuked the nobleman, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” We will see as we read on in the Gospels that Jesus continues to do many miracles, but also at times expresses rebuke to those who require miracles to believe. Apparently, this is what is in the nobleman’s heart. This is in contrast to the Samaritans.  Before coming to Galilee, Jesus had passed through Samaria where He met the woman at the well who spread the news of Jesus to the men of Sychar. Notice what John 4:40, 41 says about the Samaritans, “So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word.” There is no record of any signs, miracles or wonders done in Samaria. Only that the Samaritans believed Jesus simply because of His words, or His teaching.

There is no question of the urgency and desperation of the nobleman. His son was sick and close to death. But because he was a certain nobleman, perhaps there was something in his request that demanded that this Galilean carpenter come and prove Himself to him. He expected Jesus to come to the son, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” Although Jesus rebuked him, he also had compassion on him and his son. This miracle was a sign that proved Jesus’ power over distance. Jesus did not need to be present with the son to heal him; he healed the boy from 20 miles away. The nobleman believed that they boy was healed and went on his way. When he arrived back home, his servants met him with the good news. The timing of the healing confirmed that Jesus did indeed perform the miracle. Then both the nobleman and his entire household believed in Jesus. The first “belief” (v. 50) was regarding the healing. But the second “belief” (v.53) was regarding Jesus’ identity.

A leading trend in church growth today tells us to target key leaders and infiltrate echelons of government, education, entertainment, economics, etc. to leverage the gospel. Doing so will, we are told, will significantly impact potential influence for the kingdom of God. We delight in celebrity pastors who are “on the inside” with powerful influential politicians and entertainers.  The nobleman had status. But we don’t read anything in the text that his status was significant to Jesus. For one thing, Jesus rebuked him. Secondly, Jesus did not even go to his house with him, but sent him on his way.

If Jesus had gone to the nobleman’s house, He might have made many contacts for moving in governmental circles. If Jesus had favored the nobleman to get on the “inside” with Herod, He might have used that to His advantage. After all, John the Baptizer was in prison in Herod’s palace during this time. And if Jesus had pandered to the nobleman, He might have had a wealthy, influential sponsor for His ministry. And maybe, just maybe, his influence might have paid off later when things got dicey. But Jesus wasn’t dazzled by celebrity. The nobleman was just a father with a sick son, and Jesus simply met his need.

Jesus didn’t respond as the nobleman expected Him to. The nobleman could have demanded personal attention, but he didn’t. He just believed. Jesus went beyond his expectations and healed his son immediately.

God is no respecter of persons—he does not show favoritism or partiality (Acts 10:34, James 2:1). We are all just simple sheep in His sight who need a Savior. We think that we can orchestrate fabulous scenarios to spread the Gospel. And we are sure that we know what is good and best for our situation—especially when it’s Biblically based. But God chooses the foolish and base things of this world to confound the wise. His ways are higher than ours. Whatever our need, we can trust His absolute sovereignty. He is able to work all things together according to the perfect counsel of His will. 

Next reading: Matthew 4:13-16; Luke 4:16-30

The Kingdom

The Passage

Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14-15; John 4:43-45[1]

Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.

So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.

From that time Jesus began to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God and to say, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

A Little Background

The feast referred to here is the Passover. Jesus had left Galilee after the wedding at Cana and gone to Jerusalem for the Passover. All faithful Jews observed Passover, and the Galileans had seen Jesus there when He defied the authorities and cleansed the temple, and when he did the many signs referred to in John 3:2. Now He was returning to His own region. The people of Galilee were eager to see and hear Him again.

When Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they rejected God’s command, and were deceived by the serpent, Satan. The result of their sin was death, both physical and spiritual. But also God gave them hope in a promise or covenant. One day a son would be born who would defeat Satan’s power. (Genesis 3:15) From that point on, every woman’s hope was to give birth to a son who would be the Promised One—the One set apart or anointed as God had promised. They looked for this Messiah.[2]

As time went on, God began to tell the people, through the prophets, of a future time when the Messiah would rule and all would be redeemed. By the time that Jesus was born, the Israelites knew the promises, and they were waiting. When the Messiah came, He would subdue and deliver them from their oppressors and bring about the glorious promised kingdom and Israel would be returned to its former glory. But for 400 years prior to Jesus, there had been no prophets speaking for God. It seemed as if God was silent.

The silence was broken when the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias with the message that he and Elizabeth would have a son who would be the Messiah’s messenger. As Jesus began His ministry, perhaps rumors and old shepherd stories had been spread about a baby who had been born some 30 years before. Expectation was high as the people looked for this Promised One to reveal Himself.

Some Explanation

Mar 1:14-15 states, “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” It is important to understand what is meant by the Kingdom of God/Heaven[3] and how it relates to the Gospel. If we get this wrong, not only can it open the door to false teaching and deception, but it can also have eternal consequences.

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary explains that the term “Gospel” means "good message or "good news":

In the NT it denotes the "good tidings" of the Kingdom of God and of salvation through Christ, to be received by faith, on the basis of His expiatory [Ed. atoning] death, His burial, resurrection, and ascension, e.g., Acts 15:7; 20:24; 1Peter 4:17.[4]

The term Gospel also identifies the first four books of the New Testament—in other words, “The good message (good news) according to Matthew” or “The good news according to John,” etc. 

The term Kingdom sometimes refers to the Kingdom of God and sometimes Kingdom of heaven. Many times these terms are interchangeable. Matthew 11:11, 12, and Luke 7:28 are parallel passages that use both terms. Jesus also used both terms interchangeably in the same conversation in Matthew 19:23, 24. In other places in the New Testament, the term Kingdom of God refers to a future time when Jesus returns and sets up His own rule upon the earth.[5]

From the announcement of Gabriel to Zacharias until now, we have read that Jesus is revealed as the Christ/Messiah who will establish God’s Kingdom just as the Old Testament prophets foretold.

Zacharias stated that John would give knowledge of salvation for the remission of sins. The angel declared that Jesus would save His people from their sins. Simeon saw his salvation and John pointed to the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. Jesus told Nicodemus that he could not see the Kingdom unless he was born again, and He told the woman at the well that He was the source of everlasting life. The Samaritans proclaimed that He was indeed the Savior of the world.

Jesus’ kingdom is established in the salvation He was to provide on the cross. As we move forward now, we will see Jesus preaching and teaching the character of His Kingdom. The law said, “You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.” But Jesus said that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. The law required love for one’s neighbors, but Jesus taught to love our enemies.

So, the good news is that Jesus is the Anointed, Promised One—Messiah—who will deliver individuals from the judgment and destruction from Genesis 3 and bring us into a spiritual kingdom in which He reigns. We enter into this kingdom by salvation which is a new, spiritual birth, known as being born again. The subjects of His Kingdom will live with God’s law of love written on their hearts of flesh.

Jesus did not set up an earthly political kingdom. He will say to the Pilate in John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Jesus will indeed establish an earthly kingdom, but until that future day, His kingdom must first be established in those who will believe on Him and give Him the realm or domain of their hearts in which He reigns as King.

Observations and Insights

The Jews could only understand the Kingdom as earthly and political, and that power, influence, and righteousness would earn one prominence and leadership. Just as the Pharisees misunderstood the Kingdom, others have made disastrous errors in history. The Crusades and the Inquisitions were cruel tools of the Roman church to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. Even the protestant Cromwell thought that he could establish a righteous government, and tyrants have perverted the promise of a kingdom to manipulate the masses.

Today, two streams of misinterpretation of the Kingdom vie for attention in the church at large. One teaches that all mankind is being pulled into God. This stream of the church rejects Jesus’ blood atonement, and preaches Christian Universalism that denies any future judgment. Doug Pagitt states:

God is constantly creating anew. And God also, invites us to be re-created and join the work of God as co-(re)creators...Imagine the Kingdom of God as the creative process of God reengaging in all that we know and experience...When we employ creativity to make this world better, we participate with God in the re-creation of the world.[6]

Bob DeWaay, an opponent and researcher of the movement explains, “These writers often refer to “God’s dream.” Apparently they mean that God imagines an ideal future for the world that we can join in and help actualize. When this dream becomes reality in the future, it will be the Kingdom of God.” [7]

The second stream of error teaches that God is establishing His Kingdom now through a new apostolic reformation. All churches will organize under these apostles and prophets who receive new revelation from God for taking over spheres/mountains of culture and government. These leaders promote using “the sword” as necessary. They separate the Gospel from salvation and minimize it stating that Jesus didn’t preach the Gospel of salvation—He preached the gospel of the kingdom. Our task is to legislate gospel principles.

The first part of the Dominion Process happens by God’s initiative in a moment of time.  The second part happens by man’s efforts over a course of time.  The first part happens when God declares the word of righteousness over His subjects.  The second part happens when His subjects proceed to subdue the earth and take dominion of it.  God takes responsibility for the first part.  Man takes responsibility for the second part. [8]

Proponents claim that communities can be transformed without even being aware of it. How can this be? It can only happen if salvation is marginalized, and morality prioritized. It brings others under the dominion of legalism and turns the gospel of peace into a gospel of dominion. History teaches us that such dominion does not work.

Both of these streams, though seemingly opposite, merge together in unexpected ways. Both deny future judgment. Both embrace a future Kingdom by attracting followers with the promise of being a part of an elite leadership that will be co-creators with God. Both either deny the means of salvation or undermine it so that unbelievers will receive it as a means of prospering rather than an acceptance of God’s way of mercy from His coming wrath.

As an American Christian, I recognize a great and precious privilege that I have had to be in a nation established in Judeo-Christian principles. Many have given their lives to secure the freedoms we have enjoyed, and constitutional rights that have protected and prospered us. We have enjoyed a prosperity unrivaled in human history. We view these unique blessings as part of a Christian heritage. Although our constitution guarantees us certain unalienable rights, Jesus promised us no such rights. On the contrary, He promised that we would experience tribulation in this world, and that if the world hated Him, it would hate us as well.

I confess that I worry about the world that my grandchildren will inherit. It’s easy to fixate on a lifestyle that once was free and prosperous. I am sometimes tempted to get caught up in a militancy that demands a return us to the values of our forefathers, for we know how godliness benefits a free society. But I also know that Jesus’ commandment is my first priority—to preach the Gospel, that Jesus died and was buried for our sins, and that He rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. Jesus said, “...the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.” Repent from sin. Believe that Jesus’ cross-work paid its price.

This is God’s way of salvation into His Kingdom, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Phil. 3:20, 21)

Next John 4:46-54

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[1] Note:  Much of the Harmony readings will be pieced together like a puzzle putting the four Gospels together into one narrative.  I am copying the order or format from A Simplified Harmony of the Gospels, George W. Wright, Holman Bible Publishers, 2001.  However, I am using the New King James rather than the HCSB.  This order is from the research of Wright and is open to discussion.  Of course, you can also read the passages side by side separately if you prefer.

[2] Many commentators believe that this is what Eve meant when she gave birth to Cain saying, ““I have acquired a man from the LORD.” Eve had hoped that Cain was the fulfillment of God’s promise.

[3] The study of future events particularly as it relates to the coming kingdom is called eschatology. It is not the scope of this blog to discuss the various view of the millennium or tribulation.

[4] Vine, W. "Dictionaries :: Gospel (Noun and Verb: to Preach)." Blue Letter Bible. Sowing Circle. 24 Jun, 1996. Web. 13 Feb, 2014. .

[5] For more on this topic see, http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/Dictionary/viewTopic.cfm?topic=VT0001572

[6] Doug Pagitt as quoted by Bob DeWaay, The Emergent Church- Undefining Christianity, 2009, Bethany Press International, St. Louis, MO.

[7]Ibid, pg. 18.

[8] Mark Pfeifer, “Theology of Reclaiming 7 Mountains: The Dominion Process”