John 4:47 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

NIV: 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.

NASB: When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and began asking Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.

CSB: When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to him and pleaded with him to come down and heal his son, since he was about to die.

NLT: When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.

KJV: When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

NKJV: 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.

The man in question is only described using the Greek word basilikos, meaning a court official or nobleman (John 4:46). Scripture doesn't say if he was Jewish or a Gentile. Nor does it say exactly what his title was, what was wrong with his son, or any other details. As usual, none of those are the point of the story, so the Bible efficiently sticks to the important elements. Prior verses explained that Jesus' ministry is attracting attention. The local religious leaders are already watching Him (John 4:1–3). He has caused one public disturbance in the temple (John 2:13–17). Local people who went to Jerusalem for the required feasts saw what He did in the city (John 2:23), and more than likely spread those stories when they got home. This would have included Capernaum, where this man was from. Jesus has also spent the last two days in Sychar, where He was well received (John 4:40–42).

According to this verse, the man's son was in dire condition. So, probably as a last-ditch effort, he is willing to come plead with Jesus for healing. We can't be sure, from the Bible alone, if word of Jesus' wedding miracle had been spread (John 2:9–11). One way or the other, this man plans to ask Jesus for help. Specifically, he wants Jesus to come to his son in order to heal him. Jesus has other plans, however.

John 4:46–54 records the second of Jesus' seven miracles in the gospel of John. The primary point of this miracle is the importance of biblical ''faith,'' which is really ''trust.'' Jesus suggests that some people won’t believe—won’t actually ''trust'' in Christ—without seeing some miraculous event. Jesus then asks a miracle-seeker to act in trusting faith, by leaving without any proof that his request has been granted. As it turns out, the man has actual, trusting belief, and obeys. He finds his faith has already been rewarded on his way home. This also demonstrates the fact that God may sometimes answer our prayers long before we know He's done so.

Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman who is drawing water from a well. Jesus both confronts her about her sin, and comforts her with the truth of the gospel. In particular, He explains that even though He knows her sins, He still seeks after her, and those like her. The woman returns to town, eventually bringing many people to meet Jesus. The disciples, meanwhile, have to be reminded of the purpose of their mission. Jesus also heals the son of a government official in a way that demonstrates the importance of trusting faith, rather than reliance on spectacle.

John chapter 4 continues the use of contrast. Jesus goes from conversing with an educated, powerful, prestigious man to talking to an outcast, unlearned, self-conscious woman. The combination of this passage, along with Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, makes an important spiritual point. The gospel is for all people, in all places, and all times. Christ can reach each person exactly where he or she needs to be reached.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.