John 4:43-54

The Central Idea of the Text is that John selected Jesus’ healing the sick son of a royal official as the second sign to validate Him as Messiah. After spending two days with the Samaritans, Jesus then journeyed on to Galilee (John 4:43).  The Samaritans had honored Jesus by welcoming Him for who He is, the Messiah (John 4:25-26, 40-42), whereas the Jews in Galilee had dishonored Jesus because they received Him only for the miracles He performed (John 4:44-45).  When Jesus arrived at Cana, a royal official implored Him to cure his sick son who was in Capernaum (John 4:46-47).  Jesus rebukes the royal official, as well as those standing nearby, for seeing Jesus as a healer but not as the Messiah (John 4:48).  The royal official ignores Jesus’ rebuke and pleads for his son to be healed (John 4:49).  Jesus refuses his request to “come down” but answers his greater concern to heal his son, and the royal official believed the word of Jesus (John 4:50).  As he was traveling home, the royal official was met by some of his servants who informed him his son was healed (John 4:51).  When he asked about the time of healing, his servants revealed it was at the same hour Jesus spoke (John 4:52).  As a result, the royal official—as well as his whole household—believed in Jesus Messiah (John 4:53).  Though Jesus had performed other miraculous signs (John 2:23; 3:2), this is the second sign John handpicked to prove Jesus is the Messiah (John 4:54; cf. John 20:30-31).