Believe

Lesson 2 - Healing the Royal Official's Son

Context

In this second sign, Jesus was once again in Cana where he had previously turned water into wine at a wedding. John had mentioned that Jesus had done a number of signs since first being in Cana but does not provide us with details (e.g., John 2:23, 3:1-2, and 4:45).

In this story, we see a royal official’s need and a second “sign” that John fully details for us. With this sign, John points out to people what true belief looks like, where signs should lead people, and how one should ultimately respond to Jesus (verse 53).

John 4:46-54

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.