43 After the two days he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there.
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
5 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.
John 4:43–54
In this passage we see Jesus perform his second miracle. For a bit of a back story, Jesus began his name recognition in the temple courts in Jerusalem. There he over threw tables and drove out all with a whip he had made. This is for sure an attention grabber. The event must have spread like a wild fire to all in Jerusalem including those who were visiting at the time. Some of those who were visiting were the Galileans for in verse 45b it says “They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there.”
It also says that the Galileans welcomed him. Jesus at this point in his ministry was respected in the area of Galilee. Likely because the stories that were spreading were positive. It is probable that the Galileans saw Jerusalem as a center of governmental power much like Washington DC and anyone who would “shake things up” was a hero. Also, the concept that he may be the Messiah to restore all things played into this. The Messiah was to come as a King like David and take over and restore all things. Specifically, Jesus visits the same town he changed the water into wine. Here in this area, not only did they hear of his abrasive leadership in Jerusalem but they knew of his miraculous power.
Now, the base of this passage is about a royal official who has a sick son. What exactly the son is sick of we do not know. But we do know he is seriously sick and close to death. This man goes to meet Jesus and begs him to come and heal his son. Jesus tells him to go back home and that his son will live. We know that he and his household did not believe at the beginning of this passage even with all that they had heard. It was not until after the confirmation of this miracle that he and his whole household believed. In fact, Jesus knew this when he stated (and why he performed the 2nd miracle), “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe” (verse 48).
The most interesting thing about this passage is not that the boy was healed when Jesus was not in his presence, or that this official and all of his household believed, but the most interesting thing is the passages before this section regarding the Samaritans. The Samaritans had not heard of Jesus’ adventures in Jerusalem or the changing of the water to wine as far as we know. All they heard was a story from a women who said Jesus met at a well and told her everything she ever did and wondered if this could be the Christ. Many of them believed because of this women’s testimony (V39). They then sought Jesus out and asked him to stay with them, which he did. Many more Samaritans believed after this. Yet, without a miracle.
In contrast, this passage is about a man from Galilee who believed in Jesus’ miracle performing ability (because he heard of the water being turned to wine) but did not believe in Jesus. In addition, the passage does not seem to indicate that any other Galileans believed as a result of the miracle. Unlike the Samaritans, who believed only from testamony. And, unlike the Samaritans, he did not stay with them several days nor did the Galileans seek him out to ask. The man had the miracle he wanted including faith in Jesus. But, I have to wonder how deep was the faith of this man and his family compared to the faith of the woman at the well. This seems to be a pattern as the books of Mathew, Luke, and John progress. Jesus performs many miracles and many believe and flock to him. Some for truth, others to have their needs met.
The Galileans are much like the Israelites in the Old Testament. The Israelites wanted a king so they could be like the rest of the kingdoms around them. So, they got Saul as king which led them down a path of misery. The royal official was of the same superficial thinking the rest of the Galileans were. They saw Jesus as man who could provide what their flesh desired — food, miracles, and most of all, a king. This is why Jesus said, that without a miracle, they will never believe. In fact, later, the Galileans try to force Jesus to be their king. The Jews in Jerusalem rejected Jesus and the Galileans wanted him for all the wrong reasons. But, the Samaritans for all the right reasons. They wanted Jesus, the person, in their life.
In the past when I read these passages, I saw the women at the well as this sinful adulterous woman whom Jesus confronts about her past. I read into the woman’s responses that she was putting up smoke screens and denying repentance. In contrast, I saw this royal official as as man of true faith, seeking out Jesus and then believing. But in reality, the exact opposite is true. It is the woman with deep faith and the royal official with lackluster superficial faith. The key versus I never looked intently into were versus 39–42 where many Samaritans believe because of the woman’s testimony. In verse 42 it says:
42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
They heard and believed. No flashes of lightning, no dying son restored to life. Why do some believe without miracles and others believe only when they see a miracle? Do we need to see signs and wonders before our heart is fully set on Christ and him alone? I often ask myself why do I believe. Do I believe because my parents believed? Because I have heard and congregated with enough other believers that my faith is automatic? What if I am the last man standing in this faith, would I still believe? Would such a faith require miracles and signs to continue my faith?
The real question is, what is at the very core of my belief? Is it sustained by family, friends, a church, and my own thin layer of theology that I have molded around life experiences? Or, is it a real faith in the simple message of Jesus? My faith needs to be more like the Samaritans and less like the Galilean. To simply hear and believe because I know it is the truth, not because outside physical forces confirm it to be true. There is nothing wrong with a miracle in this day of age, and perhaps we need more of them. Nor, is there anything wrong with a miracle strengthening faith, as it should. But, the very core of your faith should be built on nothing less than the very words of Jesus himself.
This is our testimony. And, our testimony in and of itself is powerful, even greater than miracles. We know this because Revelations 12:11 tells us that the accuser will be defeated by the blood of the Lamb and the power of our testimony.
On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.
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