Can You Take Jesus at His Word? John 4:43-54

Jesus Heals an Official’s Son

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.”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.

You often hear the term "familiarity breeds contempt".  When Jesus went back to Galilee, where he grew up, although they welcomed him, we know from other passages that he could not do miracles there. 

"It’s a little hard to know if John meant to associate the place where Jesus was not honored to be Judea or Galilee. A case can be made for either; clearly the other Gospels quoted this principle and related it to Galilee."(Matthew 13:57 and Mark 6:4). Guzik

Since they had made the trek to Jerusalem to the Passover feast, they had seen the miracles Jesus had performed there. We don't know what specific miracles he had done there, but John 2:23-25 says Jesus did “many other signs”. Jesus then went to Cana, where he  had turned the water into wine   He likely has friends there. 

A royal official (probably of Herod Antipas), came to seek out Jesus, because his son was very ill. He was one of many parents in the bible who came to implore Jesus to heal their child. Jesus appears to rebuke the man as a result of his request, but I think it is more of a commentary on those who knew Jesus, but would only believe if he did miracles at their bidding. 

"Jesus rebuked those who depended on signs and wonders before they would believe. It might seem that Jesus was harsh towards this man who wanted his son healed, but He encountered many in Galilee who were interested only in His miracles – He therefore questioned this man accordingly." (Guzik)

Curiously Jesus says, "Go and your son will live."  The man could have thought that Jesus was just blowing him off and trying to get rid of him.  But instead, the man took Jesus, “AT HIS WORD!"  In a way you could say Jesus tested the man's faith by not showing him any more mediate sign.  Importantly the man takes Jesus at his word.  This man demonstrates true faith by simply trusting in Jesus’ word and leaves as evidence of his faith.  Note if your son was near death how hard would it be to leave thinking Jesus was your last hope to keep your son alive.   

And sure enough on his way home, his servants meet him and tell him his son is completely healed.  The man's faith had now become sight.  Not only was he healed, but when the man inquired what time the healing happened, it was the exact same time Jesus had said, "Your Son will live."  The man believed Jesus at his word was rewarded even before he got home.    

We he returns to his home what a scene it must have been. The fact that his whole household believed implies he had told them about his conversation with Jesus in Cana.  He shared with them how against all odds he believed in Jesus' words, "Your son will live!"  The man's faith led to the faith of those he loved most.    

Where do you need to believe Jesus' at his word right now in your life?  Where might Jesus call you to go in faith without necessarily seeing the results until you get there?  Who are the other people who will benefit from seeing you trusting in Jesus' word?