(43-15a)
For this week’s study:
- Any time you read or study the Bible, always start with prayer, asking God to guide you, so you understand God’s message and learn His methods for living.
- Read John 4:43-54 several times using your Bible, and the two translations provided below, to understand the boundaries, content and flow of the study passage. (Reading the passage once a day from any of those translations is recommended.)
- Read and respond to the “Study Guide” and “Study Resources” provided below.
Read the Passage
Berean Standard Bible
(BSB)
Jesus Heals the Official’s Son
(cp. Matthew 8:5–13;
Luke 7:1–10)
<43>After two days, Jesus left for Galilee. <44>44Now He Himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown. <45>Yet when He arrived, the Galileans welcomed Him. They had seen all the great things He had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they had gone there as well.
<46>So once again He came to Cana in Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. <47>When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die.
<48>Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”
<49>“Sir,” the official said, “come down before my child dies.”
<50>“Go,” said Jesus. “Your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at His word and departed. <51>And while he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was alive.
<52>So he inquired as to the hour when his son had recovered, and they told him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.1 ”
<53>Then the father realized that this was the very hour in which Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and all his household believed.
<54>This was now the second sign that Jesus performed after coming from Judea into Galilee.
Word Come Alive
(WCA)
(An extended translation)*
Jesus heals an official’s son
<43>Two days later Jesus left their town and went to his home area of Galilee <44>because he knew that a prophet is not honoured in the place where he grew up. He himself had already declared this. <45>So when he arrived in Galilee, the people welcomed him. They had seen all the miraculous signs he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover festival, as they had been there too.
<46>Jesus went back to Cana in Galilee, where he had changed water into wine. A royal official at Capernaum had a son who was very ill. <47>When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to that area, he sought him out. The man kept trying to persuade Jesus to come to his home and heal his son, who was critically ill; in fact, his son lay at death’s door.
<48>Jesus challenged the man gently, ‘Unless you people see miracles, you won’t believe.’
<49>The royal official took Jesus’ challenge to heart. He was desperate for his son to get well. ‘Sir,’ he begged Jesus urgently, ‘please come quickly before my child dies!’
<50>Jesus answered him, ‘Go home. Your son is not going to die. He will live!’
Without any hesitation, the man trusted Jesus’ promise. He set out for home, <51>but while he was still on his way back, his servants met him. They were coming out to tell him that his son was alive and well! <52>The father was overjoyed at the news. He was also intrigued and asked them when his son had begun to recover.
They told him, ‘His fever disappeared completely at 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon.’
<53>The father then realised this was the very time when Jesus had told him, ‘Your son is not going to die. He will live!’ So the miraculous healing of his son brought the official and his whole household to trust in Jesus.
<54>This was the second miraculous sign Jesus performed after going from Judea to Galilee.
* Words in italics are not translated from the original Greek text. They have been added to explain and at times apply the text, much as a preacher does on a Sunday or notes do at the foot of the page in a study Bible. These additions are integrated with the text itself, and are in italics, so readers can see what has been explained, changed or added.
Study the Passage
Study Guide
Because of his position in the Roman government, the royal official would have had better medical resources then most people. Why would he have gone to Jesus for help?
How would you describe this man’s faith in Jesus?
How is it that his whole household (not just he or his family) believed (v. 53)?
If you were the Royal official, what would you have told your household that would cause them to believe?
(Learn more about hope and faith HERE.)
Study Resources
To learn more about this study passage, go to
https://www.bibleref.com/John/4/John-4-43.html. Read the commentary of each verse in the study passage. (Also read the Context Summary and the Chapter Summary.)
If you have any questions about this passage, type the verse reference or your question in the search box at the top of
https://www.gotquestions.org/ and explore the results.
If you have a study Bible, read the footnotes and study notes and see how they help you understand this passage. Also check out any maps, charts and articles related to the study passage.
Thessalonian Faith 