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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - John 4:46 - 4:54
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_4:46-54
46Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. 48So Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe." 49The royal official said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50Jesus said to him, "Go; your son lives." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. 51As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. 52So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives"; and he himself believed and his whole household. 54This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
Joh_4:46
NASB, NRSV,
NJB "a royal official"
NKJV "a certain noblemen"
TEV "a government official"
This was a governmental official in the service of the Herod family.
Joh_4:48 "'Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe'" This is a third class conditional sentence with a strong double negative. Jesus addresses this man in the plural. The Jews were seeking signs (cf. Joh_2:18; Joh_6:2; Joh_6:30; Mat_12:38; Mat_16:1). But this servant of Herod believed before the sign was given.
Joh_4:49 "child" In three verses John uses three different terms.
1. Joh_4:49 - paidion (NASB, "child")
2.Joh_4:50 - hyiôs (NASB, "son")
3. Joh_4:51 - pais (NASB, "son")
Obviously these terms were used synonymously.
Joh_4:50 This verse catches the essence of John's Gospel-believe in Jesus, believe His words, believe His acts, believe in His Person! This man's faith is affirmed in His belief without sight of Jesus' promises.
Joh_4:53 "he himself believed and his whole household" This is the first of many accounts where one person's belief affected the whole family.
1. Cornelius (Act_10:44-48)
2. Lydia (Act_16:15)
3. the Philippian jailer (Act_16:31-34)
4. Crispus (Act_18:8)
5. Stephanus (1Co_1:16)
There has been much discussion about these household conversions, but it must be asserted that all members needed to personally receive Jesus for themselves. The Middle East is much more tribal and family-oriented than modern cultures. It is also true that the significant others in our lives affect our choices.
Joh_4:54 The first public sign was the wedding feast at Cana (cf. Joh_2:1-11).
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