John 4:46-54

John 4:46-54

[46] So  came  again  into  Cana  of Galilee,  where  he made  the water  wine.  And  a certain  nobleman,  whose  son  was sick  at  Capernaum.  [47] When he  heard  that  Jesus  was come  out of  Judaea  into  Galilee,  he went  unto  him,  and  besought  him  that  he would come down,  and  heal  his  son:  for  he was at the point  of death.  [48] Then  said  Jesus  unto  him,  signs  and  wonders,  believe.  [49] The nobleman  saith  unto  him,  Sir,  come down  ere  child  die.  [50] Jesus  saith  unto him,  Go thy way;  son  liveth.  And  the man  believed  the word  that  Jesus  had spoken  unto him,  and  he went his way.  [51] And  as he  was now  going down,  his  servants  him,  him, saying,  son  liveth.  [52] Then  enquired he  of  them  the hour  when  he began  to amend.  they said  unto him,  Yesterday  at the seventh  hour  the fever  left  him.  [53] So  the father  knew  that  it was at  the same  hour,  in  the which  Jesus  said  unto him,  son  liveth:  and  himself  believed,  and  his  whole  house.  [54] is again  the second  miracle  that Jesus  did,  when he was come out  of  Judaea  into  Galilee. 

What does John 4:46-54 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This incident completes a cycle in John"s Gospel. Jesus performed His first sign in Cana ( John 2:1), and now He returned and did another miracle there ( John 4:1-38). There is even a second reference to Capernaum ( John 2:12; John 4:46). John"s account of Jesus" first miracle in Cana ( John 2:11) ended with a reference to the weak faith of the Jews that rested only on miracles ( John 2:23-25). His account of Jesus" second miracle in Cana ( John 4:54) opens with a similar reference ( John 4:45; John 4:48). In short, this section seems to be an inclusio framed by two miracles in Cana with two conversations occurring between them. Jesus" conversation with Nicodemus is typical of the reception that the Jews gave Him, but His conversation with the Samaritan woman shows the reception that non-Jews more typically gave Him. We see these two attitudes toward Jesus not only in the Gospel accounts of His ministry but also in Acts. The center section that the structure highlights is essentially an exposition of Jesus" mission ( John 3:16-36).
AJesus" first sign in Cana John 2:1-11BA reference to Capernaum, Jesus" headquarters John 2:12CHostility toward Jesus in Jerusalem John 2:13-25DNicodemus" response to Jesus John 3:1-15EThe importance of Jesus" mission John 3:16-36D"The Samaritan woman"s response to Jesus John 4:46C"Acceptance of Jesus in Samaria John 4:39-42B"A reference to Galilee, Jesus" major ministry arena John 4:43-45A"Jesus" second sign in Cana John 4:46-54
This pericope ( John 4:46-54) constitutes the closing incident in John"s account of Jesus" early public ministry (chs2-4). It shows Him returning to Cana, Nathanael"s hometown ( John 21:2), where He performed another significant miracle. John evidently included it to show that Jesus" demonstration of His authority resulted in some Jews believing on Him.
"Both the miracles performed at Cana ... are thus shown to have been prompted by trust. Mary trusted her Son to do something to relieve the embarrassment of their host at the wedding. The father of the sick boy was equally confident that he could rely on Jesus" help. Both miracles are also shown to have resulted in a personal surrender to Jesus which is full Christian faith. His disciples believed on him after the water had been turned into wine; the father and the rest of his household believed as the result of the healing of the boy: and in both cases the verb in the original is an inceptive aorist "they put their faith in Him"." [1]