John 4:43 After the two days he went out from there and went into Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when he came into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast, for they also went to the feast. 46 Jesus came therefore again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water into wine. There was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him, and begged him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe.”
49 The nobleman said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 As he was now going down, his servants met him and reported, saying “Your child lives!” 52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. They said therefore to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour, the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” He believed, as did his whole house. 54 This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judea into Galilee.
After spending two days teaching the Samaritans Jesus went back to Cana of Galilee where he made water into wine. Clearly word about Jesus’ ability to do miraculous signs had spread throughout the land because the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast. Hearing of Christ’s miracles a nobleman who traveled the twenty miles from Capernaum approached Jesus begging him to come heal his fatally ill son.
Ask yourself, do you follow Jesus, properly honoring and obeying him as your Creator, sustainer, and Savior, or do you follow Jesus like playing the lottery, trying to win blessings?
That was the dilemma that Jesus was facing at this early point in his ministry. The Galileans saw the miracles and wanted some of that for themselves while still not recognizing that Jesus was the Messiah come to save the world from their sins and from the wrath of God’s judgment. Always compassionate, Jesus healed the boy without travelling to his home. After traveling the twenty miles back home the nobleman learned that his son had been healed at the exact time that Jesus had said, “Your son lives.” This was such an amazing sign that the man believed as did his whole house.
Notice that the nobleman was not simply satisfied to rejoice in the physical healing of his son. The miracle of healing had convinced him that Christ was more than a miracle worker. The sign convinced him that Christ was the Messiah, and, being convinced, he and his entire household placed their trust in Christ for salvation. In fact, John says that this is the reason that he wrote the book.
Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31
The nobleman found true life in Jesus’ name. He was born again. He received living water.