Coming To Jesus is a theme of the gospel of John. Indeed, there are more calls for people “to come to Jesus” in John than in any of the other gospels. This is a striking feature, since John was written to believers. One would think, therefore, that John would not dwell so much on the topic, since believers have seemingly already made the choice of coming to the Lord Jesus. But the theme is there to emphasize the point that our conversion to being followers of Christ is a process.
Enacted parable of a believer’s growth
Growing closer to Christ requires us to recognize our weaknesses, humble ourselves, and follow the teachings of our Lord, even when everything in our nature and our instincts tell us to do otherwise. The account of the nobleman with the sick boy in John 4 is a depiction of the process (that every believer must go through) of coming to Christ and growing spiritually. Its presence in the gospel record is an assurance that God knows our frailties and the difficulties inherent in struggling against them.
Like the seven other recorded miracles in John’s gospel, this miracle contains symbolism. When the nobleman appears at the beginning of the account, he resembles us: he is a believer in Jesus, albeit with an incomplete understanding and an imperfect faith, who has a desperate problem.
The nobleman believed in Jesus because of the miracles Jesus had performed. He was from Capernaum, a city on the Sea of Galilee, which was about 25 miles away from Cana, where Jesus had performed his first miracle of turning water into wine. After performing that miracle, Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem to keep a feast where he performed more miracles, which were witnessed by many Galileans. They brought the report of Jesus back home with them, so that when he returned to Cana in Galilee (after traveling through Samaria), he was received enthusiastically (John 4:45).
The structure of verses 46 and 47 suggests that the nobleman’s son was sick at this time and was growing worse. With the considerable resources that the nobleman could muster, we can imagine that no expense was spared in trying different remedies to restore his boy to health. Yet his condition only worsened and death drew near.
Faith that was not complete
In this hour of great need, someone told the nobleman that Jesus was back in Galilee. Many men, unable to deliver themselves from trials by their own might or riches, have also denied the power of God and refused to believe that He could help them. But this man was not of that sort. He had faith in Jesus. What’s more, he was willing to put that faith into action by traveling to see Jesus and making a public appeal for his aid.
The nobleman wanted Jesus “to come down,” a request reflective (on the surface) of the topographical difference between Cana and Capernaum. Whereas Cana was in the rolling hills of Galilee, Capernaum was below sea level. The nobleman wanted Christ to come with him, which would necessitate him descending to a lower plane. In the allegory, the request is reflective of the immature spiritual discernment of those who would seek to bring Christ down to their level.
Believers, like the nobleman, are faced with a crisis that is unto death. Ecclesiastes 12 describes our mortal bodies as a house. Within that house, there is great sickness: our bodies are dying because of sin. Thus, our plight, as expressed by the apostle Paul, is the spiritual analogue of that faced by the nobleman: “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death” (Romans 7:24).
But the crisis of our mortality is not the only problem we face. We also suffer from spiritual weaknesses and trials of this life. When dealing with these issues, we must never fear to turn to our Lord, confessing that there is “sickness in our house,” and appealing for his aid. Yet we must do so in a way that exalts him. We must never attempt to bring him down to our level.
The nobleman wanted Jesus to “come down” with him so that Jesus could perform a miracle in his house. Jesus had been physically present when he turned water into wine, so the nobleman assumed that he had to be physically present to perform all of his miracles. Thus, although the nobleman knew of Jesus, his understanding was not complete. He did not know it was possible for Jesus to heal his son from miles away.
Therefore, the faith of the nobleman was somewhat lacking, particularly when contrasted with the faith of the people among whom Jesus had most recently preached, the Samaritans. He had not performed any marvelous works among them. Yet they believed in him (John 4: 41 – 42).
The sympathy of the Master
Jesus gave the nobleman a mild rebuke: “Then said Jesus unto him, ‘Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe’” (v. 48).
The nobleman was too distraught to understand the meaning of Christ’s words. Yet although he was confused, he did not lose his faith. He responded, “Sir, come down ere my child die.”
As righteous and powerful as Christ is, he is also able to sympathize with (Indeed, the Greek word translated “be touched with” in Hebrews 4: 15 is sumpatheo, which is related to our word “sympathy.”) Jesus always demonstrated compassion when teaching a meek and humble spirit. He was willing to help people who were trying as best as they could, and he did so with the nobleman. Jesus replied to him, “Go thy way; thy son liveth.”
The nobleman had just been delivered from a most difficult trial. He had been confused through much of it, yet he had not allowed his confusion to weaken his faith, and he had been constant in his appeals. He never doubted Christ’s ability to help him. Although his needs were provided for and his request heard, the deliverance he received did not come in the manner in which he had asked. He had wanted Jesus to come with him; instead Jesus told him to return alone, assuring him that he would find his son healed when he returned.
So, making the journey home would require faith on the nobleman’s part. Yet he did not set off on his way immediately, for it was not until the next day that he met his servants, who had set out to find him. It is likely that he spent the remainder of the day with Jesus, listening to him and learning of his doctrine. What better way could he have shown his gratitude?
When he met his servants the next day, they informed him that his son had recovered . The nobleman, desiring to confirm his faith, inquired of the hour at which his son “began to amend.” How interesting it is to note that, although the nobleman had learned so much from his encounter with Jesus, his faith and understanding still needed to grow. His question was, “When did he begin to get better.” The servants answered that he was completely healed at the seventh hour. Spiritual growth truly is a continual process. “So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house” (John 4:53).
A thankful response in joy
This is the first time the man is referred to as a “father.” Before this, he was called “the nobleman” or “the man.” What could this be but a subtle reminder to us of the great joy that this man felt at having his son restored to health. This was a joy that no status or possession could match. And what an example the nobleman sets for us in how he handled that joy. He “himself believed, and his whole house.” How could his “whole house” have believed if he had not shared with them of his experience in coming to Jesus? No doubt they would have been glad for those few hours he spent listening to Jesus, which he would be able to relate to them.
The Greek word translated “nobleman” in this account is basilikos, which signifies a “royal officer.” He may well have been Chuza, the steward of Herod, whose wife provided to Jesus of her substance (Luke 8:1–3). It is possible that it was her son who was healed by Jesus and that she gave to Jesus as a way of showing her gratitude.
Regardless of whether the nobleman was Chuza, he and his family most likely did a great deal to help Jesus in his ministry. After Jesus was rejected at Nazareth, he made Capernaum, the town of the nobleman, his headquarters.
Indeed, it came to be referred to as “his own city” (cf. Matthew 9:1 and Mark 2:1). It is hard to imagine that this was not due in some measure to the kindness, enthusiasm, and love that would have been shown to him by the nobleman and his family. Certainly the boy who was healed would have been thrilled to meet and spend time with the one who saved him.
That boy was healed at the seventh hour. We hope to be among those healed at the seventh, one thousand year period of God’s plan for the earth, that is, the Kingdom. If we are to be healed, we must come to Jesus now, and in coming to him, we must be humble and willing to learn and to be changed.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One