at the point of death = about to die. Not the same miracle as that of the centurion's servant recorded in Matthew 8:5-12 and Luke 7:1-10 . The two miracles differ as to time, place, person, pleading, plea, disease, the Lord's answer, and the man's faith, as may be easily seen by comparing the two as to these details. read more
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.That he would come down and heal ... The faith of the nobleman was sufficient to send him to Capernaum, a distance of some sixteen miles, over hilly and rough terrain. The fact of the son's being at the point of death is pertinent; because only the direst necessity could have sent this nobleman to the despised prophet of... read more
John 4:47. He—besought him that he would come down— Though this nobleman's faith in our Lord's miraculous power was certainly very great, for he came at least a day's journey across the country to him,—which may be fairly inferred from Joh 4:52 as well as from the accounts which the best geographers give us of the situation of Cana and Capernaum;—yet it is plain, that it was not equal to that of many others mentioned in the gospels; for he appears to have thought it necessary that Jesus should... read more
E. Jesus’ resumption of His Galilean ministry 4:43-54Jesus continued to move north, back into Galilee, where He healed a nobleman’s son. read more
2. The second sign: healing the official’s Song of Solomon 4:46-54This 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 4:46). 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... read more
The official appealed to Jesus to make the approximately 13-mile trip from Cana to Capernaum to heal his son. He obviously believed that Jesus could heal people, but there is no indication that initially he believed that Jesus was more than a healer. "Instances are recorded in the Talmud, which may here serve as our guide. Various cases are related in which those seriously ill, and even at the point of death, were restored by the prayers of celebrated Rabbis." [Note: Ibid.] He must have felt... read more
The Samaritan Woman1-42. Christ in Samaria. The ministry in Samaria is recorded because it is the author’s design to exhibit Christ as the Saviour, not only of Israel, but of the world (John 4:42).The Samaritans were mainly an alien race, descended from the colonists planted in the land by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:6, 2 Kings 17:24, 2 Kings 17:26, 2 Kings 17:29; Ezra 4:1, Ezra 4:9-10). They boasted, however, of being Israelites, and with some degree of justification, for there was probably a... read more
(47) The distance of Capernaum from Cana was from twenty to twenty-five miles. The report of Christ’s return to Galilee had spread, then, over this wide area. read more
Our Lord in Work and Rest John 4:6 'Jesus being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well.' He carried His work to the point of weariness, and He rested in readiness for new labour. It was at the noontide of the day, and He was already worn out by His effort. Thus there is authority for Christians exhausting themselves in their service. This is a world of seeking, and He was seeking souls. He sought them as men seek for wealth and power, and never grudged the pains nor spared Himself.... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 4:46-54
25. Son of an official healed (John 4:46-54)Jesus was in the town of Cana when a government official arrived from Capernaum with an urgent request for Jesus to heal his son. Again Jesus was careful not to perform miracles to satisfy those who thought of him as merely a wonder-worker. But when he saw the man’s distress, he accepted what little faith the man had and announced that the son would live (John 4:46-50). The man accepted Jesus’ word and set out for home. When he learnt of the time and... read more