Sermon Central
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Go Thy Way: When Jesus Healed A Nobleman’s Son Series
Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 27, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: Jesus had come from Judea and had already passed through Samaria, and now was in Cana of Galilee, where He had performed His first miracle, as recorded in John 2. Now He’s again in Cana and He will encounter someone there who has a need that only Jesus Himself can fulfill.
IV The outcome
And the man believed Jesus, at His words, and “went his way (verse 50)”. We don’t know if the man went back to Capernaum or stayed in Cana or somewhere in between. Regardless, when he got back to Capernaum, several people were there to meet him! Verse 51 states that “as he was now going down (Capernaum was at a lower elevation than Cana, being close to the Sea of Galilee), his servants met him . . .” And what a story they had to tell!
There’s something we can glimpse about this ruler, this nobleman, in that not only did he have servants, but they went to meet him! I don’t read of any of them being upset about the ruler coming back home, or hiding from him. No, they welcomed him back to his home. This gives me a glimpse of his character, one of those rare people who have positions of power and yet retains the respect of his servants.
Not only were they glad to see him return, they provided good news! The servants told him “Your son lives! (v. 51, paraphrased)”. Were they as concerned for the boy as his father was? I would like to think so, that if any of my children were at death’s door, others would be concerned for them, too, regardless of my social class or standing or any such thing.
Once the father heard the good news about the healing, he then asked about the hour or the time when it took place. I’ve always felt that this was a bit odd, but then, the nobleman may not have known just exactly when the boy would be healed. Jesus had only said, “Go thy way”, and the man had done so.
Imagine his surprise when he found out the boy was healed at the moment Jesus had spoken! The man believed (v.53) and his whole household believed, too! This man may have been told, “you won’t believe unless you see a sign or wonder (v48, paraphrased)” but when he saw, he believed!
The man went to Jesus with a burden, and returned home to a blessing. The journey was worth it, as his son received healing which apparently only Jesus could provide. Jesus told this man, “go thy way” and he became a believer at the end of his journey. O that we might do the same.
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV)
