A desperate father approaches Jesus because his son is dying. But Jesus does not travel home with him. Instead, he gives the father a promise—and the man must decide whether Jesus' word can be trusted.
1. Connect
When is it hardest to trust someone's word without immediately seeing evidence that what they said is true?
2. Read
Read together.
Notice what the father asks Jesus to do and how he responds to Jesus' answer.
(NET2)
46 Now he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had made the water wine. In Capernaum there was a certain royal official whose son was sick. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come back from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and begged him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders you will never believe!” 49 “Sir,” the official said to him, “come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus told him, “Go home; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and set off for home.
51 While he was on his way down, his slaves met him and told him that his son was going to live. 52 So he asked them the time when his condition began to improve, and they told him, “Yesterday at one o’clock in the afternoon the fever left him.” 53 Then the father realized that it was the very time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he himself believed along with his entire household. 54 Jesus did this as his second miraculous sign when he returned from Judea to Galilee.
What caught your attention?
3. Explore
Look back at the passage as you discuss these questions.
- What is the father's situation when he comes to Jesus?
- What does he initially expect Jesus to do?
- Instead of going with him, what does Jesus tell him in verse 50?
- How does the man respond before he has any evidence that his son is better?
- What does he discover when he returns home, and how do he and his household respond?
4. Consider
The man eventually discovers that his son recovered at the exact time Jesus spoke.
- What does this suggest about Jesus' authority?
- Why do you think John emphasizes that the man believed Jesus' word and departed?
- What is the relationship between seeing signs and believing in this story?
- What do you find difficult or compelling about the account?
5. Respond
The father approaches Jesus because of a crisis. He leaves trusting a promise.
What would make it difficult for you personally to take Jesus at his word?
What does this sign reveal about Jesus?
Explore More
Read and notice the different ways people come to believe in Jesus.
Next Conversation: Do You Want to Be Well? — Healing the Disabled Man.