Verses 43-45 have led to much debate. Bishop Westcott says that ‘his own country’ refers to Judea, but Ryle is probably right that it refers to Nazareth. Jesus utters what seems to have been some kind of proverb (cf. Matt. 13:57; Luke 4:24; Mark 6:4). This is the second sign recorded, not the second performed (cf. John 2:23; 3:1-2).
1. Faith is corrected.
– 4:46-48. Jesus was at Cana, and the dying boy was at Capernaum, which was probably about 35 kilometres away. Jesus speaks in the plural, which the NIV makes clear (‘you people’).
– John 2:23-25; Matthew 12:39; Luke 23:8. Miracles are neither despised nor exaggerated in the Bible – John 10:38; 14:11. A Christian believes that Jesus did miracles, but it is not the centre and core of his faith.
– in Acts 12 James and Peter were arrested. James was beheaded and Peter was miraculously released. In 1967 Joni Eareckson dived into shallow water, broke her neck, and is still not healed. See Job 13:15.
2. Faith is tested.
– 4:49. Note Matt. 8:7-8. John 4:50 is quite a test. Take Christ as His word – John 6:40.
3. Faith is enhanced.
– 4:51-53. The man obviously believed in some sense in verse 47, and in verse 50 he trusted in Jesus’ word, and in verse 53 he and his whole household are said to believe in Jesus.
– growth in faith in Gen. 15:6-8; 1 Kings 17:17-18, 24. Dorothy Greenwell: I take Him at His word and deed:/ ‘Christ died for sinners,’ this I read;/ And in my heart I find a need/ Of Him to be my Saviour.