After Jesus changed the water into wine at a wedding feast (see John 2:1–11), word of his activities began to pass from village to village. It reached a certain nobleman in Capernaum, who sought out Jesus to heal his sick child (see John 4:46–54). There must have been news of remarkable healings being attributed to the Master for this wealthy and influential man to leave the bedside of his dying son and ask for aid. Jesus’ response to the nobleman’s request seems a bit stern: “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” Especially since the father did not come seeking teaching and instruction, with a desire to change his own thought, but only to get healing for his child—a healing no one else could provide.
Despite this comment, the father urges Jesus to come back with him to the son. He links the healing work with the physical presence of the healer. Jesus does not consent to go with him, but says with assurance: “Go thy way; thy son liveth.” The father is content with this—“And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him,” so he goes on his way. In effect the father’s fear has been healed—he expects to find his child recovered.
As the nobleman is returning home, confident of the healing, he is met by his servants, who come with the news, “Thy son liveth.” The father asks when the boy began to “amend,” and they reply: “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth.”
