INTRO TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, Sarah Barry
YOUR SON WILL LIVE
Passage: John 4:43~54  
Key verse: 50
Jesus Heals an Official’s Son
43 After the two days(A) he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)(B) 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival,(C) for they also had been there.
46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine.(D) And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea,(E) he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,”(F) Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”
53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household(G) believed.
54 This was the second sign(H) Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
The royal official persisted. He begged Jesus to go with him. Instead, Jesus said, “You may go. Your son will live” (50). The man took Jesus at this word and obeyed. On his way back to Capernaum, the man’s servants met him with news that his son was alive! The fever left at the same time Jesus told the man he could go. What changed the situation was this man’s obedience and attitude to Jesus’ words. When he believed, his son was healed.
In desperate situations, we long for a miracle or a sign of assurance. In such moments, we can put our expectation, hope, and faith in Jesus by taking him at his word. Heaven and earth will pass away, but Jesus promised that his word will never pass away (Mt 24:35)! His word makes the dead come alive and heals the sick. May our faith be rooted in the word of Jesus.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for seeking a sign from you. You have given me your life-giving word. May I accept your words today.
One Word: Take Jesus at this word