John 4:43-54 – Except Ye See Signs and Wonders
Read John 4:43-54
1) Compare verses 44-45 with the similar proverb found in Matthew 13:53-58. If Jesus believed he would have no honor in his own country, then why does John tell us that the Galileans received him?
2) How is it that the people who have been most closely associated with Jesus before his entry into the ministry would have such a difficult time accepting his change of role as he began his ministry? Can you think of a contemporary example of the same phenomenon?
3) Once again, John points out that the people had seen the miracles Jesus performed at the feast in Jerusalem (See 2:23-25). What might they have been expecting as Jesus made his way into Galilee? What heart attitude toward Jesus would be reflected by your answer?
4) What is the nobleman’s state of mind as he comes to find Jesus? Would the nobleman ever have come to Jesus if his son had not been desperately ill? When are we most likely to turn to God? What do these things tell you about God? About the circumstances we go through in life?
5) What underlying beliefs about Jesus’ abilities would have prompted the nobleman to frame his request the way he did? (Compare Martha’s response in John 11:21)
6) Who is Jesus responding to in verse 48? In verse 50? (Compare John 3:3, 5-8, 10-12)
7) At first glance, Jesus words in verse 48 seem harsh. What is his purpose in responding this way? What is the result in the hearers?
8 ) What difference(s) do you see in this text between the hearers Jesus was speaking to in verse 48? (See verse 50)
9) How can the same words from Jesus have more than one outcome?
10) Did Jesus give the nobleman what he asked for?
11) What might have been the outcome if Jesus had made the journey to Capernaum to heal the nobleman’s son? (see John 3:26 and 4:1-3.)
12) What does the nobleman believe as he leaves Jesus to return home?
13) Describe these events from the servants’ perspective.
14) The servants use the same words to tell the nobleman what has happened that Jesus used to tell him what had happened. Why did the nobleman need the additional confirmation of knowing what time his son had begun to feel better?
15) In verse 50 we are told that the nobleman believed the word that Jesus had spoken. Now again in verse 53 we are told that he believed. What would have been different about his belief in verse 53 from that in verse 50? We have seen the same phenomenon reflected in the lives of the disciples in these first few chapters of John. What does this tell you about the nature of belief in Jesus?
16) Some say that this passage of scripture is another version of the healing of the centurion’s servant found in Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:2-10. List some similarities and differences between these two stories.
17) How might the centurion in Luke 7:2-10 have heard of Jesus? Where might he have gotten the idea that Jesus could speak the word and heal his servant?
18) In verse 54, John says this is the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed. The first was turning water into wine. Recall John’s stated purpose for recording these particular signs (John 20:31). How do these two miracles further that purpose?
19) If John’s purpose in recording these miracles was so that people would believe, why is it that most people were completely unaware of what had happened? (see John 2:9, 11, John 4:50, 53)
