The Healing of the Son of the King's Officer. The narrative is plain and needs little comment. The similarity of the story to Matthew 8:5 ff. (Luke 7:2 ff.) has often been noticed since the time of Irenæ us. The main points, healing at a distance, the father's faith, the healing at that hour (cf. Matthew 8:13) are the same. And many of the peculiarities may be designed to bring out the lesson it is meant to teach, the superiority of faith which believes because of the word to that which rests on miracle. The mention of Cana, not necessary from this point of view, suggests real knowledge. The seventh hour is not incompatible with yesterday. Jews reckoned the evening after sunset as belonging to the next day. We should say at one o-' clock this afternoon.
John 4:46-54
46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman,a whose son was sick at Capernaum.
47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
48 Then said Jesus unto him,Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
50 Jesus saith unto him,Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.
52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him,Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.