John 4:49

49 The royal official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!"

John 4:49 Meaning and Commentary

John 4:49

The nobleman saith unto him, Sir
Notwithstanding this reproof, and seeming denial, he presses him again, and addressing him in a handsome and courteous manner, importunately entreats him, saying:

come down ere my son die;
here was faith with a mixture of unbelief; he believed that Christ was able to heal his son, but he still thought that his going down with him was necessary; that he must be corporeally present, and must lay his hands on him, or touch him, or speak, and command the distemper off, or something of this kind, and which must be done before he died; for otherwise, should he die first, all hope was then gone; he had no notion of Christ being able to raise him from the dead.

John 4:49 In-Context

47 This man, [when he] heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, went to him and asked that he come down and heal his son, for he was about to die.

48 So Jesus said to him, "Unless you [people] see signs and wonders, you will never believe!"

49 The royal official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!"

50 Jesus said to him, "Go, your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he departed.

51 Now [as] he was going down, his slaves met him, saying that his child was alive.