This is a message I preached on Tuesday night, 22 July 2025, at Vizion Church in Glasgow.
I typed this sermon into a brief article, but you can listen to or watch the full message here. However, I want to share what went through my mind as I prepared this sermon.
So, picture a desperate father, a high-ranking official in Capernaum, racing 20 miles to find Jesus. His son is dying, and nothing—neither wealth nor power—can save him. This is the story of John 4:46–54, where a nobleman begs Jesus to heal his son.
Jesus speaks, “Go, your son lives” (John 4:50), and miles away, the boy is healed instantly. The nobleman and his whole household believe, making this the second sign in John’s Gospel, showing Jesus as the Messiah who speaks life. But who was this nobleman? Some, like Pastor Chuck Smith, wonder if he was Chuza, making his wife Joanna, a follower of Jesus. Let’s dive into this story, explore this idea, and see what it means for us in Scotland today.
The Nobleman’s Story: Faith in the Valley
This nobleman was a big deal, called a basilikos in Greek—a “king’s man” tied to Herod Antipas’ court in Galilee. Think of him as a top official, used to snapping his fingers and getting results. But now, his son is at death’s door in Capernaum, and all his status is useless. He hears about Jesus—the man who turned water into wine in Cana (John 2:11)—and makes the tough 20-mile trek, climbing from 700 feet below sea level to 2000 feet above, like scaling the Cobbler in Arrochar. That’s desperation driven by love.
When he finds Jesus in Cana, he begs, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” (John 4:49). Jesus challenges him and the crowd: “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe” (John 4:48). Unlike the Samaritans, who believed Jesus’ word alone (John 4:42), these Galileans want miracles. But the nobleman doesn’t give up. Jesus says, “Go, your son lives” (John 4:50). He trusts Jesus’ word, heads home, and finds his son healed at the exact moment Jesus spoke—the seventh hour (John 4:52–53). His faith grows from hoping for a miracle to believing in Jesus as the Messiah, and his whole household follows.
This story hits home for me. My son Roddy, who’s autistic, has seizures. Some mornings, I’m a wreck, listening for any strange noise, my heart pounding. Like the nobleman, I’ve learned to cling to God’s word, like Psalm 56:3: “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Even when Roddy’s seizures haven’t stopped, trusting Jesus brings peace. This nobleman’s faith in the valley reminds us that Jesus meets us there, just as Joni said, “not on the mountaintop, but in the valley.”
Was the Nobleman Chuza, and His Wife Joanna?
Joanna shows up in Luke 8:3 as the wife of Chuza, Herod’s epitropos—his trusted steward, managing his household or finances. She’s incredible: she follows Jesus, supports His ministry, and witnesses the resurrection (Luke 24:10). Pastor Chuck Smith, in his Study Bible, suggests the nobleman might be Chuza, making Joanna his wife. Here’s why this idea grabs us:
- Herod’s Court: The nobleman, a basilikos or royal official, and Chuza, an epitropos or steward, both served Herod Antipas in Galilee. The term basilikos is broad enough to include someone like Chuza, who worked in the same circles.
- Household Faith: When the nobleman’s household believes (John 4:53), it could include Joanna, setting her on the path to follow Jesus later. A miracle like this could change a whole family!
- Galilee Connection: Capernaum, where the nobleman lived, was near Tiberias, Herod’s base. Chuza likely worked there, making the geography fit.
But there’s no slam-dunk proof. The Bible doesn’t name the nobleman or his wife, and basilikos (royal official) isn’t the same as epitropos (steward), which is a more specific role. The nobleman could be another official, and Joanna’s faith might have grown at a later time, not from this miracle. Still, it is worth pondering.
I imagine Joanna, touched by this healing, joining Jesus’ followers, who gave her resources to help Jesus' ministry alongside the disciples, and standing at the empty tomb.
It shows how Jesus’ power reaches even Herod’s court, transforming lives.
What This Means for Us
This story challenges us to trust Jesus like the nobleman did. Here in Scotland, we know valleys—health scares, family struggles, or doubts, like I face with Roddy. But Jesus speaks life, even from a distance. As Billy Graham said, “Mountaintops are for views, but fruit grows in the valley.” The nobleman found fruit—faith and healing—in his darkest moment. So can we.
Here’s how:
- Trust His Word: The nobleman believed Jesus’ healing of his son without Jesus coming physically to heal. Let’s take Jesus at His word, like the Samaritans, trusting He’s the Saviour (John 4:42).
- Jesus Reaches All: From a royal official to a Dundee mill girl like Mary Slessor, Jesus transforms everyone. No one’s too big or too small for Him.
- Faith Spreads: The nobleman’s faith led his household to believe, maybe even Joanna. Your trust in Jesus can inspire your family or community.
Keep Trusting in the Valley
At Born Again Christians Ministry, we’re learning to trust Jesus like this nobleman.
Maybe he was Chuza, and Joanna saw this miracle spark her faith. Maybe not. Either way, Jesus’ word brought life then, and it does now.
If you’re in a valley, don’t give up. Lean on Jesus’ promise, like I do for Roddy. Share your story with us at bornagainchristians.org, and let’s pray for faith to see Jesus work, from the Cobbler to Capernaum! What’s your valley, and how can Jesus meet you there?
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