In the first chapter of St. John's Grospel we see fishermen con- verted ; in the third, a self-righteous Pharisee; in the beginning of the fourth, a fallen Samaritan woman ; and in the end, a noble- man out of a king's court.
Pearce thinks that the nobleman was one of the class called Herodians. (Matt. xxii. 16.)
[Son was sick at Capernaum^ "We should always nofice thii number and greatness of miracles which our Lord worked at Capernaum, and the dignity of the persons at whose instance they were worked. Here He healed the Centurion's servant. (Matt. viii. 5.) Here, in all probability, He restored to life the daughter of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue. (Mark v. 21.) And here, in the present instance, He healed the nobleman's son. Three distinct and leading classes had, each of them, a mighty miracle wrought among them. Tiie Centurion wa^ a Gentile soldier. The ruler of the synai;ogue was a Jew of high ecclesiastical position. The nobleman was connected with the highest civil authorities. The consequence no doubt was that the name and power of Christ be<'ame known to every leading family in Capernaum. No wonder that our Lord say^, '• Thou Capernaum that art exalted unto heaven." (Matt. xi. 23.) No place was so privileged as this city.
The idea entertained by some that this " nobleman " was the same as the Centurion in Matt. viii. 5, and that the miracle here recorded is only the same miracle differently reported, seems to me entirely destitute of foundation. The details of the two mir- acles are entirely different. The miracle before us is nowhere else reported in the Gospels.
47. — [Heard that Jesus was come, &c.'\ This verse shows how widely spread was the fame of the miracle wrought at Can a upon the occas'on of our Lord's former visit, and how great was the report of our Lord's miracles at Jerusalem, brought back by the Galileans who went to the feast. In no other way can we account for the nobleman going to our Lord and beseeching Him to come and heal his son. Our Lord must have got the reputa- tion of being One who was both able and willing to work such cures.
Museulus remarks on this verse, how much more love descends than ascends. In all the Gospels we never read of any sons or * daughters coming to Christ on behalf of their parents.
Dyke observes, " Some crosses drive men to Christ, especially in our children. This was the cross that subdued Egypt: and to great men, such as this ruler, who have much to leave their chil- dren, this cross is the greatest."
48. — [ Then said Jesus^ Except ye see, d;c.} Our Lord in this verse