31 And in the meanwhile his disciples were asking him, saying, 'Rabbi, eat;' 32 and he said to them, 'I have food to eat that ye have not known.' 33 The disciples then said one to another, 'Did any one bring him anything to eat?' 34 Jesus saith to them, 'My food is, that I may do the will of Him who sent me, and may finish His work; 35 do not say that it is yet four months, and the harvest cometh; lo, I say to you, Lift up your eyes, and see the fields, that they are white unto harvest already. 36 'And he who is reaping doth receive a reward, and doth gather fruit to life age-during, that both he who is sowing and he who is reaping may rejoice together; 37 for in this the saying is the true one, that one is the sower and another the reaper. 38 I sent you to reap that on which ye have not laboured; others laboured, and ye into their labour have entered. 39 And from that city many believed in him, of the Samaritans, because of the word of the woman testifying,—'He told me all things—as many as I did.' 40 When, then, the Samaritans came unto him, they were asking him to remain with them, and he remained there two days; 41 and many more did believe because of his word, 42 and said to the woman—'No more because of thy speaking do we believe; for we ourselves have heard and known that this is truly the Saviour of the world—the Christ.'
43 And after the two days he went forth thence, and went away to Galilee, 44 for Jesus himself testified that a prophet in his own country shall not have honour; 45 when then, he came to Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all things that he did in Jerusalem in the feast—for they also went to the feast. 46 Jesus came, therefore, again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine, and there was a certain courtier, whose son was ailing in Capernaum, 47 he, having heard that Jesus is come out of Judea to Galilee, went away unto him, and was asking him that he may come down and may heal his son, for he was about to die. 48 Jesus then said unto him, 'If signs and wonders ye may not see, ye will not believe.' 49 The courtier saith unto him, 'Sir, come down before my child die;' 50 Jesus saith to him, 'Be going on; thy son doth live.' And the man believed the word that Jesus said to him, and was going on, 51 and he now going down, his servants met him, and told, saying—'Thy child doth live;' 52 he inquired then of them the hour in which he became better, and they said to him—'Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him;' 53 then the father knew that 'it was' in that hour in which Jesus said to him—'Thy son doth live,' and he himself believed, and his whole house; 54 this again a second sign did Jesus, having come out of Judea to Galilee.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 4:31-54
Commentary on John 4:27-42
(Read John 4:27-42)
The disciples wondered that Christ talked thus with a Samaritan. Yet they knew it was for some good reason, and for some good end. Thus when particular difficulties occur in the word and providence of God, it is good to satisfy ourselves that all is well that Jesus Christ says and does. Two things affected the woman. The extent of his knowledge. Christ knows all the thoughts, words, and actions, of all the children of men. And the power of his word. He told her secret sins with power. She fastened upon that part of Christ's discourse, many would think she would have been most shy of repeating; but the knowledge of Christ, into which we are led by conviction of sin, is most likely to be sound and saving. They came to him: those who would know Christ, must meet him where he records his name. Our Master has left us an example, that we may learn to do the will of God as he did; with diligence, as those that make a business of it; with delight and pleasure in it. Christ compares his work to harvest-work. The harvest is appointed and looked for before it comes; so was the gospel. Harvest-time is busy time; all must be then at work. Harvest-time is a short time, and harvest-work must be done then, or not at all; so the time of the gospel is a season, which if once past, cannot be recalled. God sometimes uses very weak and unlikely instruments for beginning and carrying on a good work. Our Saviour, by teaching one poor woman, spread knowledge to a whole town. Blessed are those who are not offended at Christ. Those taught of God, are truly desirous to learn more. It adds much to the praise of our love to Christ and his word, if it conquers prejudices. Their faith grew. In the matter of it: they believed him to be the Saviour, not only of the Jews but of the world. In the certainty of it: we know that this is indeed the Christ. And in the ground of it, for we have heard him ourselves.
Commentary on John 4:43-54
(Read John 4:43-54)
The father was a nobleman, yet the son was sick. Honours and titles are no security from sickness and death. The greatest men must go themselves to God, must become beggars. The nobleman did not stop from his request till he prevailed. But at first he discovered the weakness of his faith in the power of Christ. It is hard to persuade ourselves that distance of time and place, are no hinderance to the knowledge, mercy, and power of our Lord Jesus. Christ gave an answer of peace. Christ's saying that the soul lives, makes it alive. The father went his way, which showed the sincerity of his faith. Being satisfied, he did not hurry home that night, but returned as one easy in his own mind. His servants met him with the news of the child's recovery. Good news will meet those that hope in God's word. Diligent comparing the works of Jesus with his word, will confirm our faith. And the bringing the cure to the family brought salvation to it. Thus an experience of the power of one word of Christ, may settle the authority of Christ in the soul. The whole family believed likewise. The miracle made Jesus dear to them. The knowledge of Christ still spreads through families, and men find health and salvation to their souls.