ACC ~ John 4 v51

SERVANTS MEETING HIM IMPLIES HIGH RANK

ORIGEN: His dignity appears in the fact that his servants have already come to meet him while he is going down, to tell him that his child lives, for “servants” are mentioned in the plural. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 13.396. [1]

[1] FC 89:153-54*; SC 222:252.

THE MIRACLE IS OBVIOUSLY CHRIST’S DOING

CHRYSOSTOM: Do you see how obvious the miracle was? It was not in a simple or ordinary way that the child was freed from danger, but all at once. In this way, what took place was seen to be Christ’s doing and not the work of nature. For when he had reached the very gates of death—as his father demonstrated by saying, “Come down before my child dies”—he was all at once freed from the disease. This fact roused the servants as well, for they came to meet him not only perhaps to announce what had happened but also to prevent Christ from coming since he was no longer needed. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 35.3. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:125**.

TWO ARE HEALED

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The one command of the Savior heals two souls. In the official, the Savior’s command brings about unexpected faith even as it also rescues the child from bodily death. It is difficult to say which one is healed first. Both, I suppose, are healed simultaneously. The disease left at the command of the Savior. The official’s servants meet him and tell him of the healing of the child. This shows at the same time the swiftness of the divine commands and how wisely Christ ordered all of this. They speedily confirmed the hope of their master, who was weak in faith…. When the official learned that the sick child’s recovery coincided exactly with Jesus’ command, he is saved with “his whole house.” He attributes the power of the miracle to the Savior Christ, and he is brought to a firmer faith. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 2.5. [1]

[1] LF 43:234**.