August 19, 2026 | The Nobleman's Son & The Man with an Unclean Spirit | Lesson 351

JOHN 4:46-54; MARK 1:21-28; LUKE 4:31-37

Full lesson HERE

THE NOBLEMAN'S SON: After Jesus attended the marriage celebration in Cana of Galilee and turned the water into wine, He went to Capernaum for a short time and then to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast (John 2:12-25). When He traveled back to Galilee, He passed through Samaria where He encountered the woman at the well (John 4:1-42). He then continued on his journey and arrived again at Cana where a nobleman came to him asking that He heal his son. The man was called a nobleman which means "royal, belonging to a king" or "little king." He may have been a relative of Herod Antipas, who ruled Galilee at that time, or an officer in the court—what his position was is unknown, but he had come from Capernaum, a day's journey, in order to seek Jesus' aid.

THE MAN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT: The scene of this miracle is the synagogue in Capernaum. When Jesus began his earthly ministry, He left Nazareth and dwelt in Capernaum which is by the Sea of Galilee in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali (Matt. 4:13). This was a fulfillment of the prophecy which states that the land of Zebulun and Naphtali by the way of the sea would be made glorious in the latter time (Isa. 9:1-2).

Jesus upon this occasion was teaching in the synagogue on a Sabbath day and healed a man possessed by a demon. Many of the miracles Jesus performed involved demons, also called unclean (wicked) spirits, evil spirits, devils. Whatever these demons were, they were intelligent beings and not to be confused with diseases of the body. Jesus talked to them as persons and they answered; they had knowledge of Jesus as the Son of God; they exhibited desires, personalities, and passions; and Jesus recognized them as distinct from disease and illness. The fact that they were prevalent in New Testament times was probably because there was a great upheaval in the spiritual world with the appearance of the Son of God upon the earth.