The Second Sign: Healing of Sickness
October 10, 2023
John 4:46-54 | Colossians 1:21-23
We noted earlier that Jesus performs seven miraculous signs in the gospel of John. No other specific miracles are recorded in John.1
Jesus is pretty reluctant thus far to perform these signs. He almost rebukes his mother when she invites him to do something at the wedding in Cana. Here, in response to the royal official’s request to heal his son, Jesus first says something he’ll repeat later: “You just won’t believe unless you see signs and wonders.”
Seems kind of inconsiderate, Jesus. The guy’s son is sick.
But he does heal his son after some persistence from the official, the second sign. And we will soon enough see that Jesus’ words - though seemingly misplaced - are not wrong.
But Jesus did not come to perform miracles, strictly speaking.
John 4:46-54
He returned to Cana in Galilee where he had turned the water into wine. In Capernaum there was a certain royal official whose son was sick. When he heard that Jesus was coming from Judea to Galilee, he went out to meet him and asked Jesus if he would come and heal his son, for his son was about to die. Jesus said to him, “Unless you see miraculous signs and wonders, you won’t believe.”
The royal official said to him, “Lord, come before my son dies.”
Jesus replied, “Go home. Your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and set out for his home.
While he was on his way, his servants were already coming to meet him. They said, “Your son lives!” So he asked them at what time his son had started to get better. And they said, “The fever left him yesterday at about one o’clock in the afternoon.” Then the father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son lives.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus. This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did while going from Judea to Galilee.
Colossians 1:21-23
Once you were alienated from God and you were enemies with him in your minds, which was shown by your evil actions. But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death, to present you before God as a people who are holy, faultless, and without blame. But you need to remain well established and rooted in faith and not shift away from the hope given in the good news that you heard. This message has been preached throughout all creation under heaven.
Prayer
God,
We’re at it again in the middle east. Perhaps you’ve heard. I’m sure you have. I’m sure you’ve heard the prayers of millions praying for peace. I imagine these prayers are louder in your ear than the sound of bombs, which are what’s deafening to us.
But here we are, expecting bombs to make things safer (in the long run, of course). I confess, Lord, I don’t see it. After 20 years in Afghanistan, things are worse than they were before and where old terror was partially eliminated, more terror was bred.
When will we learn, Lord? What you taught us so long ago…that fear breeds fear and violence leaves the world injured.
So help us, God. Help us, we who stand in the midst, billions of people seeking peace whilst those with earthly power grapple for more.
For reasons I probably need to explore more at a later time, I generally don’t pray for miracles. But I’m praying for this one. So help us, God.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
Well…there is one more. We’ll get to that all in good time.