David Bahn – Reflections

John 4:46-54

So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. ⁴⁷ When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. ⁴⁸ So Jesus said to him, “Unless yousee signs and wonders you will not believe.” ⁴⁹ The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. ⁵¹ As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. ⁵² So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” ⁵³ The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. ⁵⁴ This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

There are times when an event takes on significance beyond its own reality. A chance encounter with a long-lost friend becomes a spring board to a new job opportunity. A near miss in an auto accident becomes a reminder to drive defensively. An answered prayer propels you toward a deeper conviction about God’s goodness.

Such was the case in this encounter between the official at Capernaum and Jesus. Jesus’ healing ministry is a sign of his divine identity and authority. It is a sign of Jesus’ trustworthiness and of God’s goodness and grace. While on the one hand, Jesus decries the people’s needs for signs and wonders, on the other hand he heals the child. This was a sign and wonder, and the official believed – together with his whole family.

Notice that Jesus commands the father to go, with the promise that his son will live. The official believed Jesus’ word and went on his way. Is this not faith? Yet a little later John reports that because of the miracle, and when it had happened the man and his family believed. Faith in the power of Jesus to heal has turned into something more profound and far-reaching.

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God; that is his true identity. It’s been shown not only in his miracles, but also in his resurrection from the dead. We believe Jesus is also the King of kings; he has authority and power over sin, sickness, Satan, and death. This has been shown in his casting out demons and defying Satan at every turn.

I have witnessed a few miracles: healings, changed lives, personal reconciliations that clearly point to the power of God and his work in the world. But all those miracles are intended ultimately to point to the goodness, mercy, grace, love and power of God. We who have been touched by those miraculous interventions truly do give thanks to God for his favor. But they point toward an even greater blessing and gift: the gift of abundant eternal life through faith in Jesus.

Where have you seen the goodness, power, favor, grace, or mercy of God? How can you connect that to his greater gift: eternal salvation and abundant life through Jesus? After all, signs point us to something beyond themselves. These signs call us to repentance and faith.