Miracles : Let Him Be Known
“Healing the Official’s Son”
Pastor Rollan Fisher
Focus: God’s miracles are important for spreading the gospel, since some people will not believe in Jesus unless they see signs and wonders.
John 4:46–54 (ESV)
46 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 you see 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.
“The gospel according to John is said to have been one of the early written accounts of the life of Jesus. It was written by John, who is a disciple of Jesus, and at times refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” John writes his gospel to a blended audience of both Jews and Gentiles with a particular intent of revealing Jesus as the Son of God. John’s gospel is not a synoptic gospel, so some of his content is not recorded in the other gospels, namely, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
John also seems rather fascinated with the number “seven” in his gospel—consider the following:
✦ Seven “I Am” Statements
- Bread of Life (John 6:35)
- Light of the World (John 8:12)
- Gate for the Sheep (John 10:7)
- Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
- Resurrection (John 11:25)
- The Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)
- True Vine (John 15:1)
✦ Seven Signs
- Water to wine
- Healing of the sick child
- Healing of the paralyzed man
- Feeding the 5,000
- Healing the blind man
- Raising Lazarus
- Resurrection of Jesus
✦ Seven Discourses Post Every Sign
John particularly, in comparison to the other gospels, uses the word “signs” over the word “miracles” because he is pointing everyone to who Jesus is.
The Purpose of the Book
John takes the tone of an evangelist in his gospel. John’s purpose in writing this gospel is so that Greek minds and Hebrew minds might read and understand salvation. This is why it reads so differently than the synoptics. John wants them to believe.
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30–31, ESV)”
-Siviwe Notshe
The first miracle Jesus performed was turning water into wine foreshadowing how God can miraculously make us a new creation in Christ.
Jesus’ second miracle would show Christ as the great physician with the miraculous power to heal broken lives lurking at death's door.
In this Scripture, Jesus makes a return to Cana in Galilee, the location of the wedding in Chapter 2 and where testimony about his first miracle would undoubtedly have started to spread.
It is important to testify to what Jesus has done for you - the official came to Jesus asking for help because he heard what Christ had done for others.
Can you clearly articulate your two minute miracle?
At his core, Jesus is the great redeemer who turns us from sin and performs supernatural miracles to heal us mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
There are times that we come to Jesus for healing for ourselves - there are other times that we come to Jesus on behalf of others.
In this case, the official was coming on behalf of his son, but would be healed from his skeptism as Jesus graciously performed a miracle on his family’s behalf.
In what way do you or those you know and love need healing today?
Jesus’ miracles are able to stop death in its tracks.
Never say that it is too late for Jesus to perform a miracle.
The power of the gospel is that whether now or at the resurrection, Jesus gives the miracle of eternal life to all who would believe in him as the unique Son of God.
The importance of miracles is articulated by Jesus when he communicates to the official that without them, this particular individual would not believe.
You do not have to be perfect or a spiritual elite to see Jesus perform miracles - you only have to be humble and hungry enough to come to him.
Jesus did not condemn the condition of his heart, but had compassion on the hurting official and was moved to intervene on his behalf.
We will not see miracles if we are finding the reasons why God will not intervene.
This passage teaches us the importance of a vibrant faith versus a dead religion.
We must have a dynamic, not a static relationship with the living God.
When we pray, Jesus responds - in one way or another.
We all have ideas in our minds of how we think God can and should move.
Though the official wanted Jesus to come to his home to heal his son, Jesus had a different plan.
In this moment, Jesus would reveal that the literal power of life over death was found in the authority of his Word.
Jesus was revealing his divinity, pronouncing the official’s son cured at his word - teaching the official to trust Christ as the author, sustainer and ultimate reviver of all life.
Because the official was desperate enough to ask, God was kind enough to move on his behalf.
The power of God’s word is what brought the known universe into existence and what sustains it to this day (Genesis 1; John 1; Hebrews 1).
God releases miracles when we align ourselves in trust with the authority and power of his word.
Jesus moves in miracle power on behalf of those who seek him.
There are many types of prayer, but one purpose of petitioning prayer is for us to align our hearts with God’s will as we believe God to speak life transforming Words that glorify his Son as both Lord and Savior.
Jesus told the official to go believing (trusting) his word and found that his son had been healed at the very hour Jesus had spoken!
Because of this miracle, the skeptical official who was pressed into desperate circumstances, was able to believe - and not only him, but his whole household!
This is a reminder to us that we should pray for God’s mercy and miracles, even for the skeptical, that they might come to believe that Jesus is the promised, prophesied Messiah - the Savior of the world!
King Solomon, the third king of Israel articulated it this way in a prayer of dedication of the temple of the Lord:
1 Kings 8:41-43 ESV
“"Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name's sake (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.”
May we have eyes to see our and others’ desperate circumstances as an opportunity for Jesus to work miracles that lead to belief!
May we testify and pray fervently for Jesus to move in miraculous ways on people’s behalf!
Do you believe that what Jesus’ word says, he has the power to do?
Will you come to him on behalf of yourself and others to see him release his miracles?
The greatest miracle and healing come when we trust God’s word, turn from our prideful rebellion and put our trust in Jesus’ atoning work at the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
In this way, though we were all at death’s door, dead in our transgressions and sins, Jesus is able to usher us into the power of his resurrection and the promise of eternal life!
Will you come to Jesus and trust his word today?
Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher