As a new parent, I cannot imagine a more helpless feeling than seeing your child suffer and not being able to do anything about it.
One parent in Capernaum is living every parent’s worst nightmare (John 4:46-54). His son is sick–sick to the point of death. He’s desperate. He’ll try anything at this point. Perhaps he had heard that this Jesus had turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana. Perhaps he heard about the way he disrupted Passover, reminding everyone that the Temple is a place for worship. In any event, he seeks him out and asks him to heal his son.
Jesus has a strange response, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”
At first glance this is a bit heartless. But he’s not speaking, really, to the man. He’s speaking more broadly, to the whole region, and to a great extent, all of us. Unless you see a miracle, you don’t believe. No one cares what I have to say; they just want to see me do party tricks. You people are more impressed with the miracle than the One who has all power to perform miracles.
This man is desperate. He is not deterred by these words. He is not offended or convicted by them. “Please, my son is dying.”
Jesus looks at him and says: Go; your son shall live.
Now, most desperate parents have a million more questions. How will he live? Are you coming with me? Are you going to heal him? Do you have medicine for him? How long will it take him to get better? A thousand questions come to mind.
But, the text says, he simply believed the word Jesus spoke. He took Jesus at his word. He did not demand signs. He did not question him. He believed him.
I do wonder what his journey home was like. Was he confident? This man said he would be healed, so he will be. Or was he filled with questions and doubts. He said he would be healed. How in the world will this happen? The text does not say.
But when he turns onto his street, to use modern language, his servants come running out of the house to meet him. Sir, your son is getting better!
When did this happen? His fever broke at the 7th hour; the very hour Jesus said those words: Your son will live.
What was the result of this spiritual healing? The text says he and his household believed. Miracles are like signs that say “Jesus!” This is so crucial: This sign pointed this man and his household beyond Jesus being a mere wonderworker. He saw the hand of God in this act, and he believed in this Jesus.
Though the miracles themselves are important, they are not the point of John’s gospel; Jesus is.
The one who heals a dying boy with a word from miles away is the Son of God who has come to heal you, to forgive your sin and give you spiritual life. Jesus is Lord of life and death, and Jesus is worthy of your faith.