"Clear Indicators"
Jan. 18, 2020
As he (an official) was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 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." 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. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
—John 4:51-54 (ESV)
Jesus used His healing miracles as signs, directing you and me to where He wants us to be. In other words, Jesus' healing miracles were not the goal any more than a sign is the destination. That goal, that destination, was so people would believe in Him as their Savior. The official we just heard about did.
When Jesus said, "Your son will live" the Bible reports, " The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way" (John 4:50b). Then John reported, "And he himself believed, and all his household." Jesus' healing miracles are signs pointing to Him as the Savior sent into the world by God the Father.
Since there is something even greater than health, Jesus' healing miracles are signs pointing to Him. We might expect to find times when Jesus did not heal the sick because He was more concerned to get the message out that He is the Savior sent into the world by God the Father. For instance, after Jesus cured Peter's mother-in-law and several others, He was ready to move on; though others were looking for Him (presumably, in part, for their own healing). He told Peter and some others, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out." And He went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons" (Mark 1:38-39).
Jesus' signs point to Himself. His healings, as wonderful as they were, pointed beyond the merely physical. John 20:30-31 says, "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."
"Life in His Name"—that's what can be yours through faith in the Savior. Jesus Christ came into the world to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. He rose on Easter morning as Victor over the powers of sin, death, and devil, and to grant us life forevermore.
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, by Your Holy Spirit, open our eyes to the signs You give us that point to Your Son, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- Why do you think Jesus healed some people but not others?
- How does a miracle trigger faith in someone?
- How does the Holy Spirit work through signs and miracles when it comes to someone's faith?
From "Healing Miracles by Jesus," a sermon excerpt from Rev. Dr. Dale A. Meyer, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Why do you think Jesus healed some people but not others?
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