Our Security for Eternity - the Gospel of John Sample

Read: John 4:43–54

SOAP: John 4:53–54

Then the father realized that it was the very time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he himself believed along with his entire household. Jesus did this as his second miraculous sign when he returned from Judea to Galilee.

In today’s reading, we find another change of scenery in John’s Gospel. The scene begins with Jesus traveling from Samaria to Galilee. While this Gospel account does not always follow the events of Jesus’ ministry in chronological order, this section shows the work of Jesus in different locations and through his travels between Judea and Galilee.

Cana was a town in the region of Galilee. The first sign Jesus performed was also in Cana: He turned water into wine at a wedding. The scene we read about today also took place in Cana and is the second miraculous sign Jesus performed. These two signs are bookends to this section of the narrative and help us see John’s intended focus: belief without seeing.

We find major similarities in the account of Jesus healing the official’s son with the account of the wedding in Cana. These similarities are no coincidence. John intended for his readers to pick up on these similarities and see the connection.

In both instances, Jesus was approached and asked to perform a miracle. The man asked Jesus to heal his son, and Jesus’ mother asked (though indirectly) to provide more wine for the wedding feast. Jesus reminded both his mother and the official that His purpose was not to perform all kinds of miracles; He had a much greater purpose than that. The official and Jesus’ mother both understood and responded in faith. Though he asked Jesus once again to heal his son, the official obeyed Jesus’ instruction to go home. He believed Jesus and returned home, even though he had not seen Jesus heal his son.

Both of the signs performed in Cana stress the idea that our belief in Jesus requires belief without seeing. If we already saw the outcome, we wouldn't have to fully trust Him in the here and now. Faith would not be necessary. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God and the only way to eternal life requires a great deal of belief without sight. None of us today have seen Him; we believe based on the testimony of others, both those recorded in Scripture and those throughout history. Here, Jesus makes it clear to us that He greatly values our belief, especially belief without seeing.