“Signs of Healing – The Greater Work”
John 4:43-5:15
“This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.” [John 4:54]
“Signs” are miracles in the Gospels, and it is a word that can be used to outline the Gospel of John. John highlights seven “signs.” The first was in John 2, when Jesus turned water to wine. Our passage this morning records the second and third signs.
Signs are an interesting way to identify miracles. But when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. A “sign” points to or points out something; it gives direction. And so, it is with miracles.
Biblical miracles point to God. They are divine works that support divine instruction. Miracles are not just supernatural works; for even the devil operates in signs and wonders.
A true Biblical miracle points to a divine message. “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” [Mark 16:20]
That is why “signs” are important. They point to God; they are supernatural miracles confirming the word of God. Visible miracles reveal invisible realities. “But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins…I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” [Mark 2:10-11]
The seven signs in John’s Gospel point to Jesus being God. And just as the other Gospels record a miracle and message cadence, so does John with seven signs and seven “I am” declarations. The signs support the declarations, which was that Jesus, the great I AM, is God, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead.
We will read of the second and third signs this morning, which were healings; a nobleman’s son was healed from afar, and a crippled man was healed at the pool of Bethesda.
The great significance of these was that they showed our Lord’s omnipotent and omnipresent power to heal, and His desire to make one whole from the disease of sin.
It is a natural desire in this life to come to God for physical miracles. Jesus, however, emphasized the miracle of removing sin.
Therefore, while these signs were physical works of healing, the greater work was the healing of the soul through the removal of sin.
