The second sign that John records is the healing
of the sick son of a royal official, a boy who was at the point of death. Jesus, located in Cana, was asked by a
nobleman, to visit Capernaum
to heal his son. From the narrative it
appears that this father was an Herodian, not merely a servant of Herod but one
devoted to his family out of principles of submission and conscience. The Greek
work basilikos suggests a man
of high standing in the court of Herod. The reply of the Messiah to the
Herodian’s request was: “unless you people
see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe”.[2] In this response, he was levelling a charge
that not only applied to the Jews generally,[3]
but to Herod’s court in particular. Luke
tells us that Herod himself rejoiced when Pilate sent Jesus to him: “for he had
wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and
was hoping to see some sign performed by Him”.[4] The Herodian, now a distraught father,
continued to plead: “Sir, come down before my child dies!” to which the Messiah
responded, “Go your way; your son lives”.
The word of the Lord was accepted, the son was healed from that very
hour, and both the nobleman and those of his household became believers in Jesus
the Messiah.
There are those that would identify this man with
Chuza, the steward of Herod, whose wife became one of them that ministered of
their wealth to the needs of the Messiah.[5] Whether or not that was so, the Messianic
message entered Herod’s palace through this healing, and thus the sign
accomplished its purpose for a family, although its effect on the court of
Herod was minimal. The opposition of Herod and his followers was obdurate to
the end. Mark recorded two later incidents. “The Pharisees went out and
immediately began conspiring
with the Herodians against Him, as to
how they might destroy Him”,[6]
and “Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap
Him in a statement.”[7] The Pharisees used the enmity of Herod as a
political weapon, when they raised the question of divorce while Jesus was in
his area of jurisdiction.[8] The answer to this question got Jesus’
forerunner John imprisoned.
Capernaum,
the location of this “second” sign, was the place where Jesus made His home
during the time of His public ministry.
It was a place that saw many of His miracles, described by Jesus as
“mighty works”, [9] and a
place that received much blessing from His presence. Besides the royal
official’s son, He healed the centurion’s servant there,[10]
the paralytic who was carried by his four friends,[11]
and Peter’s mother-in-law.[12] Capernaum
was one of the places where He healed “all who were sick and those who were
demon-possessed”. To emphasise the point Mark records the scene: “The whole
city was gathered at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various
diseases, and cast out many demons.”[13]
Yet, the people of Capernaum generally remained impenitent, and
although privileged to see many mighty works of the Messiah, nevertheless
rejected His Messianic claim. This failure to respond to His gracious ministry
brought down upon them a heavy denunciation of judgement: “And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down
to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have
remained until this day. But I say to
you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom
in the day of judgment than for you”.[14]
Signs and wonders do not guarantee faith in Jesus. The sign of the prophet
Jonah will repeat this truth. In Capernaum,
in miniature, was seen what would happen nationally. The generation to which Israel’s
Messiah came, did not believe, in spite of the vast array of attesting signs,
and as a result, suffered the judgement of God.
Jesus the Messiah, in His association
with Capernaum,
demonstrated His exceptional knowledge of the human heart when He knew, even at
an early stage, that its citizens would reject Him. Their opposition was in spite of the great
swathe of miracles He performed and in spite of this extraordinary sign that He
effected for a leading citizen of the town, a miracle that He executed at a
distance of some miles.
His prophetic utterance[15] not only
revealed great wisdom but also hinted that He would occupy the position of ‘Judge
of all the earth’, [16] and
would have authority to bar obdurate unbelievers from heaven and consign them
to Hades.
[1] John 4.46-54
[2] John
4.48
[3] 1
Cor.1.22
[4] Luke
23.8
[5] Luke 8.3
[6] Mark 3.6
[7] Mark
12.13
[8]
Matt.19.3ff
[9]
Matt.11.20
[10]
Matt.8.5 ff
[11]
Matt.9.2 ff
[12]
Matt.8.14,15
[13] Mark
1.32-34
[14]Matt.11.23,24
[15]Matt.11.23,24
[16] Cf.
John 5.22
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