What would be the greatest
affliction in life? There would be many, but one of them would be when we have
to watch our child suffer. And when we can do nothing about it. Today’s passage
teaches us about affliction. The
story goes like this: “Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in
Capernaum” (46). Firstly, we learn that afflictions
come to the rich as well as the poor. The word for “royal official” is the
word basilikos, which can be
translated “nobleman,” or “king’s man.” This man was a man of great influence
and power. He was also a man of great wealth. He must have exhausted all means
available. He must have gone to all the famous doctors. He must have tried all good
medicines whatever it cost. But it was no use. In fact, his son got worse and was
at the point of death (47). Secondly, we learn that afflictions come to the young as well as the old. Somehow we think
that sickness and death come to the old first, but not always. Somehow we think
that young people never die when young, but not always. The truth is afflictions come to everyone. So we need
to remember that afflictions will probably come to our door one day.
In the School of Affliction
Then, why affliction? Why does God allow affliction? What do we learn in
the school of affliction? Though it is a mystery, affliction is one of God’s
ways to draw our attention to Him. C.
S. Lewis said that pain is God’s “megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” God often
uses affliction to draw us away from sin and to draw us closer to him.
Affliction is one of God’s medicines to purify us, heal us, and grow our faith.
J. C. Ryle rightly said, “Health is a great blessing, but sanctified disease is
a greater. Prosperity and worldly comfort are what all naturally desire, but
losses and crosses are far better for us, if
they lead us to Christ.”[1]
For the royal official in today’s passage, affliction was a blessing, because his affliction led him to Christ. He didn’t know where to turn for
help. For him, Jesus was his last hope. He heard that Jesus was visiting
Galilee. So he went and begged Jesus to come and heal his son.
Affliction itself is not a
blessing, but it can be a blessing if we
turn to God. In Psalm 119:71 David testifies, “It was good for me to be
afflicted so that I might learn your
decrees.” Affliction is not God’s punishment, but it’s one of God’s ways to
discipline us and grow us. Hebrews 12:11 says, “No
discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it
produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained
by it.”
The Word
So how did Jesus grow this man’s
faith? He had faith. He came all the way down to Cana from Capernaum (about 18
miles) to see Jesus. But his faith was still immature and imperfect. He said to
Jesus, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies” (49). His faith had to meet
two conditions – space and time: ‘Jesus, I believe but you have to come with me and pray for my son in person’ (spatial limitations). ‘Jesus,
I believe but you have to do something before
my child dies’ (time limitations). But for Jesus, there is no “too far” or
“too late.” For Jesus, it doesn’t matter whether the boy is 18 miles away or 180,000
miles away. For Jesus, it doesn’t matter whether it is before or after the
death. The power of the Word surpasses time and space. His word is all powerful
and almighty.
The royal official wanted miraculous
healing on his terms. But Jesus gave
him only one thing: His Word. “Go;
your son will live.” The word brings life. The word revives us, restores our
life. Elijah can be a good example. Affliction came to him. After Jezebel’s
threat, he ran for his life. He was depressed and even suicidal. He said, “It
is enough; now O Lord, take away my life!” Then he lay down under the tree and
fell asleep. How did God revive him again? An angel appeared and gave him food.
But that miracle was not enough to restore Elijah. There was a great wind. And
after the wind an earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire. But those supernatural
miracles were not enough to restore Elijah. But then the word of God came to
him. When he heard the word, he came alive. The word is more than enough to
restore us. I still vividly remember when I got burnt out and wanted to give up
my church ministry in 2008. Although I was doing my best, I didn’t see any
fruit, any progress in ministry. But instead, only apathy and ingratitude among
the young adults I was serving. I didn’t know where to turn. I just got on my
knees and poured out my heart before God. Then the word came to me, “Do not be
afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is
going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city [many
students in Boston]” (Acts 18:9-10). As soon as I heard the word, I came alive.
Today Jesus gives us only one
thing: His Word. No visible angels,
no great wind, no earthquake, no fire – just the word. Jesus’ word is as
powerful as his presence. Jesus said “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). We have no other calling than to trust in his
word.
The Second Sign
The Apostle John wraps up the story
in this way: “Now this was the second
sign that Jesus did…” (54). All the signs in John’s Gospel has a purpose.
The signs are not just miracles. The signs point us to the greater truth that
Jesus is the Christ, God’s Chosen One, who saves us. They point us to Christ,
so that we may believe in him and have life.
Today’s passage is more than just a
healing story. It’s a salvation story.
Jesus could just go with this man and heal his son according to his wishes. But
he didn’t. Why? Because Jesus knew if he did, this man would consider Jesus a
miracle worker, but not more than that. Jesus knew what this man wanted – healing, the healing of his son. The man
tried all means available, but it didn’t work. So now he was trying Jesus. But Jesus
knew what the man really needed –
salvation as well as his son’s healing. So he challenged him to increase his
faith, saying, “Go, your son will live.” Surprisingly, the man believed the
word that Jesus spoke to him and went back all the way home, another 18 miles. When
he believed the word and obeyed on Jesus’
terms, something greater than healing happened. John 5:53 says, “… So he
himself believed, along with his whole household.” Before, he believed in Jesus
as a miracle worker, or healer, but now in verse 53 he believed in Jesus as the
Son of God. Now he saw the beauty and glory of Christ who stands behind
miracles and healing. The sign.
Many of us in this room have our
own “Capernaum,” the place where we struggle and suffer. But let us remember
that God allows afflictions in our lives
to draw us closer to him. Somehow today’s story reminds us of the story of
Abraham and Isaac at Mt. Moriah. God spared both sons – Isaac and the royal
official’s son. But God the Father did not spare his own Son. The Bible says,
“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not
also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Rom 8:32) From today’s
passage, we hear the voice of God loud and clear: “I love you, my son, my
daughter. You are precious to me. I created you for my glory. And you were
bought with a price. So I will not let what you treasure (your family, your
children, your health, your wealth) become your God. I will be your God. And I
love you.”
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