Believing is Seeing

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Linn, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 4:43-54. When Jesus travels again to Cana in Galilee, an official from Capernaum makes the journey to see Jesus. He implores Jesus to come down to Capernaum and heal his son who was at the point of death. Jesus rebukes the attitude espoused by the man and the other Galileans who would not believe unless they could see a sign. The official reiterates the request that Jesus would come to Capernaum; if Jesus can only see his son, then surely Jesus will heal him. Instead, Jesus believes the official’s word and tells him that his son will live. The official takes Jesus’ word home in faith, and Jesus’ word is effective. The official discovers that his son has been made well at precisely the moment Jesus spoke. This second sign from Jesus encourages us to trust His Word even without sight. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so have life by faith in His name.