Epiphany: the Lord of Life

If turning water into wine (John 2:1-11) was an epiphany revealing Jesus as Lord over Creation (a miracle since water usually requires multiple steps involving also sun, grapes, and time to become wine), this second sign Jesus performed displays His identity as the Lord of life. He didn’t even lay hands on the guy. It was just His Word, just like at Creation in Genesis 1.

John 4:46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.

54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee. (Jn. 4:46-54 NIV)

Signs and wonders in Jesus’ day were done so that we would believe in our generation based upon the written Word.  Believing, that’s what Jesus suggests in verse 48 and what John concludes at the end of his Gospel. 

“Then Jesus told Thomas, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:29-31)

Today’s prayer thought: Jesus is the Lord of life, as truly in our generation as He was at Creation. Now He gives life to those who believe in His Name.

Father God, thank You that Jesus is the Lord of life and that He gives eternal life to all who believe in His Name.  Thank You, that it’s only through His sacrifice for our sin that makes our salvation possible.  Thank You for deliverance!  Thank You that our troubles of today are momentary but eternal life is–by its definition–everlasting.  Strengthen us for the times ahead.  Keep our eyes on Jesus.  Do not let us be distracted by the evil one. Help us to persevere in listening for Your voice, and to acknowledge You, sharing Your Gospel as a means of loving our neighbor, no matter what comes.  May we display this mark of being a follower of Christ’s: love. Toward that end, be the wind in our sails, Lord, until that day You return or call us home.  Amen.