Advent Devotions

Text: John 4:46-54; 5:1-18

Today’s author is Prince of Peace member, Debbie Jorgens.

The writer of John’s gospel gives us two back-to-back contrasting stories about healing – the first centered on an official whose young son is near death, and the second featuring a man who has been ill for 38 years.

The main character in the first story isn’t accustomed to being helpless. He’s a royal official in Herod’s court, after all, a position of considerable power and influence. But he has suddenly been thrust into a state of powerlessness, unable to help his severely ill son.

I can well imagine the increasing worry that has now turned into desperation. Anyone who has seen the life of their child – or other loved one – hanging in the balance knows this feeling of utter helplessness. And if they weren’t driven to God before, they certainly are now.

The father will do anything to save his son. Still, I wonder what he knows about Jesus that causes him to travel halfway across Galilee looking for him. Has he heard about what happened in Samaria with the woman at the well? Or about the things Jesus did in Jerusalem during the Passover festival? Perhaps he knows about the water-turned-wine at the wedding Jesus attended in this very town of Cana.

Whatever the official has learned, it’s enough for him to know that Jesus has the power to heal his son. “Sir, come down before my little boy dies,” he implores Jesus. And Jesus responds – not by going to Capernaum but rather with a word of promise: “Go; your son will live.” And then, according to the text, “The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him.…”

The main character in the second story isn’t anything like the royal official. This man has no position of power. He’s an outcast, paralyzed by an illness that has gripped him for 38 years. He doesn’t go looking for Jesus – in fact, he has no idea who Jesus is! But Jesus comes looking for him.

And as soon as Jesus says, “Stand up, take your mat and walk,” the man does exactly that. The inherent power in Jesus’ words overcomes any doubt the man has understandably held onto for years. He simply takes Jesus at his word, and immediately he is made well.

These are remarkable stories of healing. But of course, healing does not always come – at least, not in the way we hope. And when our loved one succumbs to illness or injury, or our own broken body fails to mend, may we remember that to be made well is to be made whole, and to be made whole is to experience the abundant life found in Jesus.

None of us know what the future holds. But we do know that we’ve been given a word of promise in Jesus, the Word made flesh. And we’re called to claim this promise, trusting that LIFE – now and forever – is what Jesus offers each and every one of us.

Bring healing, O God, to all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. Help us to trust in your life-giving Word, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.