John 4:48 Seeing is believing

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

We could read this as Jesus getting tetchy and impatient but this would be contrary to the Lord’s character. No, he is teaching the Nobleman. Faith does not depend on miracles, except the miracle of making the dead live. I once, when I was newly converted, attended a service at a church with a reputation for the miraculous. The pastor called for people to come to the front and report on any miracles they had witnessed that day. Several people went forward and reported supposed healings. Then it was my turn and I reported a man who was dead who had been brought back to life.

There was a gasp in the congregation. That I, a doctor, should testify to such a thing! “Yes,” I said, “He was dead in trespasses and sins, but now he has heard the gospel he is alive in Christ!”

It was not the sort of miracle that they wanted to hear.

The nobleman had been attracted by the water into wine, without seeing the inner message of such a transformation. The dead ritual of purification was being replaced by the live manifestation of life in the Spirit. He would now see a further illustration of death into life.