Scripture: John 4:54 (ESV)
“This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.”
John brings the account to a close with a simple but meaningful note: This was the second sign. He’s not merely keeping track—he’s pointing us to something deeper. In John’s Gospel, “signs” are never just miracles. They are markers. Signals. Glimpses into the true identity of Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior of the world.
The first sign in Cana turned water into wine, showing Jesus’ power over creation and hinting at the joyful abundance of the new covenant. This second sign—the healing of a dying boy with just a word—shows Jesus’ authority over life and death itself. Both signs reveal His glory. Both call us to believe.
But there’s something even more significant here. This second sign doesn’t happen in a festive setting like a wedding. It happens in the shadow of sickness, in the valley of desperation. And yet, out of that dark moment comes life, faith, and household transformation. This reminds us that Jesus meets us not only in celebration but in crisis. Not only to display power, but to bring salvation.
The sign points beyond the miracle to the Messiah.
J.C. Ryle writes, “Let us never rest in signs and wonders. Let them drive us to Christ. Let us see in every miracle a window into His divine character.” And Calvin adds, “These signs are not ends in themselves, but guides leading us to the One who holds eternal life.”
This final verse reminds us what the Gospel of John is all about: belief. Not in generic power, but in Jesus Himself. The signs are not meant to dazzle—they’re meant to awaken, to draw us to saving faith.
Reflection Questions:
- What has God used in your life to draw your attention to Jesus as Savior?
- Have you ever been tempted to focus more on what God does than on who He is?
- How can you use the “signs” in your own life—answered prayers, transformed moments—as testimony to point others to Christ?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the signs that point us to who You truly are. Help us never to stop at the miracle, but to see You more clearly through it. May every answered prayer, every act of grace, every glimpse of Your power, lead us into deeper worship and faith. Use us, like John, to tell the story—not just of what You’ve done, but of who You are. The Savior of the world. In Your name, Amen.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 