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. 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. “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” (John 4:46–49)
Are you battling an illness? Do you know someone who is?
The Bible has a lot to say about illness, as well as numerous reports of divine healing. Jesus encountered one man who knew that Jesus could save his dying son, so he jumped on a horse, riding as fast as he could, hoping for a miracle. Frantic, the father begged Jesus to heal his son.
Perhaps the only thing worse than slowly and painfully dying is watching death come for your child (or grandchild). These tragedies should never happen, and they scream at us that something has gone terribly wrong in the world. In response, people ask, “Why?”
In the most basic categories, the Bible says that there is suffering and death for three reasons:
- Fall: When our first parents sinned, the death process began. Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”
- Personal sin: Sometimes sickness and death come to people because of their ongoing defiance against God. First Corinthians 11:30 speaks of such people saying, “That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.”
- Demonic attack: Satan and demons are devoted to death. Sometimes, people suffer because of demonic attack. At least seven times in the Gospels, we are told that Jesus healed people through demonic deliverance. Matthew 8:16 says, “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.”
To kill death, our God, in the form of Jesus Christ, had to die. To bring life, our God Jesus Christ defeated death by walking away from His grave. When Jesus returns, the curse will be lifted, the dead will be raised, and His Kingdom will come. In the Kingdom, no one will be sick, and there will be no cemeteries or funerals. This is the great hope of the believer. Death does not get the final word. Jesus does!
How can you use your suffering to more greatly appreciate Jesus’ suffering for you?