Jesus said to him, “Go; your son is alive.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went home. (V. 50)

John the apostle described the seven signs that Jesus showed. This passage is about a nobleman’s son being recovered from a deadly illness. The other three gospels described many miracles that Jesus performed. The Gospel of John tells us the seven signs that testify who Christ is and why He became a man. The two important things that we find in this passage is that the son was brought back to life by Christ and the father believed His word.

I consider that the second sign is about Christ’s death and how people are saved by faith in Him. Theologians and ministers teach people that Christ’s death on the cross is His passive obedience to God. Most of them agree that the word ‘passive’ is misleading, but they still use the term, the passive obedience of Christ. On the contrary, John describes that Christ’s death on the cross is not passive.

For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father. (John 10:17-18)

The Son is one with the Father. And Christ said that His food is to do the will of the Father.

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work. …” (v.34)

True obedience requires true knowledge of God. This knowledge accompanies love, wisdom, faith, and understanding. Only the Son truly knows the Father and speaks only truth. Therefore, Christ is Truth and Word. He is also the wisdom of God.

…but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24)

All his life, Paul preached Christ crucified. So did John and other disciples. The Gospel of John is against the idea and the active and the passive obedience of Christ. Theologians and ministers compare Christ with Adam. But the obedience of Adam was that of a servant/slave/dog. The Son’s obedience on the cross freed us from the slavery because He made us the children of God. The Son had a very different beginning from Adam.

I will announce the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have fathered You. (Psalm 2:7)

So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. (John 8:36)

The law was not given to the Israelites for them to gain righteousness. Their failure in the OT clearly tells us that no one, even Adam, could earn the sonship by works. The new covenant promises the right to become the children of God, which Christ fulfilled on the cross.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)

Those who believe that righteousness is from works remain in the old covenant. Christ was blameless before the law but that is not why He became a man. Adam’s issue lies in the fact that he was not like the Son. Therefore, the Son, as the mediator of the new covenant, came and made us like Him. There is no more death for us. If anyone fails to understand this, he/she will receive the curse of the old covenant. Chapter 4 tells us that Christ came to free the Samaritan woman who was under the curse and did not receive grace.

…for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this which you have said is true. (v.18)