Human beings communicate through languages, and it is usually in two forms - the spoken and the written.
Besides this usual means of communication, there are also other forms of communication like body language, gestures and other signs and symbols.
Although for clarity of meaning, the written and spoken form of the language is preferred, nonetheless the other forms do have a generally understood meaning.
In the gospel, Jesus told the court official, "So you will not believe unless you see signs and portents".
But the court official was desperate for the recovery of his son so he needed a sign that is clear and unmistakable.
Jesus told him to go home and that his son will live, and the court official had to believe.
It was only later when he was told that it was at the seventh hour that his son started to recover that he was able to connect the signs.
As much as we would wish that God would communicate clearly to us in ways that we can understand, yet God's communication is in the mystery of signs.
We just have to remember and reflect on what we have seen and heard and we will be able to understand what God is telling us.