Seven Signs in John's Gospel

By Russell Taylor

During His earthly ministry Jesus performed many miracles which you can read about in the first four books of the New Testament of the Bible.

This book looks at just seven of these miracles which John records in his Gospel. He tells us that he chose these so that people will come to believe that the man who performed them was (and still is) Christ, the Son of God. It was also his desire that his readers, by believing in Him would have eternal life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Russell Taylor
• Release date: Oct 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005750848

Russell Taylor

Russell Taylor was employed for many years in the engineering department of a large steelworks in North East Wales. Following the closure of a large part of the works in 1980 he worked in Local Government in Management Services and Housing Maintenance. After taking early retirement in 1996 he joined the staff of Emmaus Bible School UK where he was involved in their prison ministry. he has also been involved in a broadcasting ministry with GBS Radio but is now enjoying writing.He is married with one daughter and two grandchildren and is active as an Elder in an independent chapel in North Wales.

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SEVEN SIGNS IN JOHN'S GOSPEL

A look at the seven signs performed by Jesus during His public ministry as recorded in John’s Gospel

Russell Taylor

© Russell Taylor (2017)

Published by Russell Taylor

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher. This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment.

Unless otherwise stated, scripture is taken from the New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All right reserved.

Contents

Introduction

Sign 1: Changing the Water into Wine (John 2:1-12)

Sign 2: The Healing of the Nobleman’s Son (John 4:43-54)

Sign 3: The Healing at the Pool (John 5:1-18)

Sign 4: The Feeding of the Five Thousand (John 6:1-15)

Sign 5: Jesus Walking on the Water (John 6:15-21)

Sign 6: Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind (John 9:1-12)

Sign 7: The Raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-44)

About Russell Taylor

Books by Russell Taylor

Introduction

Towards the end of his gospel John tells, Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. He then goes on to giving his reasons for including the ones he did. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. This is found in John chapter 20 and verses 30 and 31.

What were these "miraculous signs" that John is speaking of, and why did he choose just a few to record in his book? We don't know, but he must have had a reason, because he was one of the disciples who was close to the Lord and would have witnessed most if not all His miracles. I suspect it is because there was a certain lesson in each one which he wanted to put over to his readers.

What is a miracle? The Oxford Dictionary defines it as, A remarkable and welcome event that seems impossible to explain by means of the known laws of nature and which is therefore attributed to a supernatural agency. When I drive around Manchester on the M60 and see the huge aircraft overhead waiting to land, I am amazed at how they stay in the air as they hardly appear to be moving. How can something so much heavier than air stay up there. To me, who is not a scientist, it appears to be a miracle because it is amazing; but is it?

The answer is no, because the laws of nature as discovered by science give a logical answer as to why and how it happens. Years ago, the thought of such a thing happening would have been beyond all reason and when it first happened it would have been thought of as a miracle by many people.

Towards the end of John chapter 1 we read of the encounter between Jesus and Nathanael. He became a believer because of Jesus' ability to know things about him which were only known to him personally. Jesus knew what was in Nathanael's heart and mind. He also knew that Nathanael was a man who was prepared to seek out the truth about Jesus for himself, despite having doubts. Nathanael had doubts that no-one who claimed to be what Philip claimed Christ to be, could come from such a small village as Nazareth. But Jesus could see Nathanael's heart. He could see an honest heart. He could see a seeking heart. He could see someone who was seeking the truth. And John tells us that Nathanael found the truth and believed it. He believed that Christ was, "The Son of God." But Jesus could see that Nathanael's belief in Him needed more substance, so He goes on to tell him that he would find out greater things, or truths about Christ than what he had learned that day.

He would see that through certain signs (miracles) and through Christ's teaching, that Christ was the link between heaven and earth and between us and God.

Although Jesus performed many miracles, John carefully chose just seven to tell us about. And he chose them to illustrate seven aspects of Jesus' teaching.

The changing of the water into wine at the wedding in Cana is, we are told, "the beginning of signs..." (v. 11). It was the first of the signs that Jesus gave.

What do we mean when we say it is a sign?

One definition is that a sign (in the biblical sense) is something to point us to something in particular beyond what is seen or something in which the Lord uses His power to point us to something unique about Himself which requires faith for us to understand.

Jesus chose to perform His first miracle (sign) at a wedding feast; a time of rejoicing and of unity between two families. It was a time when there would be a large number of people in attendance.

We are told it happened "on the third day (v. 1). This was two days after Jesus had left for Galilee and had called Philip and Nathanael, and Nathanael had been given the assurance that he would see greater things. Doesn't this remind you of something else that happened on the third day? We read, They will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up (Matthew 17:23). And (they will) deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again" (Matthew 20:19).

But we read that Jesus had said to Nathanael, "You will see greater things than these" (John 1:50). What greater things and what things would they be greater than? The fact that he had discovered Jesus knew something about him without having been told. Jesus had known that Philip would bring Nathanael to him and that Nathanael would believe who Jesus really was. He had come to believe something amazing, which was something which most Jews at the time found impossible to believe.

Sign 1. Changing Water into Wine

John 2:1-12