Seven years ago, it was my pleasure to blog through the book of the gospel according to John a chapter a day. Having finished a series on the seven churches that John is instructed to write to in Revelation, it just felt timely to follow that up with another set of sevens that John writes about.
Studying these seven signs in the gospel according to John helps to understand the purpose of John’s outline. He gives that purpose near the end of the writing.
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:30-31
What John outlines is so that we can gain what is needed to help us to keep on believing. It is not a passive statement of fact, it is a dynamic engagement with who Jesus is. Knowing and believing in Jesus as He reveals Himself is crucial and as He says on a number of occasions to different audiences, if people don’t take Him for what He says, it’s good to believe Him for what He does. John sets out seven things that Jesus does in particular that refers people to His identity that can support the belief. For this particular series, the seven signs are:
- Water into wine at a wedding (John 2:1-12)
- Healing of the official’s son (John 4:46-54)
- Healing at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-15)
- Feeding of the multitude (John 6:1-15)
- Walking on the water in the storm (John 6:16-21)
- Healing of the man born blind (John 9:1-41)
- Raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-53)
(I appreciate that some don’t consider walking on the water as a sign and refer to the driving out of money-changers at the temple. I’m content with this list, I am confident that it will still be of value to go with this list.)
The intention of the exploration is to consider each episode in the light of what it says about Jesus and how that should shape how we keep on believing. The series is to help reflect on these fascinating episodes in the life of Jesus and to see how this man is the Saviour and the promised one who has something remarkable and amazing to present to a world of people that have rejected their Creator.
The signs that are outlined are to give reason to hope and believe for every generation of believers. This generation of believers needs this message in a world that seeks saviour-figures elsewhere and thinks that we can do what it takes to usher in a rule of our own, despite previous efforts failing miserably. This generation of believers needs to be reminded that our King ushers in a Kingdom that is not of this world.
The signs that He demonstrates give clear insights on how that rule is different and how it makes all the difference to believe in Him and indeed to keep on believing.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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