In the Book of John, there are eight detailed signs of Jesus’ power. Each one showed a progression toward a greater revelation. John used eight specific events to establish his argument that proclaims Jesus’s deity. Some commentators and historians only identified seven signs because the miraculous catch of fish in chapter 21 falls outside of Jesus’s ministry. However, it did point out Jesus control over nature. Therefore, it should be included in the overall number. Jesus Himself stated that the works that He performed proved that He was from the Father setting Him apart from all of mankind. These wonders exhibited how Jesus used these actions to manifest His glory and portrayed a heavenly image. By evaluating each sign and reviewing
John presents a very different Jesus compared to the synoptic gospels. It is clear that for John Jesus has many complex elements to his personality and without all of these the picture is not complete. The above quote by Käsemann suggests that in the gospel of John Jesus’ divinity is definite and his presence is felt on the entire world through his words and actions. This allows for the human Jesus but implies the divine Jesus is imperative.
Jesus performs many miracles throughout the Gospels. Comparing how he presents these wonders among different books can help display the author’s themes and goals in these Gospels. Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine, is only mentioned in the book of John. This story is called “The Wedding at Cana” (John 2:1-12). Jesus and his disciples attend a wedding and Jesus’ mother is concerned that there is no wine left. He asks the servants to fill their jars with water, but when the steward tasted the water it had become wine. Another interesting miracle story is Jesus walking on water (Mark 6:45-52). In this story, Jesus’ disciples leave on a boat, while he stays back to pray. He then walks on water towards their boat, and the disciples were afraid when they saw him. Each of these stories involve water and display Jesus’ great power, but their differences are even more significant.
In the Gospel of John there are eight miracle signs that are recorded that are performed by Jesus in this Gospel. In the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) the Prince of Life doesn’t show or give any miraculous signs to prove his authority. In the Abramic religions, these eight signs are actual events from the beginning of His ministry with the turning of water into wine to the final miracle of a miraculous catch of fish after the death and resurrection of Christ. Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples which are not recorded in the book But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah the Son
The second miracle involved a nobleman’s son. The nobleman’s son was very sick and lived in Capernaum. The nobleman heard that Jesus was coming into Galilee, and approaches Him and ask if He would heal his dying son. Jesus replies, “that unless ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe.” John 4:48 According to Dr. Towns, this miracle showed power over space. Jesus did not travel to the man’s son to perform the act, but performed the miracle from a distance. Twice John mentions the faith of the nobleman. First, he “believed the word that Jesus spoke to him” (John 4:50) Later, when that word was confirmed, “he himself believed” (John 4:53). The first expression of faith was faith in the spoken word of God, and the second expression of faith was in the incarnate Word of God. This sign was significant in that not only the father believed but also his whole household, which would include not only his family but also his servants. This is the first example of salvation to all that believe.”[5]
Everywhere Jesus went people were amazed at His miraculous powers. The Apostle John uses Jesus miracles as an organizing principle in his gospel. He calls them semeia, or “signs” indicating that each miracle was a concrete demonstration of Jesus’ divinity and messiah ship. The purpose of the signs were to produce belief as they did for the disciples at the wedding at Cana (John 2:11) and the
Towards the end of the Gospel of John, John writes his purpose: “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.” Along with these signs, Jesus fulfilled Jewish Festivals. This paper will look at the three feasts mentioned in John (Passover, Tabernacles, and Dedication) traditional backgrounds and how Jesus is their fulfilling of them in his Gospel.
In reviewing the reading assignment, the Gospel According to John, the Book of Signs was to show Jesus’s divinity, showing his supernatural powers as well as Jesus’s public teachings (Harris, 2014 p.241). The Book of Signs was also written to show the miracles that Jesus did while on earth. One of those signs was the conversation with the Samaritan woman. I believe this was one of the sings due to the hostility that was between Samaritans and Jews.
Ronel, reading over your post I saw where our post shared similarities. In the Gospel of John two of the many signs were performed, water turned to wine and Lazarus raised from the dead. Jesus is at a wedding in Cana when Mary approaches him stating "there is no more wine left." Jesus than gathers the servants to "fill the jars with water" and the servants are astonished, Jesus proclaims a sign of His glory by turning water into wine. The other sign was Lazarus raised from the dead.
In the “Acts of John” and the film “The Last Temptation,” there are two very different representations of Jesus and his humanity. In the “Acts of John,” Jesus changes often and appears differently to each person who sees him. In “The Last Temptation,” Jesus is pictured as a man who struggles with his humanity and role as the Messiah. While “The Acts of John” portrays almost a superhuman being with telepathic powers and the ability to shape shift, while “The Last Temptation” shows a human who performs miracles.
At the beginning of his eye witness account, John introduces Jesus as the Logos. This Greek concept described a being from which all things derived their origin and by which all things are held together. Mindful of his Greek audience, John wants to describe Jesus in terms that they would understand. At the beginning of his public ministry Jesus Calls His Disciples, a bunch of unlikely characters from a variety of backgrounds to partner with him in his ministry. This newly formed group of followers went to Cana after performing the first miracle which is turning Water Into Wine. During this miracle, Jesus was at a wedding and they ran out of wine. So, to show others who He is, He did this sign. After this the Jewish holiday of Passover was coming
John compiled a book of signs to present Jesus Christ as the Messiah (Harris, 2014). The first spectacular sign of Jesus in the book of signs is changing water into wine (Smith, 1965). John 2:11 states “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him” (Holman KJV , 2012). The wine is a parable which the life of the spirit of Jesus gift to the people (Smith, 1965). In Mark 2:22 it states “And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles (Holman KJV , 2012).
Upon opening the book to its first page, readers are witness to the news of Maman’s death. The
Throughout the New Testament are recounts of the miracles that Jesus performed to give proof that He was indeed the Son of God and the Messiah foretold of in the Old Testament. John chose to recount only seven of the many miracles that Jesus performed. He felt that these seven, more than any of the others, showed definitive proof that the Messiah, the Son of God, had come as promised.
John composed this book to show how glorious messiah by using the miraculous signs. It is believed that Jesus performed seven Gospel Signs to prove that he was the messiah. One of the signs that Jesus used happened in Cana in Galilee when he turned water into wine. Jesus was attending a wedding ceremony together with his mother and the twelve disciples. At some point the host announced that they were out of wine and Jesus offered to help by changing 180 gallons of water to vintage wine. This miracle signified that God was present in his life and accommodative. He made his disciples to believe in him (Harris,
The second sign that Jesus performed in the book of John is the healing of the nobleman’s son (4:46¬–54). This sign is more easily found because Jesus here calls out the nobleman, saying that unless he sees “signs and miracles,” he simply won’t believe (v.48). In this passage, an official comes to Jesus asking him to heal his son. However, the official wants Jesus to go to his house. Jesus decides to answer his request but in a different way. Instead of going to the man’s house, Jesus simply told him that if he believed and went home, his son would be healed. The official did as told, and his son was healed. Jesus performed another miracle, but how is his deity displayed. Jesus shows his deity here by healing the official’s son by simply speaking and not seeing nor touching. During this time, just like every other time in history, there have been doctors. If Jesus went to the official’s house and healed the boy, it could be possible that Jesus would be viewed as such. However, since Jesus did the miracle just by spoken word, his power must be great. In fact, He must be God.