Signs and Miracles
Signs/ Miracles Paper
For
BIBL 323 – John
Professor Howard Owens
July 30, 2010
The Gospel of John is to most people the most profound of all Gospels. Although it is profound it is also simple in its style and understanding. Dr. Towns at the very beginning of his book states, “The Gospel of John seems to be the simplest of all books in the bible to understand. That is why most new Christians are told to begin studying the bible by reading the book of John.”[1] Within the book of John there are eight sign miracles that were performed by Jesus. These miracles all reflect Jesus’ power and reflect who He was. In understanding these signs or miracles it is hard to argue that Jesus was not deity. “It is not without its importance that sometimes John records that people believed simply on the basis of the signs.”[2] Although people believed because of the signs, the signs are not the most important thing. My local Pastor, Glenn Kennedy, once said, “The issue is not the sign but what the sign points to.” In reading through John it becomes clear that all the signs and miracles performed point directly to Christ’s deity. “Miracles in the Gospel of John are referred to as "signs", pointers to the identity of Christ as the one sent by the Father.”[3] It is also an interesting note that just as there are eight “I am” statements, there are also eight signs. The first of the eight signs is the turning of water into wine (2:1-12). This showed that Jesus had power over creation. Jesus created wine from only water, just as God created the earth from nothing. Jesus showed that he had the same power as His Father over creation. It is interesting that Jesus chose this for His first miracle. The first thing that God did was create the heavens and earth. The first miracle or sign that Jesus performed demonstrated He also has that same power. The second sign performed was the healing of the nobleman’s son (4:46-54). This miracle showed many powers of Jesus, but most important
For
BIBL 323 – John
Professor Howard Owens
July 30, 2010
The Gospel of John is to most people the most profound of all Gospels. Although it is profound it is also simple in its style and understanding. Dr. Towns at the very beginning of his book states, “The Gospel of John seems to be the simplest of all books in the bible to understand. That is why most new Christians are told to begin studying the bible by reading the book of John.”[1] Within the book of John there are eight sign miracles that were performed by Jesus. These miracles all reflect Jesus’ power and reflect who He was. In understanding these signs or miracles it is hard to argue that Jesus was not deity. “It is not without its importance that sometimes John records that people believed simply on the basis of the signs.”[2] Although people believed because of the signs, the signs are not the most important thing. My local Pastor, Glenn Kennedy, once said, “The issue is not the sign but what the sign points to.” In reading through John it becomes clear that all the signs and miracles performed point directly to Christ’s deity. “Miracles in the Gospel of John are referred to as "signs", pointers to the identity of Christ as the one sent by the Father.”[3] It is also an interesting note that just as there are eight “I am” statements, there are also eight signs. The first of the eight signs is the turning of water into wine (2:1-12). This showed that Jesus had power over creation. Jesus created wine from only water, just as God created the earth from nothing. Jesus showed that he had the same power as His Father over creation. It is interesting that Jesus chose this for His first miracle. The first thing that God did was create the heavens and earth. The first miracle or sign that Jesus performed demonstrated He also has that same power. The second sign performed was the healing of the nobleman’s son (4:46-54). This miracle showed many powers of Jesus, but most important
Bibliography: Holman Bible Publishers, The Apologetics Study Bible, (Nashville, Tennessee: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007) McFarland, Kathy L Morris, Leon, Jesus is the Christ, Studies in the Theology of John, (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1989) Towns, Elmer, A Journey Through the New Testament, (Mason, Ohio: Thomson Custom Publishing,2004) Towns, Elmer, The Gospel of John, Believe and Live, (Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, Scofield Ministries,2002) The Zondervan Corporation, NIV Archaeological Study Bible, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Zondervan Corporation, 2005) ----------------------- [1] Towns, Elmer, The Gospel of John, Believe and Live, (Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, Scofield Ministries,2002), xi [2] Morris, Leon, Jesus is the Christ, Studies in the Theology of John, (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1989), 9 [3]"Gospel of John." Theopedia, an Encyclopedia of Biblical Christianity June 2009 [4] The Zondervan Corporation, NIV Archaeological Study Bible, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Zondervan Corporation,2005), 1729 [5] The Zondervan Corporation, NIV Archaeological Study Bible, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Zondervan Corporation,2005), 1563 [6] The Zondervan Corporation, NIV Archaeological Study Bible, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Zondervan Corporation,2005), 1666 [7] The Zondervan Corporation, NIV Archaeological Study Bible, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Zondervan Corporation,2005), 1744 [8] Towns, Elmer, The Gospel of John, Believe and Live, (Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, Scofield Ministries,2002), 221 [9] McFarland, Kathy L