Sign Miracles
Sign Miracles Paper | BIBL 323 D17 201240 | Rev. Abdue L. Knox, I L22937066 |
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31 NKJV
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 household of the Nobleman (John 4:53). But these same miracles would incite anger and violence as in the case of healing the man born blind in John 11. (Earl D. Radmacher 1997)
The first sign miracle Jesus performed in John’s Gospel was changing water into wine found in John 2:1-12. Jesus and His new disciples arrived at a wedding celebration that had already begun. Mary the mother of Jesus came to Him and told Him that the wine had run out. “Mary was simply informing him of the need, not ordering Him. Her statement is in fact much like a prayer made to Jesus. She knew he could do something.” (Towns 2002) Jesus directed the servants to fill six water pots, which he then turned into wine. “The changing of water into wine is surely meant to bring out the power of Jesus to bring about new beginnings” (Morris 1989) “John specifically mentions that this sign signified Christ’s glory that is, His deity. With this sign Jesus demonstrated His creative power over nature, and His disciples appropriately placed their faith in Him.” (Earl D. Radmacher 1997)
The second sign miracle is the healing of the Nobleman’s son found in John 4:46-54. This Nobleman, who was most likely a high ranking official of Herod Antipas, went to Jesus in
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31 NKJV
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 household of the Nobleman (John 4:53). But these same miracles would incite anger and violence as in the case of healing the man born blind in John 11. (Earl D. Radmacher 1997)
The first sign miracle Jesus performed in John’s Gospel was changing water into wine found in John 2:1-12. Jesus and His new disciples arrived at a wedding celebration that had already begun. Mary the mother of Jesus came to Him and told Him that the wine had run out. “Mary was simply informing him of the need, not ordering Him. Her statement is in fact much like a prayer made to Jesus. She knew he could do something.” (Towns 2002) Jesus directed the servants to fill six water pots, which he then turned into wine. “The changing of water into wine is surely meant to bring out the power of Jesus to bring about new beginnings” (Morris 1989) “John specifically mentions that this sign signified Christ’s glory that is, His deity. With this sign Jesus demonstrated His creative power over nature, and His disciples appropriately placed their faith in Him.” (Earl D. Radmacher 1997)
The second sign miracle is the healing of the Nobleman’s son found in John 4:46-54. This Nobleman, who was most likely a high ranking official of Herod Antipas, went to Jesus in
Bibliography: Earl D. Radmacher, Th.D., ed. The Nelson Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1997. Morris, Leon. Jesus is the Christ: Studies in the Theology of John. Grand Rapids : William B. Eerdmans, 1989. Rev. Abdue L. Knox, I. The Real Independance Day. New St John AME Church, Goldsboro NC. July 5, 2009. Towns, Elmer. The Gospel of John: Believe and Live. Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 2002.