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FIRST SIGN:
JESUS TURNS WATER INTO WINE AT THE WEDDING AT CANA
The transformation of water into wine at Cana represents the replacement of Jewish ceremonial washings (John 2:6) and presents the initial revelation about Jesus at the outset of His Ministry. He manifests His glory; the disciples believe. There is no synoptic parallel.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10).
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SECOND SIGN:
JESUS HEALS AN OFFICIAL'S SON
The cure of the royal official’s son at Cana, simply by the Word of Jesus at a distance, signifies the power of Jesus’ life-giving Word. John's account of the cure of the royal official’s son may be a third version of the cure of the centurion’s son (Matthew 8:5-13) or servant (Luke 7:1-10).
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).
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THIRD SIGN:
THE HEALING AT THE POOL
The cure of the paralytic at the pool with five porticoes continues the theme of water offering newness of life. In the preceding chapter, to the woman at the well in Samaria, Jesus had offered living water springing up to eternal life, a symbol of the revelation that Jesus brings. Here, Jesus’ life-giving Word replaces the water of the pool that failed to bring life.
(It is) not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:9).
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FOURTH SIGN:
JESUS FEEDS THE FIVE THOUSAND
(Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:34-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-14)
The lone one of the seven signs that appear in all four Gospels. The multiplication of the loaves is interpreted for the reader by the discourse that follows, where the Bread of Life is used as a figure for the revelation of God in Jesus and that belief in Him offers eternal life.
Jesus said to them, “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)."
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FIFTH SIGN:
JESUS WALKS ON THE WATER AT THE SEA OF GALILEE
John 6 contains two signs- the multiplication of loaves and the walking on the waters at the Sea of Galilee. These signs are connected as much as the manna and the crossing of the Red Sea are in the Passover narrative and symbolize a new exodus.
"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)."
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SIXTH SIGN:
JESUS HEALS A MAN BORN BLIND
This sign is introduced to illustrate the saying, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5). The narrative of conflict about Jesus contrasts Him (light) with the Jews (blindness) (John 9:39-41). The theme of water is reintroduced in the reference to the pool of Siloam. Ironically, Jesus is being judged by the Jews, yet the Jews are judged by the Light of the world; cf. John 3:19-21.
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
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SEVENTH SIGN:
JESUS RAISES LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD
The raising of Lazarus is the climax of signs. Lazarus is presented as a token of the real life that Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life- who will now ironically be put to death because of His gift of life to Lazarus- will give to all who believe in Him once He has been raised from the dead.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
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WHAT'S THE POINT?
And so by combining the symbolic meanings behind each miracle into a summary statement, we find the complete gospel story. From the stone cold, dead & empty way of man’s religion into a living and joyful relationship (1), we are saved by grace through faith (2), not by our own futile works (3), into His supernatural care and provision (4). With our eyes fixed upon Him and not the world, we achieve the supernatural (5), receive the wisdom of the Holy Spirit (6), and are restored from death to life (7).
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