2.3 miracles and signs Flashcards
What word does John use for miracles?
the greek word, semeia (meaning signs)
Why does John use the word ‘signs’?
- miracles act as signposts to the true identity of Jesus
- they have a Christological focus, reflecting the person of Jesus not just his capability
How many signs are there in John?
7
What was the first sign recorded in John?
Jesus changes water into wine
What is the meaning and significance of Jesus changing water into wine?
- a symbol for the messianic banquet (an eschatological description of the age to come when those chosen by God share in a feast with the Messiah)
- Jesus superseded the legalism of Judaism -> turned the water used for the ritual of purification into excellent wine
- Sacramental theology = John may be seeking to identify the importance of the sacraments within the Johannine community
What is the second sign recorded in John?
Jesus heals an Official’s son
What is the meaning and significance of Jesus healing an Official’s son?
- Jesus heals with just words -> shows his divinity and high christology
- for those that believe, death isn’t the end instead they receive eternal life
What is the third sign recorded in John?
The healing at the pool
What is the meaning and significance of the healing at the pool?
- replacement theology = Jesus is shown to replace the great Feasts of Judaism -> in this case the Feast of Weeks/Shavuot/Passover
- Jesus shows that true healing is spiritual + Jesus offers that here and now -> realised eschatology
What is the fourth sign recorded in John?
Jesus feeds the 5000
What is the meaning and significance of Jesus feeding the 5000?
- replacement theology - Jesus is superseding the manna from the OT
- links to the Eucharist
- Raymond Brown = unlike OT wisdom, Jesus’ teaching nourishes forever
What is the fifth sign recorded in John?
Jesus walks on water
What is the meaning and significance of Jesus walking on water?
- shows Jesus’ sovereignty over nature
- extends the power of Jesus beyond healings
- high christology
What is the sixth sign recorded in John?
Jesus heals a man born blind
What is the meaning and significance of Jesus healing a man born blind?
- Jesus corrects the misconceptions of sin and heals the blindness
- Jesus is the true light, the Torah causes spiritual blindness
- replacement theology
What is the seventh sign recorded in John?
Jesus raises Lazarus from the Dead
What is the meaning and significance of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead?
- the greatest indication that death is not the end and eternal life is promised
- shows Jesus’ divine authority over death
- Lazarus’ death signals the end of the old Israel; his raising signals the birth of a new Israel -> replacement theology
Do the signs have to be historically accurate in order to be truthful?
not necessarily, even if the signs are artificially created and not historical, it doesn’t compromise the truth that lies behind them = that Jesus is God
What are the implications of the signs for codes of living for Christians today?
Christians use the teachings from the signs to guide their own Christian life - it is faith in Jesus, not following the law that is important for ethical codes of living
