2.3 Miracles and signs Flashcards
What word is used to describe the miracles in the 4th gospel?
semeia or ‘signs
- compared with dunamis or ‘act of power/ mighty work’
Why is the word semeia used to describe the miracles in John?
- Semeia is more fitting for the author’s purpose of showing that Jesus is the messiah, the son of God, and bringing people to believe in him (John 20:30- 310)
- Wishes to not focus on Jesus’ power but uses the semeia as ‘signposts’ to the true identity of Jesus
- The miracles have Christological focus, reflecting the person of Jesus not just his capability
What is the meaning and significance of Jesus turning water to wine? (John 2:1-12)
John intended it to be the last of a series of incidents concerned with the beginnings of discipleship; the account ends by saying the disciples believed in him
A wedding:
* OT represents the relationship between God and people as a symbol of marriage, also a symbol of the messianic banquet
On the third day:
* points forward to Jesus’ resurrection on the third day after his death, also links with the third day of creation in Genesis- waters were gathered and the trees bore fruit, referrences how the best is saved for last (2:10)
Changing water into wine:
* Jesus superseeds the legalism of Judaism as he turned the water used for the ritual of purification into excellent wine; the best is saved for last (2:10)
The 6 jars:
* (interpreted differently)- Because 7 was considered perfect it shows that ritualistic Judaism was imperfect, Adam was created on the 6th day, Friday is the 6th day and the day Jesus was crucified
Words to Jesus’ mother:
* Jesus calls her ‘woman’, indicating a link to Eve and the creation, he tells her ‘My hour has not yet come’, pointing to the hour of his death
The wine:
* In the early church wine was linked to the Eucharist, the weding took place before Passover- the same time of year that Jesus changed the wine into his Eucharistic blood, the emphasis on the wine shows messianic claim as in the Messianic age wine would be abundent (Jeremiah 31:12)
Revealed his glory:
* Not all who witnessed the miracle saw Jesus’ glory, e,g the master did not know where the wine came from but the servants did, the ‘sign’ acts as a pointer towards Jesus’ supreme glorification, his death and resurrection
What is the message of Jesus turning the water to wine?
The water of Judaism is inadequate for salvation, the old covenant. It is the blood of christ/ wine new covenant, that is the path to eternal life
What is the meaning and significance of the healing of the offical’s son (John 4:43-54)?
Incident took place in Canaan in Galilee. The official was probably a Roman administrator, a gentile, who had travelled from Capernaum.
Refeference to the first sign:
* first sign was about how Jesus had come to Judaism with a new way and now questioned the place of the Gentiles. Symbolism of the first sign points to Jesus’ death
The son is close to death:
* The son does not die, which shows that for those who believe, death is not the outcome but eternal life. It’s a gentile who trusts in the word and power of Jesus
‘Unless you people see signs and wonders’:
* Jesus challenges the nature of the belief in the signs and wonders are God’s doing in the OT, and the belief based on them is inadequate. The official’s reply shows he is not asking for any signs or wonders, he has faith.
‘Your son will live’:
* Jesus’ word is life to the boy. His words were enough to overrule the power of nature. The reference to son may be symbolic of Jesus as he is the son and his death will also be followed by life
The healing took place at 1pm:
* The 7th hour is symbolic of perfect time. John records that Jesus was led from his trial to his death around midday and that the boy’s recovery at 1pm acts as a signpost to Jesus’ resurrection
All his household believed:
* They knew this wasn’t a coincidence as he got better at the precise moment Jesus spoke the words. It showed that the message of Jesus was going beyond the Jews to the gentiles
What is the message of the healing of the official’s son?
The words of Jesus give life; and it is given to those who have faith and believe in Jesus
What is the meaning and significance of the healing at the pool (John 5:1-15)?
Brown says that this sign marks the beginning of a section in the gospel where Jesus is shown to replace the great feasts of Judaism, one by one. A crippled man is healed in Jerusalem at the pool of Bethesda
The feast:
* the festival is thought to be the feast of weeks, Shavuot, which is associated with the renewing of the covenant given to Moses. John may not have named it as it was not significant for this sign to know what festival it was.
The sheep gate:
* It was the gate through which the sheep were brought tot the Temple for sacrifice. Could be compared with Jesus the good shepherd inviting his flock to ente by the ‘door’
The pool:
* Believed that whoever entered the water after an angel had stirred it would be healed. Pool’s 5 arches linked to 5 books of jewish law- Jesus is replacing them with his life-giving words. Water as a healing medium is replaced by Jesus through his words and actions.
Invalid for 38 years:
* Symbolic of the time the Israelites spent in the wilderness before they entered Israel (Deuteronomy). Same length of time the invalid waited for his hopes to be fulfilled.
Do you want to get well?:
* Jesus really asking if he was satisfied with the Law of Moses
Sin no more:
* Believed that disability was caused by sin, so depicts spiritual healing as well as phsycial. Jesus tells him not to take his new ‘life’ for granted as he could still be ‘spiritually sick’
The one who healed told the old man to pick up his mat on the Sabbath:
* Law forbid carrying objects on the Sabbath, provoking conflict with the Pharisees. Man indicates that he thought Jesus had the authority to tell him.
The man tells the Jewish leaders that Jesus made him well:
* The man doesn’t understand who Jesus is and goes to the Jewish leaders that Jesus healed him. The return of the Temple indicates that the man stayed in Judaism even though it failed him. The man is contrasted by the blind man (6th sign) who proclaims Jesus as the Son of man
What is the message of the healing of the pool?
Jesus offers spiritual healing here and now; realised eschatology
What scholar supported and coined ‘realised eschatology’?
Charles Harold Dodd:
* Concluded that there was an independent tradition behind the 4th gospel that reveals the historical Jesus
What is the meaning and significance of the feeding of the 5000?
Miracle occurs in all 4 gospels and the accounts are similar. The crowd sit on the grass and are fed 5 loaves with 2 fish- Jesus gives thanks and bread is distributed- the crowd eats and 12 baskets are left full. Takes place in Galilee near to the 2nd passover mentioned
Jesus went up on mountainside:
* Comparison is made with Moses going up Mt Sinai. Similarities with Matthew’s account, where Jesus is depicted as the new Moses. Dodd considers it just a setting for the miracle
The Jewish Passover was near:
* Passover remembered a time in the desert when the Israelites were provided with manna by God
A boy with 5 small barley loaves and 2 small fish:
* Links to Elisha’s miracle feeding 100 men with a small number of barley loaves (2 Kings 4:42-44); this miracle is more impressive
Jesus gave thanks and distributes the bread:
* Giving of thanks is part of the Passover, the last supper and the Eucharist. Only Jesus could give out the bread as it was his body on the cross. Dodd considers the sign to be Eucharistic as it would have reminded the early church of the practice of giving bread in the Eucharist
Filled 12 baskets:
* The ‘bread’ Jesus gives is more than adequate; there is plenty for all to join in the messianic banquet. 12 is symbolic of the tribes of Israel
Surely this is the prophet:
* The crowd misunderstands Jesus’ actions; it sees him as a miracle worker and prophet and wants to crown him king, forcing Jesus to leave. The crowd was concerned with its physical needs, like the israelites in ther wilderness, and could not understand the spiritual guidance of Jesus’ action
What is the message of the feeding of the 5000?
The bread offered by Jesus is the ‘bread of life’, so those who believe in Jesus will never feel spiritually empty. Jesus explains this in the discourse concerning the bread of life (John 6:35)
What is the message and significance of Jesus walking on water? (John 6:26-24)
There is debate whether this is a miracel/ sign. Some scholars argued that the Greek in verse 6:19 means ‘by’ not ‘on’ the water; meaning there would be no sign. But there is still much symbolism:
Dark:
* Only recorded in the dark in John. Links with the theme of light and darkness in the Gospel: Jesus ‘the light of the world’ is not present
The Water:
* Possible link with God saving the Israelites by the parting of the red sea. Jesus, like God had the power to save by controlling nature
It is I:
* ‘Ego emimi’- I am, like the ‘I am sayings’. John doesn’t start with words of comfort offered, as in the other gospels, all that they need can be found in Jesus
Immediatelty the boat reached the shore:
* Barrett suggests that there is a link with Psalm 107. It can be argued that the true haven is eternal life, which is the theme of the discourse that follows.
What is the message of Jesus walking on water?
The salvation offered by Jesus is for all if they have faith, and all who welcome Jesus into their lives will have salvation- a safe haven
What is the meaning and significance of the healing of the blind man? (John 9:1-12)
Theme of light from John 8:12 returns. Isiah had predicted that the messiah would be a light to all nations and would open the eys of the blind (Isiah 42:6-7). A controversy develops between Jesus and the Pharisees, leading to them wanting to kill him.
Blingd from birth:
* Disabilities were believed to be a punishment from God for his parents’ wrongdoings
So the works of God may be displayed in him:
* Jesus focuses attention on God’s glory, not the issue of sin
I am the light of the world:
* Jesus’ ministry is the period of light; night will come when he is betrayed and put to death
Spat on the ground and made mud:
* Jesus is making him into a new person. This can be compared to genesis. Classed as work and broke the sabbath law, leading to the Pharisees calling Jesus a sinner; but they were the ones who were spiritually blind
Pool of Siloam:
* Siloam means sent. Brown comments that the pool stands for Jesus, as he was ‘sent’ by the Father and refers to the baptism
What is the message of Jesus healing the blind man?
Jesus brings ‘light’ to all those who ‘see’ who he is and have faith. Spiritual blindness is not caused by sin but by not having faith in Jesus.
