Signs Flashcards
What is the first sign performed by Jesus?
The Wedding at Cana:
Summary: There was a wedding a Cana that Jesus attended with his mother and disciples. The wine at the wedding had ran out so Mary told Jesus, and he told her that his hour has not yet come. Jesus then demanded they bring him 6 stone jars filled with water, he then proceeded to miraculously convert the water into wine. This is the first of the signs which revealed his glory.
Scholars:
- Brown suggests that in v3-4 Mary was not seeking a miracle in informing Jesus and Jesus’ response is not a rebuke or an impolite term
- Brown concludes that Jesus’ glory is revealed at Cana in light of Messianic replacement and Abundance.
What is the second sign performed by Jesus?
The Healing of the Official’s Son:
Summary: Jesus was welcomed by the Galileans upon entering Galilee due to his signs from the Passover festival. When a man (an official) heard that Jesus had arrived, he went to him and desperately asked that he heal his sick son. Jesus then says “your son will live” and the man immediately departed after hearing Jesus. While he was on his way he was told news that his boy was living, and this was the exact time that Jesus told him. So the man and his whole household believed.
Scholars:
- Carson comments that the official’s approach to Jesus is motivated by desperation rather than a knowledge of who he is
- Brows says that the phrase “to live” can both refer to recovery or return to life - the twofold meaning serves as convenient for Johns theological purpose
What is the third sign performed by Jesus?
The Healing at the Pool:
Summary: Jesus went to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals and he sees a pool where there were lots of disabled people who were looking for a miracle, Jesus saw an invalid and asked him ‘do you want to get well’ and he replied ‘I have no one to help me to get into the pool’ then Jesus replies with, ‘get up pick up you mat and walk’ and was healed. The Jewish leaders later accused the man for breaking the Sabbath, and the man’s response was to blame Jesus because he did not know who Jesus was. Jesus found him later in the temple and warned him to never sin or something worse will happen too him.
Scholars:
- Carson comments that Jesus had no reason to choose that man, and he had demonstrated sovereign initiative.
- Brown states that the wonderful healing had been lost sight of and only the Sabbath violation is of significance to the authorities
What is the fourth sign performed by Jesus?
The Feeding of the 5000
Summary: A crowd from galilee followed Jesus up a mountain, however there was not enough food for them all. Jesus then asks Phillip if they should buy bread and Phillip responds saying it would take half a years wages. Andrew questions will 5 loaves and 2 fishes that a boy has be enough. Jesus then distributed the food and made sure everyone had enough to eat then after the people saw the sign Jesus performed they believed and tried to force kingship on him, but Jesus fled.
Scholars:
- Carson states that Phillip is thinking at the level of the natural world through his statement about the 5 loaves and 2 fish not being sufficient
- Kruse notes that this passage is holds similarity to Moses feeding the Israelites in Exodus and Elisha feeding the crowds in 2 Kings 4, and points out that Jesus supersedes both Elisha and Moses.
What is the fifth sign performed by Jesus?
Jesus walks on water:
Summary: Jesus’ disciples set off on a boat at evening across a lake, at this time the water was rough due to the strong winds. They saw Jesus approaching them on the water, and they were afraid. Jesus then reassured them, telling them it was him. The disciples then took him in the boat and the next day, the crowd on the other side of the shore had realised that one boat had arrived but neither Jesus or his disciples were on it, so they went to look for him.
Scholars:
- Dodd argues that the disciples are temporarily separated and in the dark, but almost immediately they receive enlightenment, which is Christ appearing to them
What is the sixth sign performed by Jesus?
The healing of the blind man:
Summary: Jesus and his disciples saw a blind man and his disciples ask Jesus ‘who sinned, the man or his parents to make him blind’. Jesus then responds with neither and states that the man is blind so that G-d’s wok may be displayed in him. Jesus then states that he is the light of the world and proceeds to spit in mud, put it in the blind man’s eyes and tells him to wash it off at the pool in Siloam. The man was then healed and people began to ask how he could see, which the man responded saying Jesus healed him. The Pharisees criticised the man saying that it was the Sabbath when he was healed, so the man was not from G-d. Jesus finishes the passage stating that the blind will see and those who see will be blind in his Kingdom.
Scholars:
- Marsh suggests that the healing was far more than just physical - it was a healing of the whole person (mentally and spiritually)
- Dodd comments that this healing is conceived as a sign of the triumph of light over darkness, but also that the light brings judgement.
What is the seventh sign performed by Jesus?
The Raising of Lazarus:
Summary: After the death of Lazarus, Martha says that she believes that Jesus will raise Lazarus on the last day when mourning his death. Jesus responds to her saying he is the resurrection and the life. Mary says that if Jesus was there Lazarus would still be alive, Jesus then mourns Lazarus death and weeps with everyone. They then went to the grave and Jesus demanded that he enter, but Martha responds that there is a bad odour as it had been four days, displaying her lack of faith. Jesus then raises Lazarus.
Scholars:
- Kruse suggests that Martha’s expression of faith in v20 holds a hint of reproach
- Dodd notes that the gift of life, in this passage, is here represented as victory over death
