God of the Signs
Devotional Study of the Eight Miracles of Jesus-God in the Gospel of John
by
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INTRODUCTION
In the beginning a chapter called Introduction is presented. In it the
connection between the Gospel of John and the synoptic Gospels is
presented. Also its uniqueness among the books of the New Testament
as well as the whole Bible is described.
THREE SECTIONS
Each of the eight studies have been divided into three sections . They
areBackground, Description and Devotional Application. They are
described as follows:-
BACKGROUND
For each study the background contains geographical and chronological
information. It is very rich in information related to the study explaining
hard to understand words and historical as well as archaeological
information.
DESCRIPTION
In each study it contains not only the information from the Gospel of
John but also from the synoptic Gospels and other Biblical books. Only
two miracles are common to the synoptics. The other 6 miracles are
unique to this Gospel
DEVOTIONAL APPLICATION
This can be considered the “Brain” of this book. The spiritual and
devotional applications are presented in this section under each SIGN
The eight studies are summarized as follows:-
SIGN 1
The sufficiency of Jesus to meet our every need is presented.
Jesus and His mother were invited with His disciples for a wedding.
They ran out of wine. Jesus turned water into wine and showed that He
can meet the need of the hour, as God.
SIGN 2
The power of Jesus as God to overcome time and distance. We are
limited by time and distance.
The government official’s son was at the point of death. When Jesus
saw the faith of the father, He asked him to go back to his son. Twenty
four hours later, his servants told him, while on his way home that his
son was living. Thus Jesus demonstrated that He could overcome the
limitations of time and distance and heal. The official and his whole
household became followers of Jesus.
SIGN 3
Jesus is the God of Mercy able to forgive our sins in addition to healing
our diseases.
The Bethesda lame man was by the sheep pool for 38 years. When Jesus
saw this man on the sabbath day, He told him to “Rise, Take up his bed
and Walk”. When Jesus found him a second time, He warned him not to
sin any more lest a worse punishment come to him.
SIGN 4
Jesus is the living bread from heaven. He is able to provide for our
spiritual hunger and thirst.
Jesus took His disciples to Bethesda Julius in the North East from
Bethesda in Galilee in the north West for relaxing and rest after their
busy short term mission trip. But to His disappointment crowds
thronged Him. Out of compassion and after healing and teaching all day
long, Jesus found them hungry and tired. He demonstrated to His
disciples that He could multiply 5 barley loaves and two fish to feed
5000 men besides women and children.
SIGN 5
Jesus as God is able to overcome the elements of nature(wind and
waves, buoyancy and gravity) and thus walked on water and rescued
them.
After feeding 5000 plus people He sent His disciples back to
Capernaum. He went up the mountain and prayed for many hours deep
into the night. In the meanwhile the disciples got caught in wind and
storm and were helpless. Jesus walked on the sea of Galilee and took
them to land safely.
SIGN 6
Jesus as God is the light of the world in darkness.
Jesus healed a man born blind by applying mudpaste made out of His
saliva to his eyes and asking him to go to the Pool of Siloam and wash
his eyes. This blind man got his sight . He was questioned by his
neighbors, family and Pharisees. He maintained that, “One thing I
know, I was blind but now I see.”The former blind man was cast out .
I became a follower of Christ from this miracle.
My father in India, on his becoming a Christian from Hinhuism was also
cast out
SIGN 7
Jesus is the God of glory who brought Lazarus to life 4 days after he
died of a disease.
Martha, Mary and Lazarus were a loving family. They seem to be
wealthy and pharisaical in belief. They had contacts and friendships in
high places in Jerusalem. They loved Jesus very much. It was mutual.
Jesus spent many a night and day in their home from the hatred and
persecution in Jerusalem. In effect they were very hospitrable to Jesus
and His disciples. Lazarus suddenly got sick when Jesus was away.
They sent word to Jesus to come and heal him. Jesus did not come until
4 days after Lazarus’s death. When He came, Martha and Mary
complained about his delay in coming. When Mary, weeping,
took Jesus to the cave where Lazarus was buried, Jesus also wept and
shouted, “Lazarus, come forth”. Lazarus came out of the tomb bound
hands, feet and face. He asked him to be loosened and let go free. Thus
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after 4 days. The authorities, from
then on were planning to crucify Jesus as He was doing miracles one
after the other.
SIGN 8
Risen Jesus(after His resurrection) appeared in the beach at the Sea of
Tiberius to His disciples according to His message through Mary
Magdalene and the miraculous catch of fish.
The disciples caught nothing after a whole night of fishing. In the
morning at breakfast time, the risen Jesus appeared on the beach and told
them to cast their net on the right side. They caught lot of fish(153).
John recognized Jesus who looked to them as stranger on the beach and
shouted, “It is the Lord”. Peter, immediately jumped into the water to
meet Jesus. Jesus invited them to the breakfast as He had already set
up coals of fire with bread and fish on it. He asked them to bring some
of the fish they have caught and put them on the fire of coals.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
The author of the Gospel of John had chosen eight miracles (signs) from the three-year ministry of Jesus. This is in contrast to the synoptic authors Mark, Matthew and Luke, who have recorded many miracles. The specific purpose was to introduce his gentile readers to Jesus as the Messiah and the Savior of the world and by believing in Him to receive eternal life.
The miracles include the transformation of water into wine in a wedding feast and Jesus healing the son of a government official without going the distance and instantly. The other signs are the healing of the lame man in Bethesda, the feeding of five thousand men, walking on the water, giving sight to the man born blind, and raising of Lazarus from the dead after four days before resurrection, as well as miraculous catch of fish after resurrection
Each study is presented in three parts—background, description, and devotional application suited for individual or a small group or sermon preparation.
Also included are appendices and a discussion guide giving questions for individual and group study.
About the Author
Bennett John has published three religious books on Joseph, Jonah, and the Gospel of John. For many years he and his wife, Sally, had conducted Bible studies for small groups. They are active in their Evangelical Presbyterian Church. They are sponsors of a Christian residential school in Orissa, India.