God of the Signs: Devotional Study of the Eight Miracles of Jesus-God in the Gospel of John

Copyright © 2013 Bennett P. John.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-0225-1 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 7/30/2013.

CONTENTS

TRANSLATIONS & ABBREVIATIONS

PREFACE

FOREWORD

TESTIMONY

1 INTRODUCTION

2 HIS SUFFICIENCY AND OUR NEED

3 HIS POWER AND OUR LIMITATION

4 HIS MERCY AND OUR SINS

5 HIS PROVISION AND OUR HUNGER

6 HIS ABILITY AND OUR FEAR

7 HIS LIGHT AND OUR BLINDNESS

8 HIS GLORY AND OUR CONDITION

9 HIS RESURRECTION AND OUR MANDATE

10 CONCLUSION

APPENDIX 11-b (Chapter 2)

APPENDIX 11-c (Chapter 4)

APPENDIX 11-d (Chapter 7)

APPENDIX 11-e (Chapter 7)

APPENDIX 11-f (Chapter 9)

12 DISCUSSION GUIDE

TRANSLATIONS & ABBREVIATIONS

1. TRANSLATIONS

All quotations in this book are from the Bible in New King James Version (NKJV). Other translations are marked where quoted as follows:-

MSG The Message

NLV New Life Version

NRSV New Revised Standard Version

NIV New International Version

"Some scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group."

Some scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

2. ABBREVIATIONS

Gen Genesis

Ex Exodus

Lev Leviticus

Num Numbers

Ruth Ruth

1 Chr 1 Chronicles

2 Chr 2 Chronicles

Neh Nehemiah

Ps Psalms

Is Isaiah

Lam Lamentations

Dan Daniel

Mic Micah

Matt Matthew

Mk Mark

Lu Luke

Acts Acts

1 Cor 1 Corinthians

2 Cor 2 Corinthians

Phil Philippians

Heb Hebrews

1 Jn 1 John

Rev Revelation

3. EXPLANATIONS

SYNOPTISTS: The Writers of the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark and Luke

SYNOPTICS: The three gospels. Mark, Matthew and Luke

PREFACE

We praise God for enabling us to publish this fourth book in the e-book format. The first two books were on Joseph and Jonah. All these books are designed for small Bible Study groups. These also can be used for individual study or for preparing sermons.

Actually this book is the second book on the Gospel of John written by the author. In the first book called GOD OF THE INDIVIDUALS we take a look at the impact of Jesus-God on 7 individuals who met Him and were transformed into global proclaimers of the gospel.

Now in this book GOD OF THE SIGNS we look at 8 signs(miracles) which portray the character of Jesus. By the way the author of this gospel (John) chose only 8 miracles(which he called signs) from the many done by Jesus. We look at Jesus in 8 different ways – His sufficiency, His power, His mercy, His provision, His ability, His light, His glory and His resurrection power. He is able to satisfy our needs, strengthen us when we are weak, forgive and cleanse our sins, be our daily manna, remove our blindness, make us alive in Him and give us His resurrection power to proclaim His gospel.

I thank Sally for letting me spend many hours preparing this book. Mauuel Pravin spent a lot of time formatting this book and putting it in the present form electronically, for which we thank Him.

We also thank Priscilla P.Simon and Manuel Pravin for designing the front and back cover and allowing us to use it as part of this book.I also want to thank my cousin John MichaelRaj for taking lot of pains to review this book in the draft form and for his many valuable suggestions.

Our prayer is that many may be blessed by reading this book and become fruit bearing Christians to the glory of our Lord Jesus. July 2013 Bennett John/Sally John.

FOREWORD

I had the privilege of going through this book in the manuscript form and I am honored to write this foreword at the request of the author. The author is married to my wife’s cousin and they are a part of a close-knit family. Being in different continents I have met the author only on a few occasions, but we have a strong bond with each other. I have been impressed by his dedication and zeal as a Christian in the true sense.

This book is a follow-up of the author’s earlier book on ‘God of the Individuals’ wherein he had brought out the personal encounter Jesus had with seven different people from different backgrounds and with different viewpoints as presented in the gospel of John the Apostle. The author had earlier published two books on the study of Joseph and Jonah.

So it was with an eager anticipation that I went through this manuscript, which was again based on the gospel of John the Apostle. It was an eye-opener to me to see the parables in this gospel as signs. The author has presented the eight parables mentioned in the gospel as signs in a lucid manner and has linked the attributes, resources and provisions of our Lord Jesus Christ as sufficient to meet all our needs, weaknesses and shortcomings. He has beautifully brought out these signs to prove the Messianic claims of Jesus Christ.

The author has gone about in a systematic manner to analyze these parables, giving first the background of the sign, then a description of the sign and, finally, a conclusion with a devotional application. This would help in a deeper study of the gospel – by individuals as well as discussion groups.

May the Lord use this book for the edification of many through a better understanding of this wonderful gospel.

Chennai,

Michael Raj

17th Aug, 2012.

TESTIMONY

Soon after I graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in central California in 1967 we moved to Riverside, in Southern California on my first job assignment. We (Sally and I) stayed in Riverside from 1967 to 1974. We moved to Sacramento in central California in 1974 where we have resided for the last 38 years.

While in Riverside, the Lord gave us the privilege of ministering to International Students from more than 15 nations who went to 6 surrounding Universities, Starting from two students who were introduced to us for discipling by fellow Intervarsity USA alumni like us, the Lord brought in an average of 35 to 45 students every Friday night to our home for more than 6 years for Bible Study, Prayer and Fellowship. In addition to the weekly Bible Studies, we also conducted retreats. The student audience consisted of students from different religions.

The studies contained in this book, were presented by me as devotional studies during the years 1967- 1969 and are based on the notes kept by me these 40 plus years. We give Jesus-God all the glory for giving us this privilege to minister to Him during these years. As we present these studies to a larger audience, may our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified through the various people using these materials.

S.Bennett P.John

Sally John

1 INTRODUCTION

John’s gospel is unique and was written with a specific purpose, to encourage people to believe in Jesus-God as Lord and Savior. Also the basic and only message it is projecting is that Jesus is indeed God (Jn 1:1). As we go through this gospel the triune God is revealed. God the Father sent God the Son to die on the cross on our behalf. God the Son, after He ascended on high after finishing His work on this planet, sent God the Holy Spirit to convict us, teach us and guide us,

FOUR PARTS

This gospel can be divided into four parts, Prologue (1:1-18), Book of Signs (1:19-12:25), Book of Glory (13-20) and Epilogue (21). In the Prologue Jesus is portrayed as God the Creator, the Son who died for us after having lived among us in human form. In the Book of Signs, the seven Signs (Miracles) that were done before His resurrection to prove that He was the promised Messiah are focused on among other things. In the Book of Glory the assertion of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, His last will and testament to His followers and discourses are summarized. Of course His crucifixion and resurrection as part of His real glorification, is mentioned. In the Epilogue the eighth sign (Miracle) which was done after His resurrection is presented with the end summary of why many Signs and Wonders, above and beyond the eight ones presented are not included. Also it was reiterated that the main purpose was to make us believe in Him and follow Him. In the epilogue the 8th sign is followed by the restoration of Peter and the call to feed and shepherd the flock.

NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY

Our Lord is called Jesus, 13 times in Mark, 151 times in Matthew, 88 times in Luke and 247 times in John. He is also called Christ, 8 times in Mark, 17 times in Matthew, 14 times in Luke and 21 times in John. Therefore we see that the words Jesus and Christ are mentioned the most in John when this book was written about 70 years since the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Christian landscape had changed. The gentile Greek audience who were the majority of the early church, at that time, needed to hear about Jesus Christ the Savior of the world who was a Jew by birth and came in fulfillment of the Jewish scriptures for example, Moses, Psalms and the Prophets.(Lu 24:44). Believers in Jesus were being thrown out of Jewish synagogues and persecuted. These believers started becoming a distinct religious (Christian) group. As we know the temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed in AD 70 according to the prophesy by our Lord. The power and rule of the Sadducees and High priests based on the temple worship was non-existent. Pharisees were becoming the leaders of Judaism then. In John’s gospel the word Pharisees was used 18 times out of which in 16 times it was in connection with the crucifixion of Jesus. We find the word the Jews was used in the John’s gospel, 9 times believing in Jesus and 9 times against Jesus. We find confessions of people in Jesus in this gospel 42 times. In the beginning and the end of this Gospel, shall we say, were the confessions of John the author. The other 40 times it is confessions by various people including the apostles.

FOUR WORDS

Four words were used to describe the miracles of Jesus Christ in the original gospels in Greek.

1. Miracles (Miracula) which are events fitted to excite the wonder of beholders. For example see Jn 2:11, 2:23, 3:2, 6:2, 26, 7:31, 9:16, 11:47 and 12:37.

2. Signs (Semeia) which are revelation of God’s truth through the symbolism of outward acts. For example see Jn 2:18, 23; 3:2; 4:54; 6:14; Matt12:38; Mk 8:11; 16:17, 20; and Lu 11:16, 29; 23:8. This is the most important name given to the extra-ordinary deeds of Christ to reveal His divine power and mission.

3. Powers or effects of power (Dynamis) which are events wrought by divine power. For example see Matt 11:20, 23; Mk 6:2, 5; 9:39; and Lu10:13; 19:37

4. Works (Gr. Erga) done by Jesus as part of His Messianic service. For example see some of the references in Jn 5:20, 30; 7:3; 10:38; 14:11; and 15:24;

In this gospel Jesus uses the word, works to define His miracles but John chose to use the word Signs. In the eight Signs, 2 are common with the synoptics and 6 are unique to this gospel. The word Sign (semeion) is mentioned 17 times in the Gospel of John.

OLD TESTAMENT BACKGROUND ON SIGNS

MOSES

We should note that John is rooted in Old Testament symbolism. God through Moses performed 10 signs before the deliverance of Israelites from Egypt. The word signs was used many times. In John’s gospel we see the First sign and the Second sign and the Signs following were not numbered. See also Deuteronomy 34: 10-12. It reads, But since then there has not arisen in Israel, a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and wonders, which the Lord sent him to do, in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all his land, and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.

OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS

In addition to Moses, signs were also part of the ministry of the Old Testament prophets. Just for example, we quote Isaiah 7: 10-14. In Isaiah 7:14 we read, Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call his name Immanuel. The word signs was used in reference to prophets in at least 20 times.

EXPECTATION

The expectation of the coming of the Messiah was very high when Jesus was born. The Jews were looking for the sign. That is why they