Eight Signs in the Gospel of John
Introduction. It is clear from Scripture, and especially from the words of
the apostle John, that Jesus did many signs (John 20:30-31). What was the
purpose of these signs?—To validate belief in Jesus (John 3:2; 7:31; 20:8).
This is true not only to those who personally experienced theses signs (John
20:27-28), but also for those who would read about them in the biblical record
(John 20:29).
Given that we are told that Jesus did
many other signs, it leads us to ask why the signs that are recorded were
preserved for us. What do they specifically indicate to us that can motivate
and validate belief? This morning let’s look at eight signs recorded in the
book of John to consider what they teach us about Jesus, His nature, and His
power.
I.
Water
to Wine (1st) – Power Over Chemistry (John 2:11).
A.
Why is it that water
is not as valuable as gasoline? Because it is of a different chemical makeup. What
if one was not limited by the chemical makeup of a substance?
B.
Jesus shows here the
power to change the quality of something by altering its very chemical
makeup.
C.
How should we
respond to One with such power?
II.
Healing
a Sick Child (2nd) – Power Over Distance (John 4:48; 4:53-54).
A.
Why do airlines do
such good business? Because often we need to be in one place to accomplish
something we can’t while in another place. What if space did not affect our
ability to do whatever we needed to do?
B.
Jesus did not have to
be physically in contact with something to affect it—He was not limited by
space and distance.
C.
How should we
respond to One who could do this?
III.
Healing
a Crippled Man – Power Over Time (John 5:5-9).
A.
Temporary conditions
sometimes pass away on their own. When a person as had a condition for an
extended period it is less likely they will ever recover. What if someone
was not subject to the amount or length of time something had existed or been
in place?
B.
Jesus was not
hindered by the duration of the condition.
C.
How would we feel
to be in the presence of such a powerful being?
IV.
Feeding
of the Multitude – Power Over Quantity (John 6:2; 6:14).
A. What determines wealth in our world? The
quantity of something that someone possesses. What if quantity was not a limited
constant?
B. To Jesus a limited number was no limit on
His power. He (as Creator) had the ability to generate new matter where none
had existed before.
C.
How should we
approach One who so changes our entire picture of what is truly valuable?
V.
Walking
on the Sea – Power Over Natural Law (John 6:19-20).
A. Natural law controls everything about our
lives. It is why we fall down and not up. It is why we can pick up a solid
object but our hand can pass through a liquid or gas. What if none of those
laws constrained one’s actions?
B.
Just as we saw in His
ability to alter matter by changing its quality or its quantity Jesus
showed a power over the very laws of nature by altering them at His own will.
C.
What must be our
attitude toward the One who controls the laws of nature, because He Himself
established these laws?
VI.
Healing
of the Blind Man – Power Over Misfortune (John 9:16-21).
A. It is not always easy to explain why
people come into this world with certain conditions. Genetics? Behavior of
parents? Accident of DNA sequencing? What if none of these baffling
circumstances held power over a person?
B.
Similar to the issue
of time, Jesus could take a condition of birth—regardless of its cause—and
transform it.
C.
What would you do
to have a relationship with One who can reverse the most devastating
misfortune?
VII.
The
Resurrection of Lazarus – Power Over Death (John 11:15; 11:42-48; 12:10-11).
A. The Lord has allowed man to make some
amazing breakthroughs in medicine and science, yet one obstacle we will never
be able to overcome is death. We may slow it, delay it, for a brief period
prevent it, but no man can reverse it. What if one had power over death?
B.
In this miracle Jesus
foreshadowed what He would ultimately do for Himself—He had power to lay down
His own life and take it up again!
C.
How should we
relate to One who can conquer the most insurmountable enemy?
VIII. Jesus’ Resurrection – Power Over Sin. (John 20:1-8; 19-20).
A. To understand what Jesus’ resurrection
demonstrates we must first understand why He died in the first place.
B. He came as the sacrifice for sin (John
1:29).
1. He laid down His life willingly (John
10:14-17).
2. In doing so He destroyed the power sin
had over man (Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8).
C. What should be our responsibility toward
One who died to deliver us from sin and death?