BIBLE STUDIES ARCHIVE.....The Seven Signs of the Gospel of John

Introduction:           Why does John call the Synoptic Miracles Signs?
 
A sign refers to the significance of the action, rather than the action itself.  To John, the truth was not found in the wine, the temple, the newfound abilities to walk, or the number of people actually fed. To the disciple whom Jesus loved, the truth was found in revelation after revelation of the glory of the Messiah.  John called them signs to serve as pieces of evidence that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.
 
The glory – to God be the glory that we have seen signs ourselves – each one revealing His glory.  For “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  (John 1:14)
 
The disciples saw this as they were first hand witnesses to the signs and they saw the significance.  They understood the significance.  They BELIEVED the significance.  And even though the Jews of that day saw the same thing and were eyewitnesses to the same signs, many did not understand, and they did not believe.  “Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.”  (John 12:37)  Instead, their hearts were hardened, doubt led to confusion and anger, resentment became their banner, and revenge their motive. 
 
The First Sign:  Water Becomes Wine!
 
At the end of Jesus’ first week of ministry, we find Him and His disciples at a wedding in the little unknown village of Cana, hometown of Nathanael.  Jesus selects the obscure for His first sign, and He remains obscure while performing the sign, choosing to work from “behind the scenes.”    The Messiah chose to act privately, not publicly.  He served others, for “He did not come to be served.”  (Mk. 10:45)   He did not walk into the middle of the wedding feast and interrupt with a pronouncement that the Son of God had arrived.  He was not the center of attention.  For He knew His place, a guest at a wedding where the bride and groom were the main attraction.  There was no grand entrance, no trumpets playing – He and His disciples were just there with the other guests.  They were available.  Jesus knew the eyes that would witness this sign – the eyes of the first disciples.  They would witness the sign and they would “believe on Him.”    
 
Quite simply, there was a need.  The wedding party had run out of the wine.  Jesus’ mother turns to Him and says, “Son, there is no more wine.”  And Jesus looks at His mom and says, “Why are you telling me?  I am just a guest.  My time hasn’t come.”  Mary turns to the servants and says, “Do whatever He tells you to do.” 
 
And so, Jesus locates six stone water jars, used to contain water for the washing of hands.  He tells the servants to fill them with water, then draw some out and go serve it to the master of the banquet.  It is wine, and not just any wine, but the finest quality wine. It is a wine so good that the master rebukes the groom for holding onto the best for so long. 
 
From this sign we can draw some conclusions:
 
1. When invited, Jesus showed up.
2. Jesus knew His place.
3. Jesus met the need, and even exceeded it.
4. Jesus did not do more than He was asked to do.
5. It was the servants who witnessed the miraculous sign.
 
And thus:
 
 1.  When God invites us, show up. 
    Has God extended an invitation to you?  Have you responded?  Do you recognize the difference  between God's invitation and man's?
 2.  Know our place.
    Are you willing to sit in the back row for the Lord's gain?  Are you willing to be stretched, to move out of your comfort zone, for the Lord?  Are you ready and willing to accept the place He has put you in right now?
 3.  Let the Holy Spirit work in us so that God can meet and exceed the need.
    Are you open to participate in the ministry of availability that the Lord has for you?  In ministry, do you allow the Holy Spirit to work?  Do you resist the Spirit?  Do you try and do what only the Holy Spirit can do?
 4.  Don’t do more than what we are asked to do.
    Are you willing to do ONLY what God instructs you to do?  Can you think of a time when you did more than what He desired?  What happened?  Have you tried to manufacture the presence of the Holy Spirit by "working" to make it happen? 
  5.  We should not presume we will always witness the result of God’s handiwork.
     God knows exactly what sets of eyes need to witness His work.  Have you ever been discouraged that you did not see the immediate result of what the Lord did in ministry?  Or see the result at all?  Do you have to "see to believe?"  Are you comfortable carrying out the assignment God has for you, regardless if the results are to be revealed to you?
 
Great things can happen from behind the scenes.  Sometimes we are bottle washers.  Sometimes we are cooks.  Sometimes we are cleaners.  It may not feel holy, it may not look holy, it may not seem holy – but ANYTHING OF GOD IS HOLY!  We come to serve, we don’t come to spout.  We come to love, we don’t come to judge.  We come to be the hands and feet of Christ.