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"THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE"
The Father's Testimony Through Signs
INTRODUCTION
1. In our last lesson, we considered the human testimony recorded in
John's gospel...
a. Such as that offered by John the Baptist, the early disciples and
others who believed
b. But also the testimony by the masses, including many who did not
believe
-- As noted, human testimony alone does not prove Jesus to be the Son
of God
2. Jesus Himself did not depend upon human testimony alone as evidence
- cf. Jn 5:33-37
a. He recognized human testimony, such as that offered by John the
Baptist
b. Yet appealed to a "greater witness", that of His Father's
testimony!
-- Jesus encouraged people to consider the Father's testimony as
evidenced by the works which He did
[In this lesson we shall define the purpose of the works or "signs"
Jesus did, and note how they serve as evidence to sustain the claims
Jesus made...]
I. THE PURPOSE OF SIGNS
A. DEFINITION OF "SIGN"...
1. The Greek word is semeion
2. Used "of miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the
men sent by Him, or by which men prove that the cause they are
pleading is God's." - Thayer
-- This word is used by John almost exclusively in his gospel (as
opposed to miracle or wonder)
B. THE PURPOSE OF "SIGNS"...
1. Jesus claimed that the works, miracles or wonders He performed
"bear witness of Me" - Jn 5:36
2. The Father bore witness through these "signs" to the validity
of His claims (such as the claim "the Father has sent Me")
[What were these "signs" in which the Father bore testimony concerning
Jesus? John says there were many (Jn 20:30), too many to record them
all (Jn 21:25). In his gospel, John records at least seven...]
II. SEVEN SIGNS RECORDED BY JOHN
A. TURNING WATER TO WINE...
1. This sign was done in Cana of Galilee - Jn 2:1-11
2. Jesus demonstrated His power over creation
a. Proving the claim made in the prologue ("All things came
into being by Him") - Jn 1:3
b. I.e., He is the Creator!
B. HEALING THE NOBLEMAN'S SON...
1. Also done in Cana of Galilee - Jn 4:46-54
2. Jesus demonstrated His power over physical disease
a. Supporting His claim to provide salvation from spiritual
disease - cf. Jn 8:34-36
b. I.e., He is the Savior!
C. HEALING THE LAME MAN...
1. Done in Jerusalem, at the pool of Bethesda - Jn 5:1-9
2. Jesus demonstrated His power over birth defects
a. Used to show His equality with God - Jn 5:17-21
b. I.e., He is Deity, and capable of giving life!
D. FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND...
1. Done near Bethsaida of Galilee - Jn 6:1-14
2. Jesus showed His power over food supply
a. Proving His claim to provide man with his spiritual needs
- Jn 6:35
b. I.e., He is the Bread of Life!
E. WALKING ON THE WATER...
1. On the Sea of Galilee - Jn 6:16-21
2. Jesus showed His power over nature
a. Once again confirming the claim made by John in the prologue
- Jn 1:3
b. I.e., He is the Creator!
F. HEALING THE BLIND MAN...
1. A man in Jerusalem who was blind from birth - Jn 9:1-12
2. Jesus showed His power over blindness
a. Confirming His claim to be "the light of the world" - Jn
8:12
b. I.e., He is the Light!
G. RAISING LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD...
1. Done at Bethany - Jn 11:39-44
2. Jesus shows His power over death
a. Proving His claim to be "the resurrection and the life" - Jn
11:25
b. I.e., He is the Life!
[Through such signs as these seven, the Father bore testimony concerning
Jesus of Nazareth. They were designed to impact those who saw them.
Indeed they did...]
III. TESTIMONY BY WITNESSES OF THE SIGNS
A. NICODEMUS...
1. "You are a teacher come from God" - Jn 3:2a
2. "No one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him"
- Jn 3:2b
B. THE MULTITUDE...
1. "When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which
this Man has done?"
2. Prompting many to believe in Him - Jn 7:31
C. HIS ENEMIES...
1. "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs." - Jn 11:47
2. They could not deny the signs, though they refused to accept
their implications
CONCLUSION
1. John stated his purpose in recording these "signs" of Jesus,
including the one in which He showed Himself alive to doubting Thomas
(cf. Jn 20:26-29)
a. That we might believe in Jesus as the Son of God
b. That we have life in His name - Jn 20:30-31
2. Jesus said these "signs" served as testimony from the Father - Jn
5:36
a. That the Father sent Him
b. That He is everything He claimed to be
The question we face is this: Do we ignore these signs, attested to
even by the enemies of Jesus? Or do we accept them as testimony from
the Father, that the claims of Jesus are true? The blessing of eternal
life hangs in the balance...
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Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2009
