Sharing with you what I learned in my morning read today about the Gospel of John and the signs and wonders.
In the Gospel of John the Signs (or miracles) are given to us to lead the reader to faith. You can read his purpose as he closes out his book in the last chapter.
John 20:30-31: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
For example, John contrasts the first two miracles he recorded. The first was at the best party ever - a wedding party - where he turns water into wine. The second was connected with the worst tragedy ever - The illness and soon death of a child - where he heals the son of a high official. John is revealing that Jesus is real in both aspects. Our joys and our hurts. Our good times and our sadness. Jesus cares about all areas of our lives.
Another thing John reveals through the signs and wonders is the importance of faith just through hearing God’s word. Both miracles surround the story of Jesus revealing himself as the Messiah to the woman at the well. She then proclaims to the Samaritans in the town. It clearly states in 4:39-42 that because of his words many more became believers. Then we read in the second miracle at the end of John 4 where the man asks for Jesus to heal his son. Then Jesus replies in verse 48, “unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.” These words imply the contrast between the Samaritans, who believed because of His word, and the Jews who would not believe but through signs and prodigies (Alford)
One commentator wrote, Signs and wonders from God are obviosly good things, but they should not form the foundation of our faith. We should not depend on them to prove God to us. In themselves, signs and wonders cannot change the heart; Israel saw incredible signs at Mt. Sinai and even heard the very voice of God, yet a short time later they worshipped a golden calf.
I loved learning about this. One because I love reading about why the writers chose specific stories, miracles, and words of Jesus and not others. The Apostle John has a clear purpose. But then also it challenges me, what is the application? We don’t often think about huge and grandeous signs, wonders and miracles in our faith like healings and things magically turning color and flavor. But we do still pray to God asking for things. We look for evidence. So when he doesn’t answer or answers a different way, does that change how we believe? Does it hinder our faith? Is there a wedge put up between us and God?
Does our faith still stand strong with just His word? Here God is urging us to rest and rely on His word to us. His promises. His word does not fail us. An honest question I ask myself, do I believe in God because of His word and who He is or because of how and what He has blessed me with?
