The Seven Signs of Jesus
We're back in the book of John for a couple months. It's a great book!
Many scholars and preachers have attempted to put structure to the book of John. In the simplest outline, we find a prologue (1:1-18) and an epilogue (21:1-25). Everything in between gets a little more complicated.
Some people see two sections, calling them the "Book of Signs" and the "Book of Glory" (1:19-12:50 and 13:1-20:31). Other people refer to the book of Glory as the Passion. Of course, both of these breakdowns have some trouble because the Seven Signs are not restricted to the first section and the Passion of Christ doesn't technically begin until Chapter 18. Another problem comes by way of what John says in 20:30-31. According to John, the entire book is a sign so we believe that Jesus is God and our Savior. Others have found ways to break the book into three or four sections by the use of themes. While nearly all the various ways to structure the book overlap, all of them keep the Seven Signs intact.
We are starting a new series called "The Seven Signs of Jesus." These signs are changing water into wine (2:1-11), healing the official's son (4:46-54), healing the invalid (5:1-15), feeding the multitude (6:5-13), walking on water (6:16-21), healing the man born blind (9:1-7), and raising Lazarus (11:1-44). Of course, Jesus did many other miraculous signs like raising from the dead, but many were not written in the book. These seven serve as proof, according to John, "so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31).
For the next seven weeks, we'll look at these signs of Jesus. I would like to encourage you to read them ahead of come to church services. Think about them. Process them through your thoughts, turning them around in your mind, praying about them, and discussing them with others. Ask yourself what the sign says to you about Jesus.
I hope you'll consider joining us for this series.
For the Kingdom!
Pastor Bryan Catherman