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Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign

John 20:30-31

30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written 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. (ESV)

Signs• What is the purpose of a sign?–They are not merely miracles• They may involve miraculous activity, but they are connected to authority

Signs• What is the purpose of a sign?–They are not simply proof of

Jesus’ divinity• The signs need to be correctly understood within the context of Jesus’ teaching

Signs• What is the purpose of a sign?–Signs were no guarantee of belief•Some saw the signs and failed to believe (cf. John 6, 9)

•Some believed without seeing the signs (cf. John 20:29)

Signs• What is the purpose of a sign?–Their purpose was to reveal that

God, the Father, was working through the person of Jesus, the Son• to bring His kingdom into the world• to bring true life to those who believed

That you may believe…• John tells his audience why he

recorded the signs found in the gospel–The audience includes all

readers (past, present and future)

That you may believe…• John tells his audience why he

recorded the signs found in the gospel–He wants his audience to

‘believe’ something about Jesus

That the Messiah is Jesus• John writes “the Messiah

(Christ), the Son of God, is Jesus” (cf. 1 John 4:15; 5:1)–The Messiah was the promised

king (son of David)–He was to be the anointed

prophet, priest and king

That the Messiah is Jesus• John writes “the Messiah

(Christ), the Son of God, is Jesus” (cf. 1 John 4:15; 5:1)– Jesus, as Messiah, was the

fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel and the world (cf. Matthew 5:17; 2 Corinthians 1:20)

That the Messiah is Jesus• John writes “the Messiah

(Christ), the Son of God, is Jesus” (cf. 1 John 4:15; 5:1)–Because Jesus is the Messiah

they could stop looking for the ‘coming one’

That the Messiah is Jesus• John writes “the Messiah

(Christ), the Son of God, is Jesus” (cf. 1 John 4:15; 5:1)–Because Jesus is the Messiah he

is the true ruler of Israel and the world

That the Messiah is Jesus• John writes “the Messiah

(Christ), the Son of God, is Jesus” (cf. 1 John 4:15; 5:1)–The term ‘Son of God’ is

messianic here, yet John’s gospel elevates the concept– Jesus is the Messiah, but he is

more than Messiah

…believing you would have life…

• John has an additional intent–Belief in Jesus brings life–This ‘life’ is not merely

unending life after death–This life involves a quality and

orientation even now (cf. John 10:10; 1 John 5:11-12, 20)

…believing you would have life…

• John has an additional intent–True life comes from faith in the

person of Jesus–This entails living as Jesus has

called one to live– If one truly trusts Jesus one will

trust what he says about how we are to live

So What?• Do we really believe in Jesus?–Was he right about how we should live our lives?–Are we willing to live as he called his followers to live?