The purpose of the Signs

Read John 2.

There are no less than 35 recorded miracles of Jesus.  Turning water into wine was the first one.  Yet, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, verse 11 uses a different Greek word and refers to them as "signs" instead "miracles."  John's Gospel is organized around seven signs and seven claims of Jesus, proving that He is the Messiah.

When Jesus performed a miracle, it was done with intent.  He never used His power to gather a crowd or to put on a show.  Indeed, it appears that He never did a miracle in the same way twice.  What was the intent, then, of displaying such ability?  Verse 11 goes on to state that these signs "manifested his glory."  Our focus then should not be on the deed but on Jesus.  As John wrote in 1:14, "...and we have seen his glory, glory as the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."  God, the Father, has glory.  Jesus, the only Son of God, has His own glory.

In verse 18, the Jews wanted Jesus to do a sign for them to prove Himself to them.  This reminds one of Satan's direct temptations of Christ to misuse His power.  Jesus' response was that "this temple" would be destroyed and then raised in three days.  The inquirers took that to mean the Temple.  Jesus was speaking of His own body.  This is the first reference in John of the coming resurrection.

At the Passover in Jerusalem (v.23), Jesus did other signs not recorded by John, resulting in many believing in Him.  But, their faith was in what they saw.  As Edwin Blum wrote, "They believed He was a great Healer, but not necessarily a great Savior from sin."   The reason we know this to be true is found in the last two verses.  He knew their hearts, whether their trust in Him was for forgiveness and eternal life, or not.  In Matthew 7:21, Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."  In other words, lip service and compliance will not suffice.

A whole-hearted response of trust in Him is what He looks for.  A relationship with Jesus is a trust.  When we fully commit our lives to Him, He entrusts us with eternal salvation, with His name, with His reputation, with His Word, with His life, with the Gospel, and all forms of resources for our stewardship.

May we humbly grow today in our trustworthiness.