For John, Jesus’ “signs” were more than just miracles. Jesus’ “signs” pointed people to God, the giver of love, forgiveness, healing, hope, and life! Here are the “signs” Jesus gave us in John’s Gospel: turning water into wine (chapter 2); healing an official’s son (chapter 4); healing a man by a pool (chapter 5); feeding 5,000 (chapter 6); walking on water (chapter 6); healing a man born blind (chapter 9); and raising Lazarus from the dead (chapter 11). Seven signs!
Hmm, the Bible begins with the WORD of God, Jesus, creating everything as “very good” in “7” days. As we know, after those “7” days, maybe on the 8th day, our world became “broken” as we ate the forbidden fruit and brought sin and death into God’s “very good” creation.
In John’s gospel, there is an 8th “sign”. Jesus was raised from the dead (chapter 20) from a garden tomb. Coincidence? I think not. Could this 8th “sign”, Jesus’ resurrection, begin a new week, a new life, inaugurating a new creation, one free from the power of sin and death? I think so!
The purpose for all of Jesus’ “signs” was to point the world to God, to the abundance of God’s love for the world, for all people (John 3:16). I believe, because of Jesus “8th” sign, the world, all people, were forgiven, are loved, and will always be accepted by God.
What if everyone knew the importance of all of Jesus’ “signs”; pointing people to the love God has for them, for all creation? I believe we would live with more peace and hope; striving to live in the “garden” life God created, that, the “sign” of God’s love, Jesus, redeemed.
I welcome your thoughts.
#stjohnsnashville #allmeansall #Lutheran #ELCA
While the 8th sign (rising from the dead) is the cornerstone, I always loved the story of healing a man born blind.
ReplyDeleteHis disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus replied:
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned ... but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
Sadly, this sign angered the Pharisees and became the beginning of the end.
Yes, it is sad that it marked the end of Jesus' life. The good news is, Jesus, through his death and resurrection, all of our sins have been forgiven. Maybe, God has Holy amnesia; forgiving and "forgetting" our sins, forever (Jeremiah 31:31-34); hence saying, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned. God's glory of love and forgiveness was seen in Jesus giving the "man born blind" sight. That is the same "sight" Jesus, God, has given the world. Maybe, as we let Jesus' ever-present light shine through us, we might all be given sight to see God's love for all.
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