John, the Maverick Gospel by Robert Kysar

Author:Robert Kysar
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-08-09T00:03:00+00:00

THE "SIGNS" AS PROVOCATEURS OF FAITH IN THE FOURTH GOSPEL

Reader's Preparation: Study the passages listed below and try to answer two questions: (1) What does the Fourth Gospel mean by the word "sign"? (2) What is the role of the signs in initiating and nurturing faith in Christ? 2:1-11, 18-25; 4:46-54; 5:1-9; 6:1-28; 9:1-12; 11:1-46; 12:37-41: 20:30-31; 21:1-14. Also read the narrative concerning Thomas in 20:24-29.

"Sign" (semeion) is the term the Fourth Gospel uses to designate Jesus' wondrous deeds (see the introduction). For one acquainted with the Synoptic Gospels, it is a startling use of the term. When those Gospels employ the term in relationship to Jesus' marvelous acts, it is most often given a negative connotation. Jesus is asked to perform a sign to convince doubters of his identity, and he reprimands them for the request. (See, for instance, Matt. 16:1-4; 12:38-42; Mark 8:11-13; Luke 11:16-17, 29-32.) The interest in seeing a sign as a basis for faith is condemned as an expression of distrust and suspicion. Strange, then, that our Gospel uses the word "sign" in a positive way. The Acts of the Apostles, however, does provide a New Testament parallel to the Johannine use of the word. Acts reports that Peter spoke of Jesus' "deeds of power, wonders, and signs" (Acts 2:22) and that Stephen provoked the awe of others with "great wonders and signs" (6:8). In the Gospel of John, however, "sign" has a more specific sense. We might tentatively define the Johannine meaning of "sign" as an act ofjesus that provides the witness an opportunity for insight into Jesus' true identity. Actually, that definition is an oversimplification of the meaning of the word in this Gospel and its relationship to faith.

What the Fourth Gospel calls the signs performed by Jesus seem to have an ambiguous role in relation to believing in the revelation offered by the Christ. As we find in our explorations of nearly every theme, this Gospel does not give an easy answer. It is no different in the case of the relations of the experience of signs and faith in Christ.

The signs are works of God, wonders, or expressions of the power of God that produce faith. This is true of each of the seven or eight major signs performed by Christ in the Gospel:

1. Changing the water into wine (2:1-11)

2. Healing the nobleman's son (4:46-54)

3. Healing the man who had been crippled for thirty-eight years (5:1-9)

4. Feeding the multitude (6:1-14)

5. Walking on the water and the miraculous landing (6:15-25)

6. Healing the man born blind (9:1-8)

7. Raising Lazarus (11:1-46)

8. Catching a miraculous number of fish (21:1-14)

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