All Signs Point to Jesus - Week 1

The uniqueness of John

The Gospel of John is the most unique gospel - Matthew, Mark, Luke known as the synoptic gospels are all very similar. Synoptic comes from two different roots: syn - meaning together, and optis or optic - which is see, or view. The phrase means they are “seen together”, or from the “same viewpoint”.

If you look closely you see similar chronology, teachings, miracles, and narrative surrounding Jesus death and resurrection.

John is incredibly different and unique. In fact it is approximately 90% unique in comparison to the other gospels. In John there are no parables, no exorcisms, no transfiguration, and not lords supper institution. It has a different structure, style, and Johns focus is Jesus Divine identity as the Son of God.

Each writer has a different focus point even within the similarities.

• Matthew: Written for Jews, emphasizes Jesus as the Messianic King.

• Mark: Fast-paced, written for Romans, highlights Jesus as the Suffering Servant.

• Luke: Written for Gentiles, focuses on Jesus as the Savior for all people.

• John: Written for a universal audience, presents Jesus as the Son of God who offers eternal life.

Jesus makes seven significant “I Am” statements in John, which reveal His nature and mission:

• I am the Bread of Life John 6:35 “35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

• I am the Light of the World John 8:12 “12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.””

• I am the Door John 10:9 “9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

• I am the Good Shepherd John 10:11 “11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

• I am the Resurrection and the Life John 11:25 “25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”

• I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

• I am the True Vine John 15:1 “1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”

Not only does John give us a unique perspective on Jesus Divinity, but he also gives a unique and detailed picture of the cross and passion week.

Does anyone know why John gives a unique viewpoint of the Cross?

When you start a new book, you often read the introduction to understand the context. John 1:1-5 serves as the captivating introduction to the entire Gospel.

In The Beginning

John 1:1–5 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

John 1:14 “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Some interpreters have translated the opening phrase of this Gospel, “Before there was a beginning, the Word had been.”

John starts off with a foundational truth, that Jesus is God, and was not created but has always been. Differing from the synoptic gospels John makes sure we understand from the beginning not only is Christ there, but all creation was His doing. This is a mirror back to Genesis chapter 1. God spoke, His Words brought into existence all matter from no matter. Ex Nihilo, out of nothing.

Gary Vanderet says: John intends that the entire book be read in light of this verse. The deeds and the words of Jesus are deeds and words of God…..He is establishing that everything after this contained in the book is you the reader seeing and hearing God!!

John has to be read contextually as well. What seems almost poetic is actually a strong apologetic argument of the culture around him. Choosing his wording carefully he is dismantling the Jews, the Greeks, and the Gnostics.

Jews associated the term “Word” with God himself and is associated with His power, wisdom, and creation.

Greeks or hellenism was the prevailing thought of culture Logos (λόγος) “Word” was the rational force behind the universe.

Gnostics believed that the material world was inherently evil, making it impossible for a divine being to take on flesh, they believed in Jesus but only as a spirit.

John dismantles each and every group with his first couple sentences. To the Jews Jesus is God, to the Greeks yes you are correct Logos does underpin the universe and it is a person Jesus Christ, to the Gnostics “He became flesh and dwelt among us”.

There is too much to cover here we would spend weeks on chapter 1 alone.

John 20:31 “31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

John gives us the direct insight to why he wrote this Gospel.

Scholars divide John into two main sections:

• The Book of Signs (Ch. 1-12) – Focuses on Jesus’ miracles as “signs” pointing to His divine identity.

• The Book of Glory (Ch. 13-21) – Covers Jesus’ Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection.

John records seven miracles or signs, each meant to reveal Jesus’ power and divine authority:

1. Turning water into wine (2:1-11)

2. Healing the official’s son (4:46-54)

3. Healing the paralytic at Bethesda (5:1-15)

4. Feeding the 5,000 (6:1-14)

5. Walking on water (6:16-21)

6. Healing the man born blind (9:1-12)

7. Raising Lazarus from the dead (11:1-44)

This series we take a look at each miracle and how it applies to Jesus revealing Himself to the world.

The Wedding at Cana

John 2:1–4 “1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.””

Anybody enjoy a wedding? What is your favorite part?

A wedding in this day would be very different than ours, the rhythm of their lives is much different than ours, they slowed down, and enjoyed things differently. A wedding would have been in many cases a week long event or in some cases longer. This was something unlike anything we have experienced in our lives. Not only that but it was all covered by the grooms family, and in this culture hospitality was everything. This was an honor / shame culture, which is again foreign to us.

Failing to provide for the guests would be a social disgrace that would never be forgotten in that culture. Imagine starting your marriage and being an outcast of your community before the honeymoon! One scholar said that Rabbis of the day said wine represented joy - running out of wine would be the equivalent of running out of joy in the marriage, again….before it starts.

There is one thing that I think is interesting here. Jesus has been baptized, and spent his time in the wilderness being tempted, but up to this point he has not performed any miracles, this will be the first. I find it interesting he had disciples, they already believed without the need of signs.

Mary, Jesus’ mother seems to have some tie to the family, or I personally think, she knows what its like to be shamed, to be an outcast in her community. Remember she got pregnant before the marriage which in this day was unheard of, not to mention it was not her husbands son. I picture her heart full of compassion and concern for this young couple.

Jesus calls her Woman, not mother, we see this again at the cross when Jesus tells John to take care of her. He refers to her as mother. There is a sense that his ministry is now starting and He is not longer her son, He is now her messiah. Also this is still a term of respect, not dis-respect. My boys tell Courtney Woman get in the kitchen and make me a sandwich.

When have you felt frustrated that God’s timing wasn’t the same as your timing?

How can we value God’s timing above our owns sense of urgency?

John 2:5–8 “5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.”

So it is a little awkward but He performs the miracle even though He said His time was not yet. Actually it was His time, but not to make a scene. This was the first miracle, but it had a small audience that we will see later.

I actually love this narrative from John, and this miracle. It is in the details that I am moved by it. Think about this Jesus could have done any number of things, including speaking a word. At his word all the glasses in the building could have been filled miraculously, and the old wine skins that were now empty, could have been full. Instead he includes people in the miracle. People, like you and me. God is in the business of doing His work with people, to Glorify His Name!

The servants get a part in this. They have a role to play. Mary, who knows who He is, tells them do whatever he says. He has them fill the pots with water, again seemingly not a big deal. They didn’t take the stone pots to the kitchen sink and fill them up, this took some time and effort to gather 150 gallons of water. Not to mention the servants don’t know what is going on, but in faith, do what He says.

You see the faith of these people, in the line they filled them to the brim. They did their part fully, completely, with excellence. Sometimes I think God doesn’t move in our lives because we put forward a half effort.

When has God asked you to do something that didn’t make sense to you? Why is it hard sometimes to do what Jesus tells us to to?

Look at verse 8, Jesus says draw some out. He doesn’t call it wine. At this point I am prone to believe that it is still water. Faith is still necessary, he doesn’t say taste it to be sure its good, or let me check it, not he says scoop it out and take it to the main guy.

Could you imagine if you were the runner?

There is some beautiful metaphors we can draw out here about the purification system (law) and the wine (new covenant), but no time.

John 2:9–11 “9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” 11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.”

The wine was miraculously created from water, John refers to this as a sign, and not just a sign but the beginning of signs. I like the term John uses. The other Gospels use miracles. Which is what they are, but what they are at a deeper level is a sign pointing to who Jesus is, He is the Messiah, He is God in flesh. Signs reveal His glory.

Its easy to get lost in the miraculous here, but what I think the most important take away is the audience. Yes Jesus manifested His glory, but not to the wealthy wedding party, not to the guests….to the servants! The least of these.

There is definitely something to be said here, that the servants, the ones engaged with the savior, the ones acting in obedience, the ones who are part of the work, were the ones who saw the miracle. To everyone else it was business as usual. No change, some impressive wine maybe, but nothing out of the ordinary, yet the extraordinary had just taken place under their noses.

What are some lessons we can learn from this first sign? How have you seen God’s glory revealed when He has intervened in your life?

You want to see miracles in your life? Be the obedient servant. God is going to glorify His Name one way or the other, with or without you, but heres the deal He invites us into relationship, into partnership with Him. Kind of like a marriage.