• Title Page, p. 1.
• Preface, pp. 2-3.
• Introduction, pp. 4-6.
• The First Sign: Turning Water into Wine at Cana, pp. 7-9.
• The Second Sign: The Healing of the Nobleman's Son, pp. 10-13.
• The Third Sign: The Healing of the Palsied Man, pp. 14-17.
• The FourthSign: The Feeding of the Five Thousand, pp. 18-20.
• The Fifth Sign: The Storm on the Lake and Jesus Walking on the Sea, pp. 21-23.
• The Sixth Sign: The healing of the Blind Man, pp. 24-26.
• The Seventh Sign: The Raising of Lazrus from Death, pp. 27-29.
• Summary of John's Seven Signs, p. 30.
• Summary of John Chapters 11-21, p. 31-32.

PREFACE:

The Gospel of John is a unique look in the Bible. Each of the books of the Bible has its own particular significance and value, but the Gospel of John has an attraction which in some ways surpasses that of any other book of the Bible. This is because John has concentrated attention upon certain outstanding needs and hopes of man, and has shown how these needs can be met and these hopes realized. Deep down in the heart of every person is the longing for a better and nobler life. In the mind of every normal person there is a hope for a better life when the period of this earthly life is ended, there is an instinctive desire that somehow and somewhere a perfect life can believed. Allied with this is an instinctive revolt from the feeling that the grave ends all. There is a hope within us that in another world we will continue and perfect what we have begun here.

We naturally respond in agreement to the suggestion that life does not end at the grave. When the loved minister Dick Sheppard died a newspaper cartoonist depicted Dick Sheppard standing at the pulpit. Beneath the pulpit were the words--"Here endeth the FIRST lesson"--With the instinctive suggestion that the life of the beloved minister was not over but was "to be continued."

John wrote his Gospel to meet these longings. He was now a very old man, he had had a life- long--experience of what Jesus Christ had done for him, and what faith in Jesus Christ meant for him. John saw men and women seeking to solve the mystery of life, he saw people trying to raise the moral and spiritual level of their lives, he found folk craving for knowledge and assurances of what happens after this present life is over, and to questioning humanity John gave a God-- directed answer in his Gospel.

John's Gospel gives the answers to man's deepest questions. It points to Jesus Christ as the Source of all true life, and it leads us to Jesus Christ as the Giver of life to all who believe in Him. This life which Jesus gives is ETERNAL life.

Among commentators my main debt is to Dr. T.W. Gilbert--A Devotional Commentary--Religious Tract Society 1930. (now out of print and unobtainable). And more particularly to Dr. William Temple in his "Readings in St. John's Gospel" (complete edition 1945--MacMillan and Co. Ltd. London). But I must not put upon these writers the responsibility for what the thoughts sown by them have grown to be in my own experience of my reading of John's Gospel during the past fifty years.

We begin with a quotation from William Temple on page 33 of his "Readings from St. John's Gospel".

"In the body of this Gospel--apart from the Epilogue (chapter 21)--SEVEN SIGNS or miracles are recorded. "SIGN" is the word chosen by St. John to describe them, and he thus warns us that their meaning is something beyond themselves. Moreover, the fact that he selects seven is a way of telling his readers that they are not to be read as mere episodes but as conveying a special truth which finds expression only in the whole series taken together."

With this statement of William Temple's sown as a seed thought in our minds we approach our study of John's Gospel.

In this study we will deal only with the first eleven chapters of John's Gospel. Whilst the tremendous chapters 12--21 (including the Upper-Room discourses, the arrest, trial, crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus) reveal the outworking of man's reaction to the significance of the Seven Signs; on the one hand, blind prejudice leading to hardening opposition and the crucifixion; on the other hand deepening belief in Jesus leading to the blessing of Eternal life; our purpose in this present study is to stress the significance of the Seven Signs which are recorded in the chapters 1-11. By this approach we desire to give a lead by which readers may appreciate more fully John's Gospel in their personal spiritual experience.

The general method followed in this study of John's Gospel chapters 1-11 is first to observe in order each one of the seven signs. Then to discuss the significance of the sign. Then to apply the sign and significance of the sign to our personal living today.

Harold G. Norris.      
1970      

INTRODUCTION

John's Gospel

No book on earth has such a profound beginning as the Prologue of John 1:1-18. John takes his readers back to peer into the eternity past. There we never see God the Father alone. Always there has been Another with Him who is to God the Father what thought and word is to man.--Through Whom God expresses Himself. Through Whom God acts. "THE WORD"-- That WORD "became flesh and dwelt among us" in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ brought a Gospel of life and light to this world, and darkness has never overcome that light. Evil never wipes out good. (see verses 4 and 5).

One is reminded of John Bunyan's picture of the fire burning against the wall in Interpreter's house. The devil pouring water on the fire trying to put it out,--behind, secretly pouring oil on the fire, there is One helping Christians no matter what the devil may do.

John wrote the Gospel that bears his name with the object that his readers might come to a fuller understanding of the person of Jesus Christ. And John planned his Gospel around seven miracles which Jesus performed. These seven miracles are all described by John as "SIGNS".

It is our object in these studies to show that all interviews and events described in John's Gospel either lead up to, or develop out of these seven signs. John's Gospel begins to glow with richer meanings to readers who grasp the plan John is following.

It is our prayer that readers may find new insights as they read John's Gospel as their thoughts are centred around the significance of the seven signs.

The Signs of John's Gospel

WHY JOHN WROTE HIS GOSPEL

One way to appreciate the beauty of a garden is to examine each individual flower petal by petal. Sometimes we need to stand back and look at the garden as a whole in order to see how its creator planned the lay-out of the beds and paths.

Usually we approach the Bible by studying one or a few texts. (That's like examining individual flowers in the garden). But we will the better see the beauty and significance of John' s Gospel, if, before we study its texts in detail, we stand back and look at the whole Gospel and see the plan John has followed in writing his Gospel. To understand John's Gospel we need first to see the plan he has in mind.

WHY JOHN WROTE HIS GOSPEL--AND THE PLAN HE FOLLOWED IS EXPLAINED IN JOHN CHAPTER 20, VERSES 30 AND 31

"NOW JESUS DID MANY OTHER SIGNS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DISCIPLES WHICH ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK. 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."

The risen Christ had just shown Himself to His disciples, and to Thomas who had said that he could not believe in Jesus unless he could see the nail prints in Jesus' hands. Jesus said-- "Thomas, put your finger here, and see my hands, and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me?" And then, looking down through the centuries to us today Jesus said "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." And then, in verses 30 and 31 John states that he had chosen and written certain SIGNS among those done by Jesus so that we too may believe, and with Thomas acknowledge Jesus as "My Lord and my God."

"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; (in John's Gospel) 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."

Here, in chapter 20:30 and 31 John tells us why he wrote, and his plan in writing this Gospel which bears his name. John wanted his readers to come to a fuller understanding of the person of Jesus Christ.

John was now a very old man. He had had a life-time experience with Jesus as his Saviour and friend. He wanted us to know what Jesus meant in a Christian's daily life. John saw all around him people who were puzzled by the riddle and mystery of human life. He saw men and women searching for a meaning and purpose in this present life,--and for a certainty of what is beyond death. In John's Gospel God gave His answers to these questions and problems.

John did not set out like Matthew, Mark and Luke to tell the story in order of time of the events of Jesus' life on earth. He wrote with a different plan. He chose SEVEN MIRACLES from among the many performed by Jesus. John calls these seven miracles "SIGNS." In calling them SIGNS John is telling us that their meaning is something beyond themselves.

To understand John's Gospel we need to trace through these seven miracles (or SIGNS). In studying these SEVEN SIGNS we observe that all the events and teachings of Jesus which John records either lead up to one of the signs, or develop out of one of these signs. If we read John's Gospel carefully keeping in mind the point of each of the seven miracles as SIGNS, then, with Thomas, we will bow in faith and worship acknowledging Jesus as Saviour and God. To change our figure of speech, if we think of the seven SIGNS as the rungs of the ladder which leads

The Greek word which John uses to describe each of the seven miracles recorded in John's Gospel is "SEEMION" which is correctly translated by the R.S.V. as a "SIGN". The Greek word used in general reference to a MIRACLE is "DUNAMIS" (an act of power). The wondrous acts of power which John records as having been done by Jesus are SIGNS. So, whenever we read in John's Gospel what we call "a miracle" we should study it carefully in order to discover just what the miracle is a sign of. We will also note that the events and teachings in John's Gospel arise out of, or lead up to these signs. In choosing SEVEN signs John is also telling us that the significance of the signs is to be found in the SEVEN as a whole, rather than in only one of the signs.

We can set out a brief SUMMARY OF JOHN'S SEVEN SIGNS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE in parallel columns thus:

As we trace through these seven miracles we observe that they are PROGRESSIVE signs which Jesus made to prove to all who are not wilfully blind that Jesus is the Author and Giver of life; and that all of our hopes and aspirations of eternal life are met in Jesus Christ. He can save us and He alone. Whoever reads John's Gospel with an honest open mind, following John's development of the lessons of the seven signs will join Thomas in acknowledging Jesus as "My Lord and my God".

	THE FIRST SIGN, AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE:
	Chapter 2:1-11. TURNING WATER INTO WINE AT CANA (Note verse 11)--"This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him."

Jesus, with five or six of His disciples was among the guests at a wedding. The supply of wine failed and it was suggested that Jesus provide some assistance. There were six stone water-pots each of which could hold twenty to thirty gallons of water. Jesus told the servants to fill the water-pots with water. Then He told them to dip out some and take it to the master of ceremonies. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from, he said that this wine was better than the wine they had had before."

This sign of turning one hundred and fifty--or one hundred and eighty gallons of water into wine is

Jesus is Lord of human nature. When Jesus enters a life He breaks the prison bars of every sin and sets us free.--When spring gets into a clod of earth it cannot be imprisoned there but bursts out into new life in bud and flower. So, also, when Jesus Christ is allowed to enter a human life He changes that human life and nature in an even more marvellous way than changing water into wine. Human history is just full of living examples of the power of Jesus Christ as Lord of Nature, to change HUMAN NATURE, even as Jesus claimed in John 3:1-15 following the sign of 2:1-11 of changing water into wine.

John did not record the miracle of changing water into wine simply to show the power of Jesus as Lord of Nature. John used the miracle as a SIGN of the greater truth that Jesus is Lord of human nature--able to change all men by the new life which He imparts within a personality. Man's nature can be changed by Jesus Christ as quickly and readily as Jesus can change water into wine. Jesus Christ can change you and me, for we are His creation. In fact there is no other way in which we can be changed and saved except by Jesus Christ. "Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." said Jesus in John 3:3 to Nicodemus in applying the lesson of the first sign.

What John wants us to see is not that Jesus once turned 150 gallons of dull water into sparkling wine, but that WHENEVER JESUS C0MES INTO A LIFE THERE COMES A MARVELLOUS NEW QUALITY OF LIFE WHICH IS LIKE TURNING DULL WATER INTO SPARKLING WINE, ADDING COLOUR, FLAVOUR AND JOY TO LIFE. John wants us to see that without Jesus life is a dull affair but that when Jesus comes into a life that life becomes radiant, sparkling and exciting. Without Jesus a person's life is dull, drab and uninteresting, but with Jesus life becomes thrilling and wonderful.

In recording the first sign which Jesus did at Cana of Galilee John is not telling us something which Jesus once did in Cana and never does again, but something which JESUS IS ALWAYS DOING. This first miracle which Jesus did in Palestine long ago He is STILL DOING IN CHANGING THE LIVES OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO ACCEPT HIS RULE AND AUTHORITY OVER THEM. THE READER OF JOHN'S GOSPEL SHOULD GRASP THE PERMANENT MEANING AND LESSON OF THIS FIRST MIRACLE OF 2:1-11.

Its lesson is that Jesus is Lord of ALL NATURE.--Not only is Jesus able to change one substance into another, but HE IS ABLE TO REGENERATE, TO GHANGE HUMAN NATURE BY A NEW BIRTH FROM GOD. (By implanting a new quality of God's life in man).

Nicodemus knew about Jesus' first miracle of turning water into wine, so he came to Jesus as recorded in the next chapter and talked with Jesus about the real problem HOW CAN HUMAN NATURE BE CHANGED?--How can I be changed? And Jesus claimed that as quickly and as readily as He changed water into grape-juice He can change any man or woman-- by a new birth from above, by implanting the quality of God's life within that person.

This is the main lesson of the first sign of 2:1-11.

Christ offers a new glory and meaning in life to anyone who will accept it from Him--A life that is abundant life, a peace that passes all understanding, which doesn't depend upon present circumstances but can exist even in spite of those circumstances. Jesus offers a fulness of joy which this world's pleasures cannot give.--AND HE CAN, AND DOES STILL PERFORM THIS MIRACLE TODAY. If we grasp this PERMANENT lesson of this first miracle we will go through life with our eyes wide open to the wonder of Jesus Christ's creative power not only in the silent miracle of harvest--but above all--in changing our human natures into the likeness of His own through the miracle of the New Birth.

THIS FIRST MIRACLE IS A SIGN OF THE PURPOSE OF JESUS CHRIST IN THIS WORLD.

Jesus came to transfigure and to transform the lives of men and women. Jesus gives a new glory to everything He touches. He turns the useless into the useful. He turns the dull and colourless into the sparkling and vital. He takes any wasted life and transforms it. He takes a blundering fisherman named Peter, a man of impulse and unstable as water and makes him into a rocklike stable character. He takes a thunderbolt fiery-tempered man named John, capable of calling down fire from heaven on certain misguided villagers who refuse a night's lodging and changes him into the Apostle of love. He takes a greedy, grasping tax-collector named Matthew and sets him to writing a timeless Gospel. He takes a demon-possessed woman named Mary and makes her the first herald of His resurrection. He takes Saul of Tarsus the greatest menace of the Christian church and turns him into the greatest missionary of the church. And He is the same Christ still. He still changes every human life that is willing to surrender itself to Him. He still

AND, THIS FIRST MIRACLE IS ALSO A S1GN OF THE METHOD JESUS CHRIST USES IN THIS WORLD.

Here, in chapter 2, verses 7 and 8 is the indication of Jesus' method in making His marvellous transformations in changing human natures.

How did Jesus change the water into sparkling grape-juice? No doubt He could have made the change without human assistance--for He is the Lord of Nature--but He did not. HE WORKED THROUGH HUMAN HANDS. THESE SERVANTS HAD TO COOPERATE WITH HIM. In fact they had to do all they could before this miracle was made. So they had to fill the water pots with water themselves. They had to draw some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies. And it is always so. When the hungry multitude is to be fed, Jesus must have the cooperation of the lad's lunch of five loaves and two fishes, and He must have the full cooperation of the disciples. When Jesus cures a paralysed man He must have the help of four friends who carry the sick man to Jesus.

In fact, all the transforming work of Jesus waits upon our cooperation. If we would have abundant harvests, then He must send the rain, sunshine and air, and provide the soil but we must do our part. We must plough and plant the grain. God's work is not less miraculous because He is assisted by human hands. In the modern miracle of saving and changing persons Jesus Christ still uses the cooperation of human hands. It is the will of God that our local church be virile and strong in order to present the Gospel in our community. But God cannot do it alone. What Mary said to the servants in 2:5 is being said to us today "Do whatever He tells you." Our lives are to be in complete surrender to Jesus Christ; thus shall we find that Christ is Lord of OUR nature. Thus shall we prove the truth of the claim of the first sign of John's Gospel.

If this first miracle is to be repeated in your church it will not be in the first instance because of the method or order you adopt in church worship services and on the type of auxiliaries you have, but it depends on the kind of person you are yourself. You must first be a dedicated Christian in whose personal experience this first miracle has taken place. The dull routine of your life must be changed by the Lord of all nature into the sparkling vitality of Christian living.

This first miracle at Cana of Galilee has a personal call to every member of your congregation. Has Jesus Christ changed you?

	THE SECOND SIGN, AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE:
	Chapter 4:46-54. The healing of the nobleman's son.--The sign that Jesus Christ is ABLE TO GIVE LIFE. JESUS CHRIST IS ABLE TO GIVE LIFE TO ALL ON THE ONE CONDITION OF FAITH.

The introduction to this second sign begins in chapter 3 verse 14. We will return to this after noting the miracle itself in chapter 4:46-54.

The Miracle Itself.

Jesus was again in Cana in Galilee where He had given the first sign. News of His presence in Cana reached Capernaum 25 miles away on the shores of the lake of Galilee. From this town an un-named official whose son was very ill hurried to Cana to secure help from Jesus. This official is thought to have been Chusa, King Herod's steward, whose wife ministered to Jesus later because of her gratitude. Whoever this official was, he had heard of the power of Jesus as Lord of nature. He knew of the turning of the water into wine. He believed that Jesus was no ordinary man, and as his son's condition was desperate he hurried the 25 miles to ask Jesus to come to the bedside of his son to heal the lad.

The reply of Jesus to the official's request in verse 48 appears at first reading to be abrupt. "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." Jesus was stressing the need of faith. Jesus was testing the official's faith. Clearly this man believed that if Jesus was actually at the bedside of his son Jesus could heal him. "Sir, come down before my son dies" is his agonised cry in verse 49 in a limited faith. The official still believed that Jesus could not heal his son unless He was actually present at the bedside.

For this reason Jesus tested the man's faith still further in verse 50 "Go, your son will live." This statement challenged the official to believe that Jesus Himself is LORD OF LIFE. The Man looked at Jesus and saw the great truth. Saw the truth to such as extraordinary degree that although his son lay dying 25 miles away and here in Cana he heard Jesus give the assurance that his son would not die, this father believed Jesus. The extent and certainty of the man's belief is shown by his reaction to Jesus' statement. Instead of hurrying home as we might well expect any anxious father to do in such circumstances, this man was so certain in his belief in Jesus that he stayed in Cana for the night. It was on the next morning that he returned home. As he approached Capernaum his servants came to meet him with the joyful news that his son was living. In verse 52 the father "asked them the hour when he began to mend." He heard the servants say, "yesterday at l p.m. the fever left him." The father knew that was the hour when Jesus said to him, "your son will live" and he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did." (verses 53, 54)

The healing of his son led this official and all his household to believe in Jesus. However limited the official's belief when he set out for Cana it is clear that he now believed in the person of Jesus as the Christ--not only as Lord of nature, but now by this second sign as LORD OF LIFE.

The main lesson of this second sign is that JESUS IS LORD OF LIFE, ABLE TO GIVE LIFE TO ALL ON THE ONE CONDITION OF FAITH.

There are many important lessons arising from the main lesson of this second sign--that Jesus is Lord of life, able to give life on the one condition of faith. Here are a few:

When we come to ask "what are the lessons of this second sign for ourselves?" we are drawn to the way in which the need of this official was so fully met by our Lord. It is still true today that SORROW often brings us to Jesus Christ. Many parents are brought near to Jesus Christ by the suffering of their children. They ask the Lord to heal their child and the Lord brings mercies of love and peace into their hearts. Sorrow often leads to Jesus Christ. These lessons are all here but the main truth of this second sign is--THAT JESUS IS LORD OF LIFE, ABLE TO GIVE LIFE ON THE ONE CONDITION OF FAITH.

NOW WE RETURN TO THE INTRODUCTION TO THIS SECOND SIGN OF JOHN 4:46-54.

The second sign is introduced in chapter 3:14-4:45 particularly in the interviews of Jesus with Nicodemus and the woman of Samaria.

(We stated previously that in John's Gospel all the events and teachings of Jesus which John records either lead up to one of the signs, or develop out of one of these signs). That this is the case is clearly shown in John's introduction to the second sign in John 3:14-4:45. Note the

TO NICODEMUS JESUS CLAIMED THE NECESSITY OF BELIEF IN HlMSELF. Chapter 3: 14-17 is the heart of Christian experience. A claim of Jesus which Christians have proved in experience to be true. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever BELIEVES IN HIM may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever BELIEVES IN HIM should not perish but have ETERNAL LIFE. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."

The LIFE that Jesus gives is ETERNAL--not merely EVERLASTING life. The ETERNAL life that Jesus gives to the BELIEVER is not merely LENGTH of life. ETERNAL life is a QUALITY of life (not merely QUANTITY of life). ETERNAL life is the quality of God's own life--a life of meaning and purpose.

When John was an old man he wrote in 1 John 5:11-13 "This is the testimony, that God GAVE us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son HAS life, he who has not the Son of God has not life. I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you HAVE eternal life."

ETERNAL LIFE! This is the gift of Jesus Christ to us. Not merely unending years beyond death but life NOW. Life of meaning and purpose. It is a life of peace, for it means a life NOW freed from all fears that haunt the human situation. It means power--of victory over all circumstances and frustration, It means a life from which all bitterness and hatred have been removed. Eternal life is a life in which the LOVE of God has taken control. (And that love is defined as active, positive, constructive goodwill towards another whether or not we like that person). Eternal life is a life from which all fear of death is removed. Eternal life is a life of serenity in which the prayer has been answered:

"God grant me serenity to ACCEPT the things I cannot change, COURAGE to change the things I can; and WISDOM to know the difference."

And John tells us that this ETERNAL life comes only through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the LORD OF LIFE. Eternal life can be ours only when we BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST.

IN CHAPTER 4:1-42 JOHN LEADS UP TO THE SECOND SIGN (THAT JESUS IS THE LORD OF LIFE, ABLE TO GIVE LIFE ON THE ONE CONDITION OF FAITH) BY THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN JESUS AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.
(Note that the point of the interview is BELIEF--Belief which brings ETERNAL LIFE).

Jesus sat by the well dug centuries before by Jacob, and at mid-day a Samaritan woman, (a woman of mixed race despised by Jews) an outcast prostitute came with her water pot to draw water. Jesus asked her for a drink. She replied "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with Samaritans." Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink', you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water." The woman said to Him, "Sir you have nothing to draw with, and the well is 150 feet deep, where do you get that living water?" Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of the water of Jacob's well will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to ETERNAL LIFE."

As the result of that interview the woman and the people of Samaria found ETERNAL LIFE through BELIEVING IN JESUS AS THE SAVIOUR OF TIIE WORLD.

In this interview Jesus claims THAT HIS POWER AND PROVISION AS LORD OF LIFE IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY HUMAN LIMITATIONS. Without well or water pot Jesus said that He can satisfy all of the unending yearnings, needs and thirsts of mankind. Jesus offers the spring of the living water of ETERNAL LIFE regardless of human limitations set by our sins. And Christian experience IS that Jesus Christ DOES satisfy. And that as Lord of life He does this in spite of all human circumstances and difficulties. The ETERNAL LIFE which Jesus gives to the believer at

There is in England an ancient castle in which within its inner area there is a gurgling living spring of fresh water. What a priceless treasure that spring of water was to the persons who lived in that castle! Enemies from without might besiege and shut them in but they could never cut off the water supply because the spring of water within made the owners independent of all outside sources. This is the experience of every Christian. Jesus Christ is the source of Eternal Life. He lives within us. Despite all adverse difficulties and opposition from without Jesus gives LIFE-- ETERNAL LIFE NOW AND ALWAYS.

IN THIS INTERVIEW THE FACT BECOMES CLEAR THAT THE KKOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST LEAVES NO UNDISCOVERED PERSONAL SECRETS.

Jesus knows ALL about us. There are no secrets of our personal lives hidden from Him. The woman of Samaria saw that no secrets of her personal marriages or life were hidden from Jesus. And we need to realise that none of OUR personal secrets are hidden from Jesus the Lord of Life.

He knows our PRIDE, our PREJUDICES, our SELFISHNESS our HYPOCRISIES, our MORAL WEAKNESSES. He knows the SUBTERFUGES and 'DUGOUTS' where we hide our secrets from other people and even try to deceive ourselves. HE KNOWS IT ALL. The BEST and the WORST about us. He who knew the Samaritan woman's secrets and yearnings also knows ALL our secrets. For us to attempt to avoid Him is more foolish than to refuse medical or surgical treatment when we are really ill by refusing to face the fact that we are sick and need to see a doctor. As Lord of Life Jesus knows our need.

IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT JOHN'S GOSPEL LEADS UP TO THE SECOND SIGN--THE HEALING OF THE OFFICIAL'S SON--(that Jesus is LORD OF LIFE, able to give life on the one condition of faith) BY RECORDING THE INTERVIEW IN WHICH THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA FOUND ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH BELIEVING IN JESUS AS THE SAVIOUR.

The woman had said to him (verse 25) "I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes he will show us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."

The opportunity of a life-time had come to this woman of exchanging a living death for a soul pulsating with joyous eternal life. Eagerly she grasped it. She faced the honest truth about herself. She accepted the life Jesus offered. She RAN into the city, leaving behind her water-jar. That is, she forgot the MATERIAL THINGS which up until that moment had been THE important thing in her life; running with the Gospel news. (verse 29)--"Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" Her excitement and sincerity was such that the people of the city went out to Jesus. They persuaded Him to stay teaching them for two days. Their believing in Jesus brought them too to the peace and joy of eternal life and in verse 42 they said "Now we BELIEVE, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world."

The Lord of Life who sat by Sychars well is here NOW.

And He who asked the woman at the well to DO something--"To give Him a drink of water"--is asking NOW that we do something for Him--TO BELIEVE IN HIM.

The gift of God--ETERNAL LIFE--is here now for us to accept. Are we ready to forget our water-jars--the material things which we previously considered to be of such vital importance-- and, accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord of life, go out to tell others of the Saviour of the world? The woman of Samaria led others to the Saviour. Is there any one who has found the Saviour because of you?

	THE THIRD SIGN, AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE:
	Chapter 5:1-15. The healing of the paralysed man. (The significance of this third sign--verses 16-47--JESUS IS ABLE TO GIVE LIFE ON THE CONDITION OF FAITH NO MATTER HOW SINFUL A PERSON IS. JESUS CAN GIVE LIFE TO THE SPIRITUALLY DEAD)--JESUS CHRIST--THE RESTORER OF LOST POWERS.

This is the third of the seven signs of John's Gospel. Verses 1-15 tell the story of the sign. The rest of chapter 5 from verse 16 records the controversy which it raised. On the human level what Jesus did and said that day cost Him His life. His enemies never forgave Him.

THE SCENE IS SET IN ONE OF THE FIVE PORCHES OF THE POOL OF BETHESDA IN JERUSALEM.

The pool was 55 feet long and 12½ feet wide, and 24 steps led down to the water. The pool was evidently fed by an intermittent spring of water which had some healing mineral properties in it. The troubling (or bubbling) of the water referred to in verse 7 would indicate the influx of water from the hidden spring. Consequently sick folk waited at the pool for this influx of water. It will be noted by readers of the R.S.V. that Verse 4 of the K.J.V. is omitted in the text of the R.S.V. But many ancient texts do include the words translated in verse 4 in the K.J.V. There appears to me no real reason for their omission in the R.S.V.--verse 4 in the K.J.V. reads--"For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water; whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." It appears to me as perfectly natural that folk attributed the healing properties of the spring as being the work of an angel. Surely this is a worthwhile reminder to modern folk that all healing comes from God. God may use doctors and medicines and surgery but the healing still comes from God. Verse 4 in the King James Version is a needed corrective to modern beliefs in materialism which forgets or ignores the work of God in all healing. Sir Philip Sidney sent a message to Queen Elizabeth I over 400 years ago concerning his treatment of a wounded soldier--"I treated the wound. God healed him." That was a fair and honest statement of fact. All healing comes from God. The belief of the Jews in Jesus' day that "An angel troubled the water" was nearer the truth than modern folk who attribute healing to the doctor.

In order to shelter the invalids who waited at the pool five porches had been built. ("Bethesda" literally translated means "The house of mercy") To Bethesda, the house of mercy, Jesus made His way. Here He found the usual crowd of folk with various ailments, and Jesus singled out a man for whom the world had lost hope, a man who had lost hope for himself. This man had lain paralysed for 38 years. For half a life-time he had waited for something to happen which had never taken place. How these 38 years must have dragged to this man who was sick, without friends, and without hope!

The Paralysed man.

We are not told the nature of the disease that deprived this man of the power of walking. There had been a time when he walked as other men. No doubt when he first took sick his friends sent messages of sympathy, "get-well" cards, and visited him. But the years passed, neither did he get well. As is still the cruel sad fact of long illness even in our modern times the visits and messages of friends became less and less frequent, until they forgot him altogether. So, after 38 years of illness he was hopeless, powerless and alone.

Jesus stood before him--verse 6--and said to him. "Do you want to be healed?" ("Would you like to get well? Would you like to stand on your own two feet and take your place in life? Would you like to have your lost powers restored?") The man's answer (verse 7) was "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water in troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." He had no friends. The bitterness of the situation burned into this man. Here, at the pool, was the hope of healing, but nobody would help him. Every time God put healing minerals into the pool by troubling the water, and he tried to drag himself down to the water, he was always too late to get to the healing water. Somebody always stepped in ahead of him. So, with the passing of 38 years he had lost hope of ever having his lost powers restored.

Then came the quick, sharp, three-fold command (verse 8). Jesus said to him "RISE, TAKE UP YOUR PALLET, AND WALK." first, "RISE", DO THE THING YOU CANNOT DO BECAUSE I TELL

The paralysed man acted at once on the faith that had come to him in Jesus. He rose up and stood sound in limb after 38 years of paralysis. His act of faith in Jesus brought the RESTORATION OF HIS LOST PHYSICAL POWERS. He was doing as Jesus commanded, walking away with his mat, or bed, when he was challenged by the Jews because in carrying his bed he was breaking the letter of the Sabbath keeping law. These critics must have known this man who had been an invalid for 38 years. They were not interested that a miracle of healing had taken place--that a sick man had been healed. He was carrying a mattress on the Sabbath day--and that was all they saw. They ignored the miracle of healing and charged the man with breaking the Sabbath.

His answer to the charge was that He who had healed him told him to carry his bed. He tried to draw the attention of the critics to the great fact that he was healed.--That surely one who could restore his lost powers had a perfect right to bid him take his bed to his home. They took no notice. He was breaking the Sabbath, his healing was unimportant. These critics depict that even today they have their successors. There is always a tragedy in being blind to some great spiritual and moral victory, while we strain at and argue over some fine point of doctrine.

The reply of Jesus to the Jewish critics is given in the verses 17-47 of chapter 5. We will consider Jesus' reply later after we look at the significance of this third sign--the healing of the paralysed man.

This third sign takes us on to another step in evidence to Jesus Christ. Jesus is Lord of NATURE and Lord of LIFE. This third sign teaches that SINFUL men (no matter how sinful) may have life THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST--that JESUS CHRIST IS THE RESTORER OF LOST POWERS.

The words of Jesus to the healed man which are recorded in verse 14 plainly reveal that whatever the disease was which had affected this man for 38 years, that disease was due to his own sin. Jesus said to him, "See, you are well! SIN NO MORE, THAT NOTHING WORSE BEFALL YOU". And the fact revealed in verse 7 that the sick man had no friends to help him at the pool is also a pointer to the man's sin.

It was some sin which had brought this particular disease to this man's limbs. Sin continued for 38 years to paralyse his desire for better things and robbed him of his hopes and powers.

There is a message in this third sign for all sinful men and women. It is sin--your sin and mine--which paralyses our noblest powers and service.

Look back to the scene depicted in Genesis chapter 3 of the coming of sin into human affairs. The first thing that happened was that Adam and Eve were paralysed with fear. They tried to hide from God only to discover that their sin could not be hid. Sin confused all their motives and robbed them of their joys. However we interpret Genesis 3 it holds a fact which is true to life as we experience it.

We have all sinned. We have all discovered that we could not hide our sin. So we became afraid. We try to avoid the person we have wronged. We feel so uncomfortable when we go to church because there we realise that we cannot hide from God. (This is one basic reason why many do not attend church at all). We find that our powers to serve our fellow men and women are paralysed by the consciousness of our sin. We are miserable and unhappy. We become sick in body, mind and spirit. Wherever sin is, there is tension in our homes and society. This paralysed man of John chapter 5 is a picture true to life of all who have sinned. This sign of the healing of the paralysed man is also a wonderful message of hope--JESUS CHRIST IS THE RESTORER OF LOST POWERS. For this sinful man at the pool heard Jesus say "Rise, take up your bed, and walk", and because the man BELIEVED IN JESUS the man who had lost the power to walk, and hadn't walked for 38 years, stood, and walked. Because he acted on his faith in Jesus, new life flowed into him.

There are folk today who have lost hope. They have sinned and feel that nothing can restore real life to them. The lesson of this third sign is for all such people. The sign teaches that sinful people (no matter how sinful) may have new life restored through faith and obedience to Jesus

We are all so like this paralysed man at the pool. Sinful, unlovely "for all have sinned." We all need cleansing, healing, and new life. And here, plainly written in this third sign is His promise of forgiveness and new life. Jesus Christ is the restorer of the powers we have lost because of sin.

Before we pass from the significance of this third sign, we pause to APPLY JESUS' COMMAND OF VERSE 8 TO OURSELVES:

1.	"RISE" While the man is telling Jesus that it is impossible for his power to walk to be restored Jesus said "RISE". This was the very thing the paralysed man could not do. Jesus called him to do the impossible.
	We are prone to think that sin has such a grip on us that nothing can help us. But Jesus did not come into this world to save us from the sins from which we can save ourselves. He came to enable us to do the impossible. We should not argue that our case is hopeless. When we DO what Jesus commands the energies of God become ours. When the sap gets into a tree it gives new life and energies, and when we obey Jesus new life and energies are bestowed on us.
2.	When the man stood on his feet Jesus' next command was: "TAKE UP YOUR BED" Why? To keep him from making any provision for a relapse. He was completely cured. He could give up his place at the pool. "Take up your bed" means--make no provision for returning to your old life. Burn your bridges behind you. A person I knew tried to give up the habit of smoking but he always carried a packet of tobacco in his pocket, "just to get the smell of it," he explained. Naturally he was always going back to the old habit. The only way to live a new life is to make a clean break with the old.
3.	The final command of Jesus was "WALK"--you have been carried long enough. You have complained about your lack of abilities and powers. You have complained for so long that the church hasn't done much to help you. Then "WALK", try carrying some of the load yourself. If things are not what they ought to be, then get on your own two feet and help to make things better. Throw away those crutches of excuses. Get busy doing something to put things right. Make what restitution you can. Open your life to Christ's power. Face up to your personal responsibilities. Begin by doing the duty that lies closest. lf you and I will do just this we will find with the paralysed man at the pool that Jesus Christ is the restorer of lost powers.

The third sign of John 3:1-15.--The healing of the paralysed man--gives the lesson that Jesus is THE RESTORER OF LOST POWERS.

IN CHAPTER 5 VERSES 16-46 JESUS SAID THREE THINGS ABOUT GOD IN HIS ANSWER TO THE CRITICS.

All reasonable human beings believe in a God of some sort. Jesus taught in this scripture:

- 17 -

(1)	FIRST, THAT GOD IS CREATOR. Jesus is criticised for healing a sick man on the Sabbath. The argument of the Jewish critics was that God rested from the work of creation on the Sabbath and therefore men too must rest on the Sabbath (verse 16). Jesus replied in verse 17 "MY FATHER IS WORKING STILL AND I AM WORKING". What Jesus is saying is that God worked in creation and that His rest on the Sabbath did not take the condition of idleness--and that Jesus was keeping God's rest by working in love on the Sabbath. Whatever else is taught here Jesus is teaching that God HAS been and STILL IS AT WORK IN CREATION. God does not sit in splendid isolation from His creation. He is still working in His creation.
(2)	SECOND, JESUS TAUGHT THAT GOD IS A FATHER. From verse 17 to verse 46 God is referred to thirteen times as "The father". This is the heart centre of the Christian faith about God--that God is "THE FATHER". This is only found in the Christian faith. It detracts nothing from God's holiness or power. God is still at work as Creator but He is our loving FATHER.
(3)	THIRD JESUS TAUGHT THAT GOD GIVES LIFE TO THOSE WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD Look at verse 21 "For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will." Verses 24-26 are of tremendous significance--"he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, HAS ETERNAL LIFE; he does not come into judgement, but HAS PASSED from death to life.--The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live, for as the Father has life Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in himself." This means that Jesus Christ has the power to bring us from spiritual death to eternal life. This claim Jesus made in answering His critics who failed to see God's life-giving power at work in restoring the crippled man at the pool of Bethesda--the third sign. JESUS CHRIST IS THE RESTORER OF LOST POWERS--Able to give life no matter how sinful man is-- Able to give life to the spiritually dead.

	THE FOURTH SIGN, AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE:
	Chapter 6:1-14. The Sign--The feeding of the five thousand. Chapter 6:26-58--The significance of the fourth sign. JESUS IS ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE HE CREATES.

The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand with the lad's five barley loaves and two fish recorded in John 6:1-14 is the only miracle recorded by all four Gospels. Surely this indicates the importance of the lesson of this sign.

To discover the truth and meaning of this miracle we must consider the teaching of Jesus surrounding the miracle. Remember that John has a specific purpose in his recording of each and all of the seven miracles which he calls "SIGNS" in John 20:30, 31.

A great crowd had followed Jesus out into the country. All day they listened to His teaching. As evening came the people needed food. There were no shops where food could be secured even if money could be found to buy it. Andrew suggested that all the food available was a lad's lunch of five small loaves and two small fish.

Jesus accepted this fragment and after the crowd was orderly seated He took the loaves and fishes and gave thanks for them, and then distributed them to the crowd through the hands of His disciples. In this act a miracle of increase took place. What happened? I am aware that there are those who believe that when the lad gave up his lunch others did the same, and by sharing their food everyone had enough. I myself have no doubt that this miracle of the feeding of the five thousand with five loaves and two fish WAS A CREATIVE ACT BY JESUS. If Jesus is Lord of NATURE as the lesson of His first sign indicates, then this creative act of multiplying five loaves and two fish is quite possible to Jesus. The attempt to explain the miracle merely as a sharing exercise does not account for the fact that the immediate result of the miracle was that the crowd acclaimed Jesus as "indeed the prophet who is to come into the world" (foretold by Moses)--verse 14. The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand so impressed the crowd that they sought to make Him a king believing Him to be the promised Messiah (verse 15).

The lesson of the third sign previously recorded in chapter 5 (the healing of the paralysed man) taught that Jesus is able to give life to sinful man. The great claim that Jesus is able to give life to the spiritually dead was not easy to accept. So now comes this incident of the fourth sign. In feeding the five thousand in a miraculous way Jesus showed that as Lord of nature He can multiply bread and fish. He has control over those elements which are necessary to all the life of men.

The details of the miracle recorded in verses 1-14 are well known. We need not describe those details here. It is as a SIGN that we need to study this miracle.

The Jews only thought of Jesus as One to satisfy material and bodily wants. They wanted Jesus as king to ensure an age of social plenty. So Jesus delivered His discourse to them the next day in Capernaum (verses 26-58) on the SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOURTH SIGN. JESUS IS THE BREAD WHICH GIVES AND SUSTAINS ALL LIFE, SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL.

JESUS IS ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE HE CREATES IN US. This is the point of the teaching of Jesus in verses 26-58 arising out of the fourth sign of the feeding of the five thousand.

In explaining the SIGNIFICANCE of the fourth sign Jesus said in verse 35 "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst."

All the deep craving of desire, all human necessity is met by Jesus Christ.

Incidentally we remark here that there are not only seven miracles in John's Gospel recorded as SIGNS. There are also seven parables about the PERSON of Jesus in John's Gospel which are all introduced with the claim of Jesus "I AM".

HERE is the list:

1. "I am the bread of life" 6:35
2. "I am the light of the world" 8:12
3. "I am the door for the sheep" 10:7
4. "I am the Good Shepherd" 10:11
5. "I am the resurrection and the life" 11:25
6. "I am the true vine" 15:1
7. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" 14:6

Each of these claims is worthy of careful study. In looking at the significance of the fourth SIGN-- the feeding of the five thousand--we turn to chapter 6:35--Jesus' claim "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE." THIS FOURTH SIGN POINTS TO JESUS AS BREAD 6:35

IT IS AS "A SIGN" THAT THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND IS RECORDED--we miss "the sign" when we quibble about how the miracle was performed of multiplying five barley loaves and two fish into a satisfying meal for five thousand.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MIRACLE AS A SIGN IS SHOWN IN VERSES 26-58--JESUS IS ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE HE CREATES IN THE BELIEVER.

WE ASK ONE IMPORTANT QUESTION--HOW CAN WE FEED ON JESUS CHRIST? The Jews reacted to Jesus' claim to be the bread of life, able to sustain the spiritual life He creates, by disputing among themselves, saying "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" (verse 52)--"So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed, He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him." (verses 53- 56)

What does Jesus mean by this vivid and startling language? Jesus used three terms to express the act of feeding on Him.

(1)--verse 29--"That you BELIEVE in Him."
(2)--verse 35--"He who COMES to me."'
(3)--verse 54--"He who EATS my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life."

Each of these three words is important.

In verse 29 Jesus said "This is the word of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent". So, we must believe in Jesus as the Christ. This is the most important work we can do. In this way we will discover for ourselves the significance of the sign of the feeding of the five thousand--that Jesus is the bread of life--the food by which we live, able to sustain the spiritual life He creates in the believer.

	THE FIFTH SIGN, AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE:
	Chapter 6:15-21. The miracle--The storm on the Lake and Jesus walking on the sea. The significance of the sign--Jesus is able to come to His disciples in every crisis of their need--NO BARRIERS CAN KEEP JESUS AWAY FROM HIS DISCIPLES IN TIMES OF THEIR NEED.

This fifth sign is given in John 6:15-21 in between the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand and the explanation of Jesus of the significance of that sign. After the feeding of the five thousand Jesus told His disciples to get into a boat and to cross to the other side of the sea of Galilee. This would be a trip of six or seven miles. Meanwhile Jesus went alone up a mountain side to pray.

The disciples started between seven and nine o'clock in the evening. When half-way across a sudden storm swept in upon the disciples. For six hours they battled against the storm with the wind and waves against them. It was dark, the sea was rising in fury, and the disciples were at their wits-end. These disciples were fishermen used to the handling of boats. When the storm was against them the usual thing to do was to put the boat about and run with the wind and waves. Why didn't they do this? Well, Jesus had evidently arranged to meet them on the other side. (That is the significance of the words in verse 17: "And Jesus had not yet come to them.") One good thing which must be said is that the disciples were loyal and obedient to Jesus. They didn't fully understand Jesus, but they obeyed Him. When the storm struck they never dreamed of going back. They were loyal to Jesus--and then the sign was given.

They were struggling against the storm when they saw a figure approaching them, walking on the sea head-on into the wind and overtaking them. The wind and waves that held the disciples back was not hindering this figure. This strange figure coming towards them seemed to be walking as if on solid ground. The disciples cried out in fear, thinking they saw a ghost. Then came the familiar voice of Jesus (verse 20) "It is I; do not be frightened". The other Gospels record the wonder of the disciples at Jesus' walking on the sea, and Jesus stilling the storm,--but John simply states in verse 21 "Then they were glad to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going."

So, as we look at John's record of the miracle, we see the disciples in a great difficulty. They were obeying Jesus. He told them to go in the boat to the other side, and He made a promise to meet them. And Jesus fulfilled His promise in spite of all the natural obstacles in the way. The presence of Jesus was needed to help the disciples, and Jesus came, triumphing over all the limitations which sea and storm and distance could put upon Him. And Jesus helped the disciples to reach the goal they aimed to reach on the shore. (Incidentally we comment that if we accept and believe the first sign of John 2:1-11 that Jesus is Lord of NATURE we will have no difficulty in also accepting John's account of Jesus walking on the water in John 6:15-21 as a miracle. All the forces of nature are under His control.)

Before we consider the SIGNIFICANCE of this fifth sign, NOTE THIS CAREFULLY--NOBODY SAW THAT SIGN EXCEPT JESUS' DISCIPLES. THIS IS A SIGN FOR CHRISTIANS ONLY IT IS NOT A SIGN FOR NON-CHRISTIANS.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS FIFTH SIGN?

Recall that the disciples were obeying Jesus. They were in great difficulty and Jesus came to them. The meaning of the sign is for Christians who are loyal in obeying Jesus--THAT JESUS COMES TO HIS DISCIPLES IN EVERY CRISIS OF THEIR NEED--NO BARRIERS CAN KEEP JESUS CHRIST AWAY FROM HIS DISCIPLES IN TIMES OF THEIR NEED.

What a tremendous and precious sign is here:

Often Christians are confronted with serious crises and difficulties when they are seeking to obey Jesus. Storms of opposition often cause Christians to despair. Then, when we are in despair we become conscious of a strange, mysterious Presence, and a settled calm strength comes to us replacing our feverish weakness. And we discover the truth of this sign--THAT

Also the verses of one of J. Whittier's Hymns take deeper significance because of John's fifth sign where he says:

John's fifth sign--Jesus walking on the sea and coming to the help of His disciples--proclaims THE GOSPEL OF THE PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST WITH CHRISTIANS.

The sign reminds Christians that when they are loyally obeying Jesus' word "Go make disciples", like the disciples on the lake they may face severe storms of difficulty, but Jesus promises His presence--"Lo, I am with you always". And with the Psalmist in Psalm 23:4 Christians can say "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for Thou are with me."

This fifth sign describes THE DIFFERENCE THE PRESENCE OF JESUS MAKES. John 6:15-21 describes the disciples toiling in the dark and storm and getting nowhere. Then Jesus came, and they reached their goal. Isn't that the story of our Christian experience?

This miracle of John 6:15-21 is A MOST WONDERFUL SIGN FOR THE CHRISTIAN--but remember this--THE CROWD DID NOT SEE THIS SIGN:--Jesus walking on the water, crossing the barrier of difficulty, coming to help His disciples is a heart-warming sign, BUT ONLY FOR CHRISTIANS--for those who are loyally obeying Jesus. NO BARRIERS CAN KEEP JESUS CHRIST AWAY FROM THE CHRISTIAN WHO NEEDS HIM. AND WHEN JESUS COMES, FULFILLING HIS PROMISE TO BE PRESENT, WE REACH THE DESIRED GOAL.

The Christian who understands the significance of this fifth sign has found in Jesus Christ a GUIDE, A FRIEND, A HELPER, A CONSTANT COMPANION whose PRESENCE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE. The difference between struggling in the dark of futility and getting nowhere--and of finding life enriched, happy and purposeful, even as was the experience of the disciples on the sea of Galilee so long ago.

But remember this, the sign is only for Christians, only for those who obey Jesus' commands. To them Jesus promises "Lo, I am with you always." The crowd did not see this sign--If we are loyal to Jesus Christ, then, however dark life may be, however furious the storms of opposition or sorrow, no one of us is ever alone. NO barriers of time or circumstance can keep Jesus Christ away from the Christian who needs Him. The wind and waves that were no barriers but rather a foot-path for Jesus, is a sign to Christians that we have only to pray in our time of trouble AND JESUS CHRIST IS PRESENT WITH US. And HIS PRESENCE IS ALL WE NEED.

Jesus walking on the sea, crossing the barrier of difficulty to help His disciples is a heart-warming sign--But only for Christians who are obeying His word "Go . . . . . . make disciples."

The Christian who has come to an understanding of the significance of this fifth sign has grasped the wonderful truth that true Christian faith does not recall the presence of Jesus Christ from the past, nor postpone His presence to the future final coming of Christ at the climax end of history, but lives in the conscious sense that Jesus Christ IS. Jesus COMES. Jesus LIVES in the present tense. Jesus Christ is our GUIDE and HELPER. He comes to our aid. No barriers can keep Him away from His disciples in their times of need.

The miracle of Jesus coming to the aid of His disciples on the sea of Galilee despite the barriers of difficulties is a sign of the fact that Jesus Christ still COMES to His disciples in every time of crisis. The fifth sign is repeated every day in the experience of discerning Christians. Jesus comes to Christians across the barriers of the centuries. Even prison walls cannot keep Him out. In every difficult circumstance Christians come to realise that "The Lord is near" (Philippians 4:5)--that they are not alone. And the presence of Jesus makes all the difference. With the disciples, we reach our goal.

And, just as this fifth sign of Jesus walking on the troubled waters was a sign seen only by the disciples, so, it is still true that the significance of this fifth sign (that no barriers can prevent Jesus from coming to the aid of His disciples) is a sign only for Christians. They alone can understand this sign. The world cannot see and understand this fifth sign and its significance.

Note the verse of the hymn (Jesus, the very thought of Thee):

	THE SIXTH SIGN, AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE:
	Chapter 9:1-41. The healing of the BLIND MAN. The significance of the sign--JESUS ENABLES EVERY PERSON WHO IS OBEDIENT TO WHAT HE KNOWS OF CHRIST TO FIND STILL GREATER LIGHT AND TRUTH UNTIL HE WORSHIPS JESUS AS LORD, (and whoever refuses to obey the truth he knows will have his present knowledge of truth taken away from him).

We have noted previously that in John's Gospel the writer has followed the plan of describing the ministry and teaching of Jesus around seven miracles which John calls "SIGNS" (see John 20: 30, 31). We have also noted the fact that all the incidents and teachings of Jesus recorded in John's Gospel either lead up to, or develop out of one or other of these seven signs.

Following the claim of Jesus to be the bread of life in John chapter 6, we are told in John chapters 7 and 8 of the rising opposition of Jesus' enemies, and also that many of the people believed in Him". They said, "When the Christ appears, will He do more signs than this man has done?" (7:3l). In chapter 8:12 Jesus makes the great claim "I am THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

The sixth sign of chapter 9 in which Jesus gave the LIGHT of sight to a man IN DARKNESS AND BLINDNESS develops out of the discussion and teaching in chapters 7 and 8. This miracle is recorded against the background on the one hand of a steadily increasing number of believers, and on the other hand a hardening of opposition into fanatical hatred. The man BORN BLIND (9:1) is introduced just here by John, and the position of the miracle is intentional as is also the case with all the other signs of John's Gospel. As we examine this miracle of chapter 9:1-41, and its results we see it directly relates to the great claim of Jesus in 8:12 "I am the light of the world."

The miracle 9:1-7--The healing of the man born blind. Jesus and His disciples came across a blind man at one of the temple gates in Jerusalem. This man was evidently well known according to verse 8. The disciples saw in the man born blind a subject for speculation as to the cause of his blindness. Jesus' attitude was that the blind man was not a subject for speculation and discussion but A MAN IN NEED OF HELP--not a case for developing a theory, but a human being in need of assistance. The man's blindness was AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JESUS TO REVEAL HIS HEALING POWER OF TURNING THE DARKNESS OF BLINDNESS INTO THE LIGHT OF SIGHT. So, in verses 4 and 5 Jesus said "I must work the works of Him that sent Me." "I am the light of the world." (This statement links the miracle with the claims of Jesus in chapters 7 and 8).

Then Jesus Acted--verses 6 and 7 of chapter 9--"He spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam' (which means sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing." I do not pretend to understand why Jesus acted in this way. Sometimes Jesus healed without medicines or other human and physical means, at other times He used medicines. The fact is that with or without human medicines and means it is always God who heals. Jesus did not explain why He made clay. The point is that the blind man obeyed. He went to the pool of Siloam. He washed. He returned seeing. Light had come to his eyes in place of the darkness of blindness. We observe that this blind man had an ACTIVE, RESPONSIVE, OBEDIENT FAITH IN JESUS, AND THAT BY OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMAND OF JESUS THE BLIND MAN RECEIVED THE LIGHT OF SIGHT.

The miracle was a striking one, and the discussion that followed it in verses 8-41 tells of the NEED FOR RESPONSIVE ACTION ON MAN'S PART IF HE WOULD HAVE THE LIGHT OF THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS CHRIST.

THE MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MIRACLE OF THE HEALING OF THE BLIND MAN AS A "SIGN" IS REVEALED IN THE DISCUSSION FOLLOWING THE MIRACLE. (verses 8-41)

The healing of the blind man aroused widespread amazement as the blind man was well known. And as we read through the discussion following the miracle we see the man growing in his faith

JESUS SUMMED UP THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SIXTH SIGN WHEN IN VERSES 39-41 HE SAID--"For judgement I came into this world, that those who do not see might see, and that those who see may become blind." Some of the Pharisees near Him heard this, and they said to Him, "Are we also blind?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt, but now you say, 'We see,' your guilt remains."

The miracle and discussion following it not only makes plain that whoever is obedient to what he now knows of Jesus Christ will be led step by step to greater truth and knowledge, the lesson is also given in the attitude of the Pharisees that there is a terrible danger in WILFUL BLINDNESS TO TRUTH. Those who through reasons of pride or prejudice close their eyes to truth as did those Pharisees will have even their present knowledge taken from them. The way to spiritual darkness is to refuse to follow what we now know of Jesus.

So, this Sixth sign teaches.

	THE SEVENTH SIGN, AND ITS SIGNFICANCE:
	Chapter 11:1-57. The miracle--The raising of Lazarus from death. The significance of the sign--JESUS IS LORD OF ETERNAL LIFE.

The events following the healing of the man born blind revealed the hardening opposition of the Jewish leaders. Prejudice and misinterpretation of the Sabbath law (9:16) developed into refusal to honestly test the claims of Jesus in the six signs He had already given and so blinded the spiritual senses of these leaders. (9:39-41).

Jesus has now come to the parting of the ways. His description of Himself in chapter 10 as "The door of the sheepfold" and "The GOOD Shepherd" serves to mark the contrast between Himself and the Jewish religious leaders who had shown themselves to be unfaithful shepherds of the people. Jesus' claims in 10:27, 30 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me and I give them ETERNAL LIFE, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand . . . . . I and the Father are one," had two effects. "Many came to Him; and they said, 'John (the Baptist) did no sign, but everything that John said about this was true.' And many BELIEVED lN HIM THERE." (10:41, 42) On the other hand those who rejected Jesus' claims "took up stones to stone Him" (10:31) and they tried to arrest Him (10:39).

JOHN 11:1-27 TELLS THE STORY LEADING UP TO THE SEVENTH GREAT SIGN.

Jesus took His disciples 25 miles from Jerusalem, east across the river Jordon, There seems a purpose in this. There, at the beginning of his ministry was His baptism--the task. Now, as He draws near to Calvary Jesus went back to that same place to gather strength for the climax of His work; and to be away from the blind prejudice of those who rejected the claims of His signs.

And there, word is brought to Jesus from Martha and Mary that their brother Lazarus is sick (verse 3). And down through the centuries the world over, frightened, hard-pressed people in pain, calamity and anxiety have, like Martha and Mary sought the help of Jesus. They want Jesus to know of their trouble. Their first thought is--"Let us tell Jesus our trouble, and seek His help." They know that somehow Jesus is not 'shut out' as others are, but can come in. That helps--to know that we are not alone. That Jesus knows and cares, and can help. It is enough perhaps, and often best, for us to act as did Martha and Mary, to lay our trouble at Jesus' feet. He knows, He cares, He will not fail us.

However, verses 4-16 record THE STRANGE TARDINESS OF JESUS.

The reaction of Jesus to the request of Martha and Mary is so unexpected. It was expected that Jesus would hurry immediately to Lazarus' bedside. But Jesus didn't say "We will come at once," but HE WAITED TWO DAYS. And Martha and Mary in loving anxiety watched and waited while the flickering life of their brother sank lower and lower, and went out. Jesus hadn't come. WHY? What was the reason for Jesus' delay?

Verse 4 is very important, "But when Jesus heard it (that Lazarus was ill) He said, 'This illness is "Not unto death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it".'--To express this in other words--THE PRIMARY PURPOSE of Lazarus' illness was NOT DEATH--BUT THAT ULTIMATELY MEN MIGHT SEE THE GLORY OF GOD, AND BY RAISING LAZARUS FROM DEATH MULTITUDES WILL BELIEVE IN JESUS AS THE LORD OF ETERNAL LIFE AND SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD.

Jesus loved Lazarus, but He had a whole world to save, so, for our sake He stayed two days where He was.

We pause a moment here to comment that in spiritual matters it is the common experience of all of us to have to learn to wait for God, who often seems to our hot impatient hearts to be so slow to act that we grow peevish toward Him, and cannot feel that He cares about us--else surely He would be swifter to help us. From the experience of Martha and Mary we should learn that God sets us in this world and asks us not to fidget and fume and fuss. Not to give up hope, but to wait

Often we pray for the lifting of pain and the healing of illness, and because He loves us, and has A GREATER ETERNAL LIFE AND BLESSING for us, He DELAYS His answer to our prayers. Often we pray, and His answer is delayed, but this incident tells us that even death itself is not final. Even death does not defeat God's purposes.

One lesson taught plainly in John Chapter 11 is THAT OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST--THE LORD OF ETERNAL LIFE--IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PHYSICAL HEALTH, AND THAT SOMETIMES HE USES DEATH ITSELF IN ORDER TO GIVE THE GREATER BLESSING OF ETERNAL LIFE. When God seems to delay His answer to our prayers, He is waiting in order to give a greater blessing than we asked for.

After two days Jesus made plain that Lazarus was dead, and returned with His disciples to the sorrowing home in Bethany. Verses 20--27 record the interview of Jesus and Martha. It is interesting to note how many of the important statements of the Gospel were made in private talks. For example, Nicodemus (in chapter 3); The woman at the well (chapter 4.); and now Martha. (chapter 11:20-27). To Martha Jesus gave the tremendous statement of verses 25, 26 "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE; he who believes in Me, though he die, yet SHALL HE LIVE, AND WHOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?" And in verse 27 Martha replied, "YES, LORD; I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, HE WHO IS COMING INTO THE WORLD."

It is stupid and childishly foolish to attempt to explain a statement so majestic. It is like music rather than words, and it brings home to our minds what mere words cannot do. We might put verses 25, 26 in other words "If a man believes in Jesus, although his body dies his true self shall live, no believer in Jesus shall ever die so far as his spirit is concerned, 'Your friend is alive now; for in Me he touched the life of God which is eternal; in Me he had already risen before his body perished'."--This is John's doctrine of life; it is also the doctrine of Paul (compare Colossians 3:1 "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.")

Even in this present life JESUS CHRIST HAS BEEN FOR MULTITUDES "THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE."

Through believing in Jesus Christ souls dead in sin have already risen to new life of purposeful daily living--so that the Apostle Paul could say of Christians, in Ephesians 2:1, 4, 5 "And you He made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once walked. . . . .But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ."

There is this sense in which it can be said that Christians have already discovered that Jesus is the Resurrection and the life, and that "whoever lives and believes in Jesus, though he die, yet shall he live." Explain this how you will--when men and woman believe in Jesus Christ this happens.

VERSES 28-44 RECORDS THE FINAL OF THE SEVEN SIGNS. VERSES 45 of chapter 11 to the final verses 30, 31 of John chapter 20 RECORD THE RESULT OF THESE SEVEN SIGNS:--

THE RAISING OF LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD is recorded in verses 28-44. Jesus came to the grave of Lazarus who had been dead for four days. There were no muttered incantations. There was no eerie half-light. Jesus told them to "take away the stone." Jesus spoke to one who had been dead four days "Lazarus come out." The dead HEARD. Lazarus hadn't ceased to be when his body died. The dead heard, and walked. The grave clothes were removed. The dead lived.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE SEVENTH SIGN.

Verses 45-53 "Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what He did, BELIEVED IN HIM." Verse 46 "But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council, and said, 'What are we to do? For this man PERFORMS MANY SIGNS. If we let him go on thus, everyone will believe in Him'. . . . . . so from that day on they took counsel how to put Him to death." So, the seventh Great Sign--the raising of Lazarus resulted in many believing in Jesus. And on the other hand it aroused such opposition from unbelievers that the following chapters of John's Gospel describe the plot to kill Jesus.

WHAT IS THS SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SEVENTH SIGN?

Clearly this--THAT JESUS IS LORD OF ETERNAL LIFE.

John wrote his Gospel around seven signs given by Jesus. The incidents and teachings recorded by John all either lead up to, or develop out of these seven signs.

John's Gospel can only be understood and fully appreciated when we see John's plan as stated in John 20:30, 31.

"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 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."

Any person who keeps an open mind in reading John's Gospel will have learned by the Seven Signs that Jesus is

And believing in Jesus Christ because of these seven signs--with Thomas (without the necessity of seeing Jesus with our physical eyes or putting our fingers into the nail prints in His hands or thrusting our hands into His side)--we will fall before Him in worship saying "MY LORD AND MY GOD" (John 20:28). And in our experience we shall find the blessing Jesus promised in John 20:29. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

A SUMMARY OF JOHN CHAPTERS 12-21

It is not our present purpose to make a detailed study of chapters 12--21 of John's Gospel except to point out that the teachings and events described in these great chapters arise from the seven signs and man's reaction to those signs.

Following the raising of Lazarus it is recorded in chapter 11 verses 45-47:

"Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what He did, BELIEVED IN HIM, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council, and said, 'what are we to do? For this man performs many signs. . . .' So from that day on they took counsel how to put Him to death." (verse 53)

The contrasted reactions of belief and disbelief are continued in chapter 12. At the supper in Bethany we are told in verses 9-11 that when the great crowd of the Jews learned that He was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death, "because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus."

Further, John points out that the great crowd that welcomed Jesus on His triumphal entry into Jerusalem was created by reaction to the sign of the raising of Lazarus. Verses 17-19--"The crowd that had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet Him was that they heard He had done this sign." The Pharisees then said to one another, "You see that you can do nothing; look, the world has gone after Him."

The result of the seven signs was deepening belief in Jesus as the Christ, the giver of eternal life, and on the other hand the hardening of the opposition of unbelievers which led to the crucifixion of Jesus.

Regarding the farewell discourses of Jesus to His disciples, as recorded in the five chapters of John's Gospel 13-17--Leonard Griffith remarks in his preface to his book "The Eternal Legacy From an Upper Room", "These chapters contain everything that is fundamental to the Christian religion. If all else in scripture were stripped away and we were left only with these chapters, we should still have the basic ingredients of a living faith. . . . . They contain everything that is most precious in our Christian heritage, every gift, every promise, every commandment, every warning, every spiritual resource that the living Christ imparts to all who love Him in sincerity and truth. We have described the words of Jesus in the Upper Room as an 'Eternal Legacy', the last will and testament which Jesus on the eve of His death bequeathed not only to His immediate disciples but to all who through their witness accept Him as Son of God and Saviour of the world."

Charles Templeton in "Life Looks Up" (Harper & Brothers) reminds us that the history of the world has been altered "by events which took place in two small rooms, separated by thousands of miles and thousands of years." He tells the story of these two 'upper rooms' and of the influences which have flowed from them.

The first of these rooms can be found in a drab flat over a dingy laundry in London. A man named Karl Marx is writing a book "Das Kapital", a book which has changed the history of whole nations.

The second of these 'upper rooms' could once be found in one of the oldest cities in the world-- Jerusalem. In this room is a long table carefully laid with bread and wine, the common ingredients of a supper. Seated at that table, talking with men is Jesus. The words He spoke that night have changed the lives of millions of people! And in the belief of Christians it is His Gospel of love and brotherhood, not the Marxist doctrine of strife and duplicity, that will revolutionize the world. Today mankind stands in doubt and indecision looking at these two 'upper rooms' and at the influences which have flowed from them across the years.

We can see the significance which the New Testament attaches to the Upper Room in Jerusalem in that John's Gospel, despite its brevity, sets five complete chapters and part of a sixth against

After the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus recorded in John chapters 18 and 19 comes the record of Jesus' Resurrection in chapter 20. In verses 19-30 we are brought back to that Upper Room again. The disciples, plunged into the depths of despair and disillusionment by the crucifixion of Jesus, are again in the Upper Room, huddled behind barred doors, terrified that the forces of unbelief which destroyed their Master will also destroy them. They see a presence in their midst--the presence of their Lord. He speaks to them, shows them His wounds, commands them to be His witnesses, and gives His Spirit to them to empower them.

One of the disciples was absent, and when the others told him that they had seen the risen Christ, he refused to believe them. "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe." The following Sunday, for the benefit of Thomas, the risen Christ came again to the Upper Room, and said to Thomas "Put your finger here, and see my hands, and put out your hand, and place it in my side, do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and my God." Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Verses 30, 31. "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book, 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." May we respond to the significance of the seven signs of John's gospel with the belief which prompts worship of Jesus as "MY LORD AND MY GOD."

The Epilogue of John chapter 21 needs no further comment of ours.

H. G. Norris.      
1970