Truly 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. (John 30:30-31) Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, ‘This is the Prophet who is to come into the world.’ (John 6:14)
Signs get some bad press in many minds. But if you think of it, signs are good. Every time you write your name you give your sign in your signature. Signs are put on the highway to protect and inform us. Every business has a sign. The sign of a good business is a business with a good sign. There are weather signs and signs on every house that are called addresses. The Bible is full of signs from Genesis to Revelation: the rainbow, circumcision, and hundreds of others. The book of Revelation is full of signs. Jesus acknowledged people will seek for signs before they believe, and then He gave them signs to help them believe.
Yet some people think that asking for signs from God is a bad thing. If they are, then why did God willingly give so many of them in the Bible? God continually gave signs to prove His word. In fact, John tells us why he wrote his gospel the way he did – to tell about seven signs that Jesus did so that those who read about them would believe that Jesus is the Christ and that believing they might be saved. And that’s exactly what happened in our present passage that has Jesus performing a mighty miraculous sign.
Before we even get to this, signs were given by God all the way through the Old Testament. In Judges 6:17-24, 36-40 Gideon asks for more than one sign from God to prove He was really speaking to him and telling him what to do. God says, “Okay!” Then He gave Gideon three signs! He thought God would be angry with him (Most people think that) but He wasn’t! God can handle our request for a sign. In fact He loves it.
As stated, John gives seven signs that will cause people to believe in Jesus.
1. Turning water into wine, 2:1-11, (This was Jesus’ first sign and it produced faith in those who saw it.)
2. Healing the Nobleman’s son, 4:46-54,
3. Healing a paralyzed man, 5:1-15,
4. Feeding 5,000 men, 6:1-14,
5. Stilling a storm while walking on the sea, 6:15-21,
6. Healing a blind man, 9:1-41,
7. Raising Lazarus, 11:1-57.
TAKEAWAYS:
1. Signs follow believers and signs confirm the word preached. Therefore, we should desire, pray for, and expect signs, wonders and miracles in our lives and when we share the gospel.
2. When you are not sure whether God is speaking to you about a certain thing, you could do one or two things: ask for godly counsel and/or ask for a sign. God is happy to confirm His leading with a sign.
3. Then again, if you don’t need a sign, that is good. Just believe.
4. The purpose of a sign is to confirm what you believe.
5. Much is at stake here, and what is at stake is whether sinners will believe and be saved.
I’ve done a study of the churches in the world today who are reaching the most people for Christ and it is overwhelmingly shown that those churches are the ones who have regular signs, wonders, and miracles that accompany the preaching of the gospel. This is in keeping with the Biblical way. So, individuals and churches should seriously consider asking God for signs to accompany their lives and ministry of the word.
I don’t know how you can get more Biblical than seeing signs that confirm the word in your life. God used signs all the way through the Bible. If He did it then, He can and wants to do it today.
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