JOHN’S GOSPEL - SEVEN MIRACLES
Pastor J. C. O’Hair
We find this most interesting statement in John 20:30 and 31: “And many
other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not
written in this Book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through
His name.”
Yes, Christ performed many miracles not recorded in John’s Gospel, for
the purpose stated in Acts 2:22 and John 5:36; that Christ might be approved to
Israel; that they might believe that God sent His Son to be their Messiah and
King.
There are four miracles recorded in John not found in the Synoptic
Gospels. Matthew, Mark and Luke have been called the Synoptics, because so many
of the same events in the life of Christ are recorded in them.
Seven miracles of Christ, before His death, are recorded in John’s
Gospel. And there is a reason why more than 80 per cent of the contents of John
is not recorded in the Synoptics.
Seven is the perfect number of Deity. In John 1:1 to 4, Christ is God.
In John 20:28, Christ is God. In John 10:30 to 33, Christ is God. He had glory
with the Father before the world was. (John 17:5).
About twenty times in John’s Gospel Christ calls Himself “I AM.” These
“I AM’s” are not found in the Synoptics. Christ offered seven great miracles to
prove it. When He fed the 5000 hungry people with less than a pound of fish and
bread He said, “I came down from heaven.” He claimed to be the true Bread from
heaven necessary for eternal life. (John 6:37 to 47).
In the very first chapter (John 1:11) His own received Him not. It was
after Christ’s own received Him not, that “grace” came to Gentiles. (Romans
11:11 and 30). But in John 1:17 we read that grace came by Jesus Christ. We
learn years later, in Romans 5:21, and Ephesians 2:8 to 10, how that grace
operates.
In Romans 11:30 we learn that because His (Christ’s) own received Him
not, “grace” salvation was sent to Gentiles.
So the first sin question to settle, in John’s Gospel, is the “Son”
question, the sin of not believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
For the “Son” question, read John 16:7 to 9 - John 3:18 - John 8:24 -
John 3:36 - John 6:29 - John 6:40.
In the gospel of grace the sinner is “unregenerated.” The sinner is
impotent.” The sinner is “blind” from his mother’s womb, and must wash in the
pool of Siloam. The sinner is “dead.”
Therefore, we have four miracles in John not found in the Synoptics.
1 - TURNING THE WATER INTO WINE - typifying REGENERATION. Born of the
water by the power of Christ. Then the joy of salvation. (John 2:1 to 11).
There is no physical water in God’s message of grace. Compare John 3:5 with
Titus 3:5 to 7 and Hebrews 10:22.
2 - THE IMPOTENT MAN HEALED, in John 5:1 to 9. Note in the Gospel of
John how impotent the sinner is. He “cannot.” (John 6:44 - John 6:65 - John
3:27). In grace, the sinner cannot. He cannot, and need not do one work to save
himself. His good works follow salvation by grace. (Ephesians 2:10).
3 - HEALING THE MAN BLIND FROM BIRTH. This blind man had to wash in
“Sent.” (Siloam means Sent). (John 9:7). Count the many times Christ is the
“Sent One,” in John. The pool of Siloam is Calvary. Calvary is the only place
where a man spiritually blind can receive sight. Read I Corinthians 2:14.
4 - RAISING DEAD LAZARUS TO LIFE. We note in John 11:39 the awful
condition of dead Lazarus: corruption. This speaks of the awful condition of
dead sinners in Ephesians 2:1 to 3, as well as in John 5:25. The dead sinner’s
only hope is Ephesians 2:4 to 10 and 13; and John 11:25; John 5:25; 24; Romans
6:23. God is rich in mercy, great in love. And salvation is by grace. The dead
sinner needs the living Christ of Revelation 1:18. The grace gospel will make
the believer alive and raise him up in the heavenlies. (Ephesians 2:5 and 6).
Surely the miracles in John tell the truth of Romans 5:20, the
more-abounding grace of the God of all grace, reigning through Jesus Christ.
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
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