3 Words that will forever change the way you read the Gospel of John: Week 2

May 10, 2014
/ Category 3 Words that will forever change the way you read the Gospel of John, John 2
/ Posted By Kevin Bennett
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Contents

Chapter 2: Signs

This is part 2 of a 21-part series which traces “seeing” and “hearing”, and looks at how they relate to “believing”, through the Gospel of John.

This chapter focuses on two stories in which “signs” are a key theme. These signs are visible ones, and the chapter helps us to understand Jesus’ teaching about the value of such signs, and their purpose.

REVIEWING THE TEXT – CHAPTER 2

Water to Wine

Jesus’ response to the Jews was cryptic to them and they learned nothing. How could they? They wanted to see, in order to believe!

Surely, you might say, Jesus’ prominently visible miracle of turning water to wine is an example that would disprove what I am saying. Surely this was for people to see… But no. It was seen by many, noticed by only a few, and it was only Jesus’ disciples who had their faith increased by it.

Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. – John 2:11

CLEARING THE TEMPLE

Next on Jesus’ agenda was Jerusalem, and clearing out the money-changers from the Temple precinct. Notice the reaction by the Jewish authorities:

‘What sign can you show us for doing this?’ – John 2:18

Jesus simply doesn’t trust the kind of “faith” that comes by sight

Of course, his disciples had needed no such sign. They were able clearly to see that this was scriptural (2:17). Jesus’ response to the Jews was cryptic to them and they learned nothing. How could they? They wanted to see, in order to believe! By contrast, the disciples later remembered “that he had said… and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken“.

Yet, it could be said that the next part of this passage seems to disprove the theory, because “many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing” (2:23). But what comes immediately after this?

But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone. – John 2:24-25

Is that a strange thing to say? Not at all, if Jesus simply doesn’t trust the kind of “faith” that comes by sight. If someone believes because they have seen something amazing, then they will believe in something else tomorrow when they see another amazing thing. Seeing is not believing.