Miracles in St. John’s gospel:
The gospel of St. John records only 8 (eight) miracles done by Yahshua Messiah. The other 3 gospels, on the other hand, record 21 in Matthew, 19 in Mark and 22 in Luke. John calls these miracles as ‘SIGNS’ (New King James version) or tokens. These signs symbolize life-changing results of life in Messiah. Let’s go through the miracles or signs one by one and see what they actually symbolize!
- Water turned to wine: (2: 1-11). This is accepted as the first miracle done by our Lord on earth. In the wedding feast at Cana, Mary, mother of Jesus Christ (Yahshua Messiah) told Him that there was no wine. Messiah then asked that the water pots be filled with water and to serve the same to the guests. This water was changed to wine that was even better than the first wine. The water was replaced by wine! Life in Messiah replaces the ritual of law with the reality of grace. The wine saved the guests at the wedding, but now we are saved by grace (Eph.2: 5). ‘For the law was given by Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (Yahshua Messiah). (John.1: 17). ‘
- A nobleman’s son healed: (4: 46-54). A nobleman’s son was sick at Capernaum. The nobleman implored Jesus Christ (Yahshua Messiah) to come and heal his son. Messiah tells the man to go his way as his son lives. When we are overtaken by faults we who are spiritual should restore such people. (Gal.6: 1) The gospel brings spiritual restoration or salvation. When Messiah is in us we receive salvation. ‘Today is salvation come to this house, (Luke. 19: 9).
- A paralytic healed: (5: 1-15). A paralytic man was waiting by the pool at Bethesda, waiting for someone to help him get into the water when an angel shakes the water. Nobody came to his assistance. When Messiah saw him, He took pity on him and told the paralytic to take up his bed and walk. The man was healed immediately. When we are weak, Messiah turns our weakness to strength. ‘I lay down and slept, I awoke for the Lord sustained me, (Ps.3: 5) St. Paul, had a ‘thorn in his flesh’, a weakness or ailment, to remind him continually of his earthly nature. The Lord did not take it away but rather said, ’my strength is made perfect in weakness. My grace is sufficient for thee’ (II Cor.12: 9).
- Feeding the five thousand: (6: 1-13) A very well known miracle in which Messiah fed five thousand persons with just five loaves of bread and two small fish. The leftovers were collected in twelve baskets. Their hunger was satisfied for the moment, but Messiah gives us food from heaven and satisfies our spiritual hunger. ‘Do not labour for the food which perishes but for the food which endures to everlasting life…I am the bread of life’. (John. 6: 27, 35)
- Messiah walks on water: (6: 15-21) Jesus Christ (Yahshua Messiah) walked on water on the sea towards Capernaum. When the disciples saw Him they were afraid. Messiah reassured them and they received Him into the boat. Yahshua Messiah transforms fear to faith. When Peter walked on the water, he had faith in Messiah. The minute he turned towards the water (or the world), his faith wavered. The Book says if we have faith as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for us. (Matt. 17: 20)
- A man born blind receives sight: (9: 1-7) Jesus Christ (Yahshua Messiah) saw a man who was blind from birth, on the wayside. He tells His disciples that he was blind so that the works of God (Yah) may be revealed in him. He restored sight to the blind man. In Luke.4: 18, we read,’ the spirit of the Lord is upon me …and recovery of sight to the blind.’ The anointing we receive when we are in the Lord opens our spiritual eyes. Read II Cor.4: 4. The god of this world has blinded the minds of people lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ (Yahshua Messiah) should shine on them.
- Lazarus raised from the dead: (11: 1-44) In this chapter, we read how Jesus Christ (Yahshua Messiah) raised Lazarus from death, three days after he died! Messiah could have given him life immediately when he died, but He wanted to show the people that He could raise him even after the body started decaying! In the same way when Messiah is in our lives, we are a new creation (II Cor .5: 17). We pass from death to life, a new life. When we are baptized, our old self is buried and we start a new life. (Rom.6: 3-4)
- Second draught of fish: (21: 1-11). The first catch of fish is recorded in Luke.5: 1-6. Before Messiah was crucified, He sent out his disciples into the countryside to cure diseases, heal the sick, with authority over all demons. This was the first commission to His disciples. Now after He rose from the grave, He has given us the greatest commission of all, to preach the good news to the whole world! Just as the sea was full of fish waiting to be caught by the disciples, the world is full of lost souls, waiting for the good news of salvation. The harvest is plenty, but the labourers are few (Luke.10: 2). You and I, we are the labourers and it is our responsibility to preach the gospel to the world.
Paul says,’by many signs and wonders…I have preached the gospel’ (Rom.15: 17). In Matt.12: 40, Jesus Christ (Yahshua Messiah) says that there shall be no sign but the sign of Jonah. Jonah’s voyage from Tarsus to Nineveh itself was a miracle! In the same way John records the miracles of Jesus Christ (Yahshua Messiah) as SIGNS (John.2: 11, New King James). They were written as symbols of changes that life in Messiah brings in our lives.
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