There is a section in the Gospel of John that some scholars call the Book of Signs because, well, it includes 7 of the myriad of sign miracles that Jesus performed during his life.
A “sign”, sometimes called a “wonder”, is a miracle performed by Jesus that attests to His unique relationship with God. It’s not just a magic trick. Not just a miracle. Not simply a kindness, or a grace. It’s a message.
In the Exodus story there were 10 plagues that befell the Egyptians. But one message. “Let my people go.”
In a general sense, the signs of Jesus were all the same message as well: to attest to Jesus unique relationship with God, but secondly, obviously, the signs of John’s Gospel were written so that people would believe the Jesus was who he said he was and that by believing in Him we might have life. (John 20:30)
I’m not trying to present clinically something which should inspire wonder. But in my defence, some of you don’t need my help. I’m not picking on you either. Sometimes we all just lose the wonder or miss the message.
Like in John 11 – you know? That wee yarn about Jesus RAISING LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD!
“When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’” – the message: Jesus you’re doing this whole messiah thing wrong.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked.
‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied.
35 Jesus wept. – the message: I really loved that guy and I really love these people.
36 Then the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’
37 But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’ – the message: You’re not doing a very good job loving this man and these people.
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 ‘Take away the stone,’ he said.
‘But, Lord,’ said Martha, the sister of the dead man, ‘by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.’
40 Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’ – the message: Father, is there anyway we can do this so that they won’t miss the message? – yeah, no, yeah. didn’t think so.
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth round his face.
Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’
45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them… missed the message.
Have you ever felt missed or misunderstood? Happens to the best of us.