Signs of Life

Signs of Life

"And 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 20:30,31

The word sign is used in the gospel of John for miracle.John records 7 miracles performed by Jesus before His resurrection and they were recorded so that we" may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."
The first 3 show us the How of Salvation,the 4th the Method of Salvation and the last 3 the Results of Salvation.

1.Water to wine-Salvation by the Word. 2:1-11
2.The nobleman son-Salvation by Faith. 4:46-54
3.The crippled man at pool of Bethesda-Salvation by Grace. 5:1-16
4.The feeding of the 5000-The method-Human Instrumentality.6:1-14
5.Walking on Water,Calming the sea,Result of Salvation-Peace.6:15-21
6.Heals the blind man,Result of Salvation-Light. 9:1-7
7.Raises Lazarus from the dead,Result of Salvation-Life.11:1-44
Seven the number of perfection

Signs of Life,Salvation by the Word

His mother said to the servants,"What ever He say's to you do it."Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.John 2:5-9

In the Bible drinking water refers to the Holy Spirit,remember the woman at the well and in John 7:37-39 when He speaks of thirst and the Holy Spirit producing rivers of living waters.When the Bible speaks of washing water,it refers to the Word."Washing of water by the Word".

The water pots used here are for washing water,6 pots for "purification of the Jews"and they drank wine not water.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.John 5:24

"Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,"IPet.1:23

Note Mary told the servants "whatever He say's to you do it"This was Jesus,the Living Word speaking to them.Sometime in our lives we read or hear the Word and the Holy Spirit works that in us with His pre-salvation work and we respond to what the Word instructs us to do.So salvation is by the Word of God.It is from the Word that we read that Jesus is The Way,The Truth and The Life and that there is No Other Name under heaven whereby we might be saved.

"And 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."

Signs of Life Salvation by Faith

In John the word sign is used instead of miracle.In the scripture a sign is given to prove a Godly truth,confirms a word or a message from God,or verifies a deed as being or having been done in the name and authority of God,like Jonah in the whale,a sign of Jesus death and resurrection.

"And 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." Jo.20:30-31

" So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.
The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”
Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”
Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household."Jo.4:46-53

Here we see Jesus back in Cana of Galilee and a nobleman from Capernaum about 17 miles away,asks Him to heal his son who was at the point of death.Jesus told him to go on about his business,your son lives.The nobleman believed Jesus and went on about his business in Cana and didn't return home until the next day.Now his son was at the point of death and the man waited until the next day to return.He spoke to Jesus at 7am( John uses Roman time whereas Matthew,Mark and Luke us Hebrew time cp.John 19:14 and Matt.27:45 Mark 15:25 and Luke 23:44) so he had all that day and night,that he could have returned.He came to Jesus knowing He could heal His son and when Jesus told him his son lives,he believed Him.
"So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way."

We have seen in the previous sign that salvation is by the Word and here we see that salvation is by faith.John 3:16 "That whosoever BELIEVES in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" and in Acts 16:31 to the Philippian jailer "BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved"

Signs of Life Salvation by Grace

When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. John 5:6-9

Here we see Jesus back in Jerusalem at the pool of Bethesda where a multitude of impotent people were laid.Jesus goes to one person out of the whole multitude and heals the one man.The man didn't come to Jesus and didn't ask Jesus to heal him or do anything for him,and after Jesus healed him,he couldn't tell anyone who did it.This is pure grace.

In the first sign,we see that salvation is by the Word and in the second one we can see that salvation is by Faith.Here we see that salvation is by Grace.

"For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."John 1:17

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,"Eph.2:8

"Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever"1Peter 1:23

Religions cannot understand how God can save a person who isn't righteous.Religion will not allow pure grace.Jesus came to him and did it all.Note verse 21

"For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will."John 5:21 In our minds we have to let God be Sovereign.

So salvation is by the Word and by Faith and by Grace.Only the one true God could provide such a marvelous and perfect and eternal salvation.

"And 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." Jo.20:30-31

Signs of Life The Method of Salvation Human Instrumentality

“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.John 6:9-11

There are several lessons that can be drawn from this sign of the feeding of the 5000.Jesus is the bread of life.And an example of how it would be in the kingdom when there would be plenty and the earth would produce abundantly.But there is a type for us in the method of salvation.Jesus didn't tell the people to line up and walk by Him and He would give them food.He produced the food,but He allowed the Disciples the opportunity to present it to the people,let along the little boy watching Jesus feed that crowd of people with his lunch.
God has chosen Human Instrumentality to spread the message of Salvation.No shouting from heaven,no thunder and lightning, or the top of a mountain trembling,or Angels carrying the message,just plain ordinary people that have experienced the miracle of the new birth and Jesus does the multiplying.

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" Rom.10:14

"For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe."I Corinth.1:21

"And 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 20;30,31

Signs of Life Result of Salvation "Peace"

" Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.John 6:16-21

Here we see the disciples in a bad storm and struggling.The storm was their enemy.Then they see Jesus coming and is walking and the storm wasn't effecting Him at all and they were probably terrified,but He calmed them with His words and when they received Him into the boat, they were immediately out of the storm.

Before we're saved,we are enemies with God.Life is a struggle because we are fighting God,(probably unbeknownst to ourselves,but we were).But when Jesus speaks and we receive Him,the battle ends.We are reconciled to God,no longer enemies,no more struggle fighting Him.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."John 14:27

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Rom.5:1

Because the Spirit of God indwells us we are at peace with God and we can also experience this peace in our everyday life.

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."Philippians 4:6-7

The storm didn't effect Jesus and we can experience that too.

So in this sign in application we can see a result of our Salvation is Peace.Peace with God judicially in our standing and the peace of God that we can experience in our state now.

"And 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 20;30,31

Signs of Life Result of Salvation "Light"

"When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.John 9:6,7

Here we see Jesus healing the man who had been blind from birth.There are many theories as to why Jesus used the method He did to heal him and I guess you and I have read most of them.I believe the key is right by the door with what Jesus said just before He made the mud of clay and anointed the man's eyes.

"That the works of God should be revealed IN him" v.3

All the man had to do was what Jesus said and he did that.I think there is a lesson here that Jesus was bringing across not only for the man but the people that were there and for us now.Sure Jesus could have said the word and the man would have been healed.

The subject here was light and darkness and that Jesus was the light of the world and He would soon be going away and that one day soon His followers would have that light placed in them and they would be the light in the world.

I believe He put a light in the man when He touched his eyes so he could see physically,but he inclosed it in a vessel of clay and the clay had to be broken before the light could get through.This should bring to mind what Paul say's in II Corinthians 4:6,7

"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."

The moment we were saved the light was placed in us,in a vessel of clay and for that light to shine,the vessel must be broken and that is the process as we live our Christian life.As the vessel is broken,we receive more light of the knowledge of Jesus Christ and more of that light is revealed to others through us.

So we can see by this sign that a result of salvation is Light.

"I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness."John 12:46

"And 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 20;30,31

Signs of Life Result of Salvation "Life"

"Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”John 11:41-44

Here we see the last miracle recorded by John before Jesus is resurrected and here we see that Jesus is"The resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.John 11:25,26

In performing this miracle,from the world system point of view,Jesus signed His death warrant.After this the religious leaders meant to take Him and kill Him in what ever manner it took.

But for us we see as a result of our salvation we have Life.This very Resurrection power of Christ is indwelling us now.Eternal life is indwelling us now.The world can't see this eternal life that is indwelling us,but we can experience it in our lives and we can see the "Glory of God" revealed as we see others come to know Him and see them experience the Resurrection Power of Christ in their lives.

"That I may know Him and the Power of His Resurrection"Philippians 3:10

And because we have Christ in us,this power of resurrection, our soul and spirit will be transported instantaneously into God's presence if we die,and will raise our bodies at the rapture.If we are alive then our bodies will be changed.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."John 3:16

""Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ"Eph.2:5

"And 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 20;30,31