The Gospel according to John Signs & Believing

1. The Gospel according to JohnSigns & Believing Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D. Loyola Institute for Spirituality, Orange, CA http://catholic-resources.org

2. “SIGNS” in the Fourth Gospel • There are NO “Miracles” in John! • Word dynamis (”miracle”) is never used! • Jesus only does “Works” & “Signs” • Works: what the Father gives Jesus to do • Signs: point the way to something • Purpose of “Signs”? • Get you to DO something! • Consider modern “Street Signs” • Not art-works to be admired • But instructions to be obeyed!

3. What are “Signs”?

4. What are “Signs”?

5. “Signs” vs. “Miracles”? • Synoptic Miracles • Dozens, of four different types • Emphasize the “extraordinary”: Wow! • Jesus’ Authority over Satan • Prerequisite: Some people have faith • Johannine Signs • Few healings; no exorcisms • Downplay the “miraculous”: Huh!? • Jesus’ Relationship with God • Result: Some people come to believe

6. PURPOSE of “Signs” in John • Intended Result: • To bring people to BELIVE in Jesus • See his identity thru his words & works • But do they actually “work”? • Do people heed the signs, or not? • People must freely decide:how to respond: obey? ignore? reject? • Various reactions: positive, negative, or in between?

7. “Signs” in John: Exactly SEVEN? • 2:1-11 Water into wine at Cana • 4:46-54 Official’s son at Capernaum • ?? 5:1-9ff Sick man at pool of Bethesda ?? • 6:1-14ff Feeding of 5000 • ?? 6:16-21 Walking on water ?? • 9:1-7ff Giving sight to man born blind • 11:1-45 Lazarus raised from the dead • ? 19:17-37 Crucifixion/Exaltation of Jesus • ? 21:1-14 Appearance at Sea of Tiberias • “Many other signs”: 2:23; 3:2; 6:2; 7:31; 9:16; 11:47; 12:37; 20:30-31; cf. 4:45

8. SIGNS: Water into Wine at Cana

9. SIGNS: Official’s Son at Capernaum

10. SIGNS: At Pool of Bethesda???

11. SIGNS: Feeding of 5000

12. SIGNS: Walking on Water???

13. SIGNS: Sight for Man Born Blind Also Manuscrit Grec 74, Bibl. Nationale, Paris – 5 Scenes

14. SIGNS: Raising Lazarus to Life

15. Last Sign? Appearance at Tiberias

16. Greatest Sign? Crucifixion of Jesus!

17. Last/Greatest Sign: The CROSS! • Last mention of “signs” comes after the passion narrative (20:30-31). • In 2:18-22, “sign” refers to death and resurrection of Jesus. • Verb semaino (“to indicate, signify, show by sign”) refers to his death (12:31-33; 18:32; cf. Exod 4:8-9; Num 14:11, 22). • Verb “lifted up” implies crucifixion (3:13-15; 8:28-30; cf. Num 21:8-9; Isa 43:10-13; etc.) • Cross functions to bring people to believe (19:35-37; cf. Zech 12:10—13:1) • Jesus’ death is “completion” of his “work” (cf. 4:34; 5:36; 17:4, 23; 19:28, 30)

18. Discipleship in John: “Believing” • Biblical Vocabulary • “Faith” (pistiV; noun) – esp. in Paul • “Have Faith” sounds like possessing an object • “Believe” (pisteuw; verb) – esp. in John • Action: to trust, entrust oneself to, believe in

19. “Believing” in the Fourth Gospel • John never uses the noun(“faith, belief”), but always/only the verb(“to believe”) • Believing is an action one does • Not an object one possesses (not “having faith”) • Believing involves relationship • Even better translation: “trusting someone” or “entrusting oneself to someone” • Synonymsfor “believing”: • knowing, seeing, receiving, coming to, accepting, remaining, etc. • Opposites of “believing” • “not believing, rejecting, denying, not receiving, going away, etc.”

20. Possible Reactions to Jesus in FG • Refusing to believe, despite seeing/hearing • Ex.: “world”; “chief priests”; most “Jews” • Beginning to believe, but not fully knowing • Ex.: “crowds”; some early “disciples”; some “Jews” • Believing, but being afraid to profess publicly • Ex.: Nicodemus, Joseph Arimathea; some “Jews” • Seeing and believing; becoming a disciple • Ex.: “disciples”; Samaritans; blind man; Thomas • Believing even without seeing, just hearing • Ex.: royal official; Martha; readers of Gosp.John

21. Increasing Faith Man Born Blind: 9: “the man called Jesus…” 12: “I do not know” 17: “He is a prophet” 27: “Do you also want to become his disciples?” 30: “He opened my eyes” 33: “If this man [Jesus] were not from God, he could do nothing” 38: “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Decreasing Faith Pharisees/Jews: 12: Ask where Jesus is. 16: Jesus is “not from God”; he breaks the Sabbath. 22: Anyone who confesses Jesus as Messiah is put out of the synagogue. 24: Jesus is a sinner. 29: They are disciples of Moses; don’t where Jesus comes from 34: Formerly blind man is a sinner; they throw him out Dynamics of Believing (John 9)

22. Results/Effects of Believing • Becoming "children of God" (1:12) • Having "eternal life" (3:15-16, 36; 5:24; 6:40, 47) • Not "perishing" (3:16); not "being condemned" (3:18) • Not "coming under judgment" (5:24); never being "hungry/thirsty" (6:35) • "Knowing" Jesus and the Father (4:42; 6:64, 69; 10:38) • Passing from death to life (5:24); living and never dying (11:25-26) • Having "living water" flow out of one's heart (7:38) • Receiving the Spirit (7:39) • Being "disciples" of Jesus (8:31); being Jesus' "friends" (15:14-15) • Seeing the "glory of God" (11:40); seeing "greater things" (1:50) • Becoming "children of light" (12:36); not "remaining in darkness" (12:46) • Doing the works that Jesus does, or even greater works (14:12) • Having "life in his name" (20:31)

23. Texts with “Believe” in John • Believe! • w/o direct object; “You just gotta trust”! • Believe IN God / IN me / IN… • NT Greek lit. says “believe INTO…” • “put your trust in/intoGod & Jesus” • “entrust yourself to God & Jesus” • Believe ME/HIM/… • Trust God/Jesus; believe what he says • Believe THAT… • Doctrines/beliefs aboutGod & Jesus

24. More on “Signs” & “Believe” • “Signs” in the Fourth Gospel • http://catholic-resources.org/John/Themes-Signs.htm • “Believe” in the Fourth Gospel • http://catholic-resources.org/John/Themes-Believe.htm