The Gospel according to John

Signs & Believing

Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.Loyola Institute for Spirituality, Orange, CA

http://catholic-resources.org

“SIGNS” in the Fourth GospelThere 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!

What are “Signs”?

What are “Signs”?

“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

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?

“Signs” in John: How Many? (7?) 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

SIGNS: Water into Wine at Cana

SIGNS: Official’s Son at Capernaum

SIGNS: At Pool of Bethesda???

SIGNS: Feeding of 5000

SIGNS: Walking on Water???

SIGNS: Sight for Man Born Blind

Also Manuscrit Grec 74, Bibl. Nationale, Paris – 5 Scenes

SIGNS: Raising Lazarus to Life

Last Sign? Appearance at Tiberias

Greatest Sign? Crucifixion of Jesus!

Last/Greatest Sign: The CROSS!a) Last mention of “signs” comes after the

passion narrative (20:30-31).b) In 2:18-22, “sign” refers to death and

resurrection of Jesus.c) 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).

d) Verb “lifted up” implies crucifixion (3:13-15; 8:28-30; cf. Num 21:8-9; Isa 43:10-13; etc.)

e) Cross functions to bring people to believe (19:35-37; cf. Zech 12:10—13:1)

f) Jesus’ death is “completion” of his “work” (cf. 4:34; 5:36; 17:4, 23; 19:28, 30)

Discipleship in John: “Believing” Biblical Vocabulary

“Faith” (; noun) – esp. in Paul “Have Faith” sounds like possessing an object

“Believe” (; verb) – esp. in John Action: to trust, entrust oneself to, believe in

“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” Synonyms for “believing”:

knowing, seeing, receiving, coming to, accepting, remaining, etc.

Opposites of “believing” “not believing, rejecting, denying, not receiving,

going away, etc.”

Possible Reactions to Jesus in FG

1. Refusing to believe, despite seeing/hearing Ex.: “world”; “chief priests”; most “Jews”

2. Beginning to believe, but not fully knowing Ex.: “crowds”; some early “disciples”; some “Jews”

3. Believing, but being afraid to profess publicly Ex.: Nicodemus, Joseph Arimathea; some “Jews”

4. Seeing and believing; becoming a disciple Ex.: “disciples”; Samaritans; blind man; Thomas

5. Believing even without seeing, just hearing Ex.: royal official; Martha; readers of Gosp.John

Dynamics of Believing (John 9)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

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)

Texts with “Believe” in JohnBelieve!

w/o direct object; “You just gotta trust”!Believe IN God / IN me / IN…

NT Greek lit. says “believe INTO…” “put your trust in/into God & Jesus” “entrust yourself to God & Jesus”

Believe ME/HIM/… Trust God/Jesus; believe what he says

Believe THAT… Doctrines/beliefs about God & Jesus

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