Sabbath: Signs That Point the Way
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 28th of September 2024
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study
John 2:1-11; John 4:46-54; John 5:1-16; Mark 3:22-23; Matthew 12:9-14; John 5:16-47.
Memory Text:
“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, NKJV).
Why did John write his Gospel? Did he wish to emphasize Jesus’ miracles or some specific teachings of Jesus? What was the reason for writing what he did?
Under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit, John explains why. He says that though many more things could be written about the life of Christ (John 21:25), the stories he included were written in order “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31, NKJV).
This week we’re going to look at John’s account of some of Jesus’ early miracles—from His turning water to wine at a wedding, to restoring to health someone’s very sick son, to the healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda.
John calls these miracles “signs.” He does not mean something like a street sign, but rather a miraculous event that points toward a deeper reality: Jesus as the Messiah. In all these accounts, we see examples of people who responded by faith. And their examples invite us to do the same.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 5.
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The book of John is another one of those studies where we should read the whole book in one or two sessions to gain a "big picture" understanding of the book. Carmel and I read both Mark's and John's Gospels through, three chapters a night for worship, at the beginning of our study of Mark. It was interesting to see the differences in style and content. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the synoptic Gospels because of their similarity. John writes a very personal account and it is interesting and encouraging to see what he sees as important. Enjoy the study and take up the challenge to read John's Gospel at the beginning of this study.
Amen
Looking forward to moments of spiritual uplifting through the study of the gospel of John.
The Gospel of John is often recommended as the first book of the Bible for new believers or even curiosity seekers to read. Why? Probably because it presents Jesus as He was. His humanity, as well as His care and concern for humanity. The miracles definitely get your attention. I love the miracles because they reveal the heart of God towards His created beings. Think about the opening of the book of John. John 1:1-14. The Creator took on flesh and blood and stepped into His creation. Why would He do this? The best reason I can come up with is, because he had to answer the lies that Lucifer had circulated among both angels and man. He did it for you and for me. So that we would know the truth, and that The Truth, would set us free from the lies of Lucifer.
I have read and studied this gospel many times, you may have likewise, but I am looking forward to the blessings that await us as we take yet another look.
This song in so many ways encapsulates and expands upon my thoughts of the Incarnation of the Word, as Jesus, in the Gospel of John.
The book of John emphasises the divinity of Jesus Christ. Right at the very beginning, John wants his listeners to clearly note of the eternal existence and his divine role in creation. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). John generously uses "I Am" Statements to magnify the divinity of Jesus. As God revealed Himself in Exodus 3:14, where God says, "I AM WHO I AM", John wants to make it explicitly clear who is Jesus in our salvation. For instance, using the "I Am" Statements, John reflect Jesus as follows:
1)“I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, John 6:51)
2)“I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)
3)"I am" (Divine self-identification) John 8:58
4)"I am the door" (or "gate") (John 10:7, John 10:9)
5)“I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, John 10:14)
6)“I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25)
7)“I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)
8)"I am the true vine" (John 15:1, John 15:5)
These "I Am" Statements, highlights several aspects of Jesus’s relationship to humanity in providing spiritual nourishment, guidance, protection, and eternal life.
As we go on board in yet another exciting exploration in the book of John, it is my sincere prayer to Jesus to grant us a precious privilege and a blessing to know Him more as never before.
Amen, amen, amen!
A call upon our living by faith!
Gal.3:26 - ”So in Christ you are all sons or children of God.”
Rom.8:14-17 - ”For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
John 4:48 - ”Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means
believe.”
John 5:22-23 - ”For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgement to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent
Him.”
John 5:24 - ”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 judgement, but has passed from death into life.”
John 5:30 - ”I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the Will of the Father who sent Me.”
John 5:36 - ”But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish – the very works that I do – bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.”
John 5:38-40 – “But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to me that you may have life.”
May all who seek after righteousness respond by believing Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and to be willing to come to Him that they may have life!
Miracles, we seem to think that Modern Medicine is not a Miracle from God. Looking back on the history of medicine we get a better picture of modern medicine as being a Miracle. This week I hope we become in tune to God's protection, keeping His promises of protection, pointing us in the right direction, healing our wounds, sparing our lives of accidents, all as Miracles. Though the surgeon, the ER doctor, the psychiatrist, or the anaesthetist does their best, who really does the healing? God does. One surgeon said, I approximate with sutures God does the rest.
There are at least 42 of Jesus' miracles recorded in the gospels.
John doesn't record that many, but each of the miracles he does record has a definite purpose as a "sign" that Jesus is the promised Messiah.
We often see these miracles listed as the "seven signs" that point to:
1. Christ's authority.
2. John presents them in the context of being "signs"
3. Public attention is drawn in a way to glorify God and show authenticity of Jesus as the Messiah, our Redeemer sent from heaven, Immanuel, God with us.
John deals much with "sevens" especially in the book of Revelation. But we can find them in the gospel of John as well. The seven "I am the--" sayings (the bread of life, the door, the good shepherd, the light, the way and truth and life, the resurrection and life, the true vine).
So John points us to seven miracles as signs.
1. Water to wine, (sign of new covenant, He is the true vine)
2. Cleansing the temple, (cleansing from sin)
3. Speaking the Word and the noble man's son is healed (His WORD has authority over disease, His Word is the truth and way)
4. Healing the man at the pool (making people whole, spiritually as well as physically, He is the good shepherd)
5. Feeding the 5000 (He is the bread of life)
6. Giving sight to the blind man (Jesus is the light)
7. Raising Lazarus from the dead (Jesus is the resurrection and the life)
Thank you for the lesson, about the book of John.