Yesterday in our online Bible Study, we considered the parallel of the 8 signs in the Gospel of John relating to the 2nd eight miracles of Elisha. After all, the 1st John was directly linked to the ministry of Elijah, which appeared to have been cut short:
Luke 1:17 “He (John, the Baptist) will also go before Him (Jesus) in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
The Gospel of John has a theme of eight signs:
First Sign: John 2:1-12 Turning water into wine
Second Sign: 4:43-54 A Nobleman’s son is healed
Third Sign: 5:1-15 Impotent Man healed at the Pool of Bethesda
Fourth Sign: 6:5-13 Feeding of the 5,000
Fifth Sign: 6:16-25 Walking on water
Sixth Sign: 9:1-38 The man born blind is healed and receives his sight
Seventh Sign: 11:1-46 Raising of Lazarus from the dead
Eighth Sign: 21:1-14 The 153 fishes
The second 8 miracles of Elisha
9. Bread multiplied for 100 men. (4:43) correlates to the fourth sign feeding of the 5,000
10 Naaman healed. (5:10) correlates to the second sign of a Nobleman’s son being healed
11 Gehazi smitten. (5:27)
12 Caused the iron to swim. (6:6) correlates to the fifth sign of walking on water
13 Sight to the blind. (6:17) correlates to the sixth sign of opening eyes to see and the third sign of the impotent man
14 Smiting blindness to these men. (6:18)
15 Restoring sight to these men. (6:20) correlates to the sixth sign of opening eyes to see
16 Miracle after his death, man comes to life by touching Elisha’s bones. (13:21) correlates to the seventh sign of raising Lazarus from the dead
The two miracles of Elisha that had no apparent correlation to the signs in John both had to do with causing blindness or leprosy, both aspects of judgment. On the other hand, the three signs of John with no Elisha correlation are all related to the Overcomers: water transformed into wine, being in command and superseding the natural (walking on water), and the 153 fishes (the sign of the Overcomers).
The eight signs of John have a further relationship with each other in four groups of two:
The signs of transformation: The 1st sign: Marriage in Cana (2:1-11), and the 8th sign: 153 Fishes (21:1-14). In the first sign, He manifested forth His glory (2:11); in the eighth sign He "manifested Himself" (21:14). The first sign signified that need : "they have no wine" (2:3), while the last signified that with all their time and energy, they had "caught nothing", and had "no meat"; but it signified also that Jesus could supply both: sustenance and joy.
The signs of overcoming death: The 2nd sign:The Ruler’s Son (4:46-50), and the 7th sign: Lazarus (11:1-44). The "sign" in each case was connected with death: the son being on the point of death (4:47), the Lazarus is actually dead and in the tomb.
The signs dealing with sin: The The 3rd sign: Impotent Man (5:1-47), and The 6th sign: the Man born Blind (9:1-41). In both these two "signs", the men are living in hopelessness (5:5; 9:1); In both cases, Jesus was the initiator (5:6; 9:1), the men had no expectation that life would change. They had no revelation of the Divine Intent of Love. In both the preceding two groups of signs, He was the One Who was sought. Sin had been the cause of both impotence and the blindness. It was the cause of Israel’s 38 years in the wilderness. The man born blind was born into sin but was restored by the Life Giver.
The signs of power and authority over creation: The 4th sign: Feeding of the Five Thousand (6:1-14), and the 5th sign:the Walking on the Sea (6:15-21). These are the only two "signs" which are recorded in the other three Gospels; thus implying their their significance. Both "signs" focus on the fact these He is LORD over creation and that all particles are subject to HIM and HIS higher laws.
The eight "signs" are divided into seven and one; the seven taking place during the ministry of our Lord; and the one (8th sign) after His resurrection. The 3rd, 4th, and 5th sign pointed to Jehovah-Ropheka, the Healer of His People; Jehovah-Ro’i, andJehovah-Jireh, the Supplier of all His People’s needs; and Jehovah the Creator of heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. The 6th and 7th signs seventh) focus on restoration of mankind by restoring sight (eyes to see) and overcoming death.
The 8th sign eighth stands out alone. It occurred after His resurrection. It is the gathering of the Sons of GOD. They will fully embrace and walk in the New Commandment:
John 13:31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. 33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
This statement occurred after the first 7 signs and before the 8th sign. Now is the time for this focus on Love for each other- the “horizontal” ministry.
Yesterday’s broadcast can be viewed at: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/39823840