Signs
Excerpt
Although John also recognizes the problems inherent in signs and in the demand Excerpt
Although John also recognizes the problems inherent in signs and in the demand for signs (2:18, 23; 4:48; 6:2, 14, 30), he nonetheless calls miracles σημεῖα because through them Jesus manifests his glory and reveals his mission as the Son of God (2:11; 20:30f.). Whereas the Baptist performs no signs (10:41), many great signs characterize Jesus’ activity (3:2; 7:31; 9:16; 11:47; 12:37); the appearances of the resurrected Jesus are to be understood similarly (20:30). The Johannine miracles point beyond themselves to the eschatological Savior (6:14; 7:31; 12:18) and provoke faith in him (2:11, 323; 4:5; 9:35; 11:47f.; 20:30f.). But this faith can remain superficial and egocentric (4:48; 6:14, 30) or can be rejected (12:37, 39); and signs cannot always defeat the conviction that Jesus is a deceiver (11:47f., following Deut 13:1–4); thus what the sign signifies is overlooked, namely, that the miracle is a work of God, whose “arm” becomes effective through Christ (12:37f., quoting Isa 53:1; cf…
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