Signs
Excerpt
Although John also recognizes the problems inherent in signs and in the demand for signs (John 2:18, John 2:23; John 4:48; John 6:2, John 6:14, John 6:30), he nonetheless calls miracles σημεῖα because through them Jesus manifests his glory and reveals his mission as the Son of God (John 2:11; John 20:30f.). Whereas the Baptist performs no signs (John 10:41), many great signs characterize Jesus’ activity (John 3:2; John 7:31; John 9:16; John 11:47; John 12:37); the appearances of the resurrected Jesus are to be understood similarly (John 20:30). The Johannine miracles point beyond themselves to the eschatological Savior (John 6:14; John 7:31; John 12:18) and provoke faith in him (John 2:11, John 2:23; John 4:53; John 9:35; John 11:47f.; John 20:30f.). But this faith can remain superficial and egocentric (John 4:48; John 6:14, John 6:30) or can be rejected (John 12:37, John 12:39); and signs cannot always defeat the conviction that Jesus is a deceiver (John 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 (John 12:37f., quoting Isa 53:1; cf. John 5:20, John 5:36; John 9:3f.; John 17:4). Apart from the passages that interpret the signs, the confirming power of the signs in John is amplified by characteristics of each, the purpose of which is to eclipse the classical examples of the miracles of Moses, Elijah, and Elisha (cf. John 2:1–11; John 4:46–54; John 5:1–7 with 1 Kings 17; 2 Kings 5, John 6:9 with 2 Kgs 4:42f., John 6:31 with Exod 16:4, John 13–15). The (interrupted) enumeration of signs begun in John 2:11; John 4:54 recalls the first two miracles of Moses (Exod 4:8) and Elijah (1 Kings 17). Viewed from this perspective these signs concur with the Johannine theology, disclose no lacunae, and betray nothing of the use of a primitive “signs source” aiming to eclipse or outdo Hellenistic miracle workers.
Balz, Horst Robert, and Gerhard Schneider. Exegetical dictionary of the New Testament 1990– : 240. Print.
Balz, Horst Robert, and Gerhard Schneider. Exegetical dictionary of the New Testament 1990– : 240. Print.
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