The Purpose of Signs

The tenth month of 2021 has arrived.  Temperatures drop.  For Alaskans, PFDs (the cash not the life jackets) enter accounts.  Parents buy excess candy.  Kids pick costumes.  As with each of the other eleven months, October holds its own signs of the seasons.  Signs of seasons indicate that new times have arrived.  Signs of seasons also show when things are as they should be.  For this reason, the gospel writer John chose to refer to the miracles performed by Jesus as signs. 

John 20:30-31 (NIV)
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John's entire gospel has been referred to as the book of signs.  Throughout his chapters two through eleven he takes his readers on a tour of signs; he records seven beginning with the telling of Jesus turning water into wine and concluding with the Lord raising Lazarus from death.  

As he made clear in the verses from above, John chose to devote so much of his writing to signs with a central purpose; namely, he sought to lead people to believe.  John knew his task and executed it brilliantly.  The most well-known verse about believing that leads to salvation is in his third chapter.  You know it - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Jesus, because He loved, came to the earth He created and performed signs.  Signs, remember, are miracles.  Too often when people think of miracles, they think of a show or simply a show of power.  While they were (and are) quite impressive and audience-worthy, their purpose is not to cause awe.    Their purpose is to lead people to believe.  

Read the signs in John's writing.  Watch for the signs that continue to point people to Him.  Signs are meant to be seen.  Taste and SEE that the Lord is good!

#ordinarylives

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