The Importance of The Seven Miracles in The Gospel of John

The Gospel of John was written around 95 A.D. and the key personnel of this gospel includes Jesus Christ, the Twelve Disciples, and Pilate. The Gospel of John contains twenty-one chapters and is comprised of narrative history, sermons and parables. The book of John was written to embed the importance that one must believe in order to live eternally. The first theme that constantly occurs throughout the Gospel of John is: Jesus is the Son of God and all who believe in him will receive eternal life. The second theme, that is evident throughout the Gospel of John, is the importance of the seven miracles and the seven discourses.

One of the main purposes of the book of John is to prove that Jesus is the Son of God and the giver of eternal life. Jesus’ deity is revealed throughout the book of John: “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 20:31). Along with Jesus’ deity, his identity is also understood through the titles he is given throughout the book of John. These titles include Son of God, Messiah and Lamb of God. These titles emphasize the importance Jesus had and his relation to God. It is clear throughout the Gospel of John that Jesus is more than man: “For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” (John 17: 2-4). This exemplifies how Jesus will reward you with external life if you have given your life to glorify of God.

The Gospel of John displays teaching in a series of miracles and discourses. This differs from the Synoptic Gospels as the Synoptic Gospels are taught through parables about the Kingdom of God. The first section of the Gospel of John is structured around the seven miracles and discourses that both relate to each other. The seven discourses speak of the powers that Jesus possesses to help others gain eternal life whereas, the seven miracles confirms that Jesus actually possess these powers. The seven miracles that are recorded in the Gospel of John include: the turning of water into wine, the healing of a nobleman’s son who was close to death, the healing of a man at the sheep-gate pool, Jesus walking on water, the feeding of five thousand, the healing of the man born blind and the rising of Lazarus. Each of these miracles is used to introduce a discourse, which shows the significance of Jesus and the importance of his message. The reason as to why these miracles are so important is because they propose a spiritual lesson through analogies. An example of a spiritual lesson in these miracles is the story of Jesus turning water into wine. This miracle is meant to contrast the difference between the old and the new. Throughout the bible, wine is viewed as a symbol of happiness. The turning of water into wine symbolizes the change that happens when you allow the spirit of Jesus Christ into your life. Another example of a spiritual lesson that occurs in the seven miracles is the story of Jesus healing a man who is born blind. The disciples believed that the reason the man was born blind was because he or his parents had sinned. Jesus replies, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the power of God might be displayed in his life” (John 9:3). The spiritual lesson that can be taken from this story is not the curing of physical blindness, but is rather the curing of spiritual blindness, which shows the importance of the seven miracles in the Gospel of John.

The Gospel of John demonstrates to its readers the importance of being a believer that Jesus of Nazareth was Christ, the Son of God. John demonstrates that those that believe may have eternal life. By illustrating the seven miracles and the seven discourses, the Gospel of John puts forth the presence of the power of God to transform peoples’ lives. The Gospel convinces its readers that Jesus is truly Christ and the Son of God and those that do believe in him and the Christian movement may live eternity. Through Gospel of John, John is able to present the Christian faith in a way that suggests its fundamental truth.