1. The Gospel according to John Signs & Believing
Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.
Loyola Institute for Spirituality, Orange, CA

2. “SIGNS” in the Fourth Gospel
There are NO “Miracles” in John!
Word dynamis (”miracle”) is never used!
Jesus only does “Works” & “Signs”
Works: what the Father gives Jesus to do
Signs: point the way to something
Purpose of “Signs”?
Get you to DO something!
Consider modern “Street Signs”
Not art-works to be admired
But instructions to be obeyed!

3. What are “Signs”?

4. What are “Signs”?

5. “Signs” vs. “Miracles”? Synoptic Miracles Johannine Signs
Dozens, of four different types
Emphasize the “extraordinary”: Wow!
Jesus’ Authority over Satan
Prerequisite: Some people have faith
Johannine Signs
Few healings; no exorcisms
Downplay the “miraculous”: Huh!?
Jesus’ Relationship with God
Result: Some people come to believe

6. PURPOSE of “Signs” in John
Intended Result:
To bring people to BELIVE in Jesus
See his identity thru his words & works
But do they actually “work”?
Do people heed the signs, or not?
People must freely decide: how to respond: obey? ignore? reject?
Various reactions: positive, negative, or in between?

7. “Signs” in John: How Many? (7?)
2:1-11 Water into wine at Cana
4:46-54 Official’s son at Capernaum
?? 5:1-9ff Sick man at pool of Bethesda ??
6:1-14ff Feeding of 5000
?? 6:16-21 Walking on water ??
9:1-7ff Giving sight to man born blind
11:1-45 Lazarus raised from the dead
? 19:17-37 Crucifixion/Exaltation of Jesus
? 21:1-14 Appearance at Sea of Tiberias
“Many other signs”: 2:23; 3:2; 6:2; 7:31; 9:16; 11:47; 12:37; 20:30-31; cf. 4:45

8. SIGNS: Water into Wine at Cana

9. SIGNS: Official’s Son at Capernaum

10. SIGNS: At Pool of Bethesda???

11. SIGNS: Feeding of 5000

12. SIGNS: Walking on Water???

13. SIGNS: Sight for Man Born Blind
Also Manuscrit Grec 74, Bibl. Nationale, Paris – 5 Scenes

14. SIGNS: Raising Lazarus to Life

15. Last Sign? Appearance at Tiberias

16. Greatest Sign? Crucifixion of Jesus!

17. Last/Greatest Sign: The CROSS!
Last mention of “signs” comes after the passion narrative (20:30-31).
In 2:18-22, “sign” refers to death and resurrection of Jesus.
Verb semaino (“to indicate, signify, show by sign”) refers to his death (12:31-33; 18:32; cf. Exod 4:8-9; Num 14:11, 22).
Verb “lifted up” implies crucifixion (3:13-15; 8:28-30; cf. Num 21:8-9; Isa 43:10-13; etc.)
Cross functions to bring people to believe (19:35-37; cf. Zech 12:10—13:1)
Jesus’ death is “completion” of his “work” (cf. 4:34; 5:36; 17:4, 23; 19:28, 30)

18. Discipleship in John: “Believing”
Biblical Vocabulary
“Faith” (pistiV; noun) – esp. in Paul
“Have Faith” sounds like possessing an object
“Believe” (pisteuw; verb) – esp. in John
Action: to trust, entrust oneself to, believe in

19. “Believing” in the Fourth Gospel
John never uses the noun (“faith, belief”), but always/only the verb (“to believe”)
Believing is an action one does
Not an object one possesses (not “having faith”)
Believing involves relationship
Even better translation: “trusting someone” or “entrusting oneself to someone”
Synonyms for “believing”:
knowing, seeing, receiving, coming to, accepting, remaining, etc.
Opposites of “believing”
“not believing, rejecting, denying, not receiving, going away, etc.”

20. Possible Reactions to Jesus in FG
Refusing to believe, despite seeing/hearing
Ex.: “world”; “chief priests”; most “Jews”
Beginning to believe, but not fully knowing
Ex.: “crowds”; some early “disciples”; some “Jews”
Believing, but being afraid to profess publicly
Ex.: Nicodemus, Joseph Arimathea; some “Jews”
Seeing and believing; becoming a disciple
Ex.: “disciples”; Samaritans; blind man; Thomas
Believing even without seeing, just hearing
Ex.: royal official; Martha; readers of Gosp.John

21. Dynamics of Believing (John 9)
Increasing Faith
Man Born Blind:
9: “the man called Jesus…”
12: “I do not know”
17: “He is a prophet”
27: “Do you also want to become his disciples?”
30: “He opened my eyes”
33: “If this man [Jesus] were not from God, he could do nothing”
38: “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him.
Decreasing Faith
Pharisees/Jews:
12: Ask where Jesus is.
16: Jesus is “not from God”; he breaks the Sabbath.
22: Anyone who confesses Jesus as Messiah is put out of the synagogue.
24: Jesus is a sinner.
29: They are disciples of Moses; don’t where Jesus comes from
34: Formerly blind man is a sinner; they throw him out

22. Results/Effects of Believing
Becoming "children of God" (1:12)
Having "eternal life" (3:15-16, 36; 5:24; 6:40, 47)
Not "perishing" (3:16); not "being condemned" (3:18)
Not "coming under judgment" (5:24); never being "hungry/thirsty" (6:35)
"Knowing" Jesus and the Father (4:42; 6:64, 69; 10:38)
Passing from death to life (5:24); living and never dying (11:25-26)
Having "living water" flow out of one's heart (7:38)
Receiving the Spirit (7:39)
Being "disciples" of Jesus (8:31); being Jesus' "friends" (15:14-15)
Seeing the "glory of God" (11:40); seeing "greater things" (1:50)
Becoming "children of light" (12:36); not "remaining in darkness" (12:46)
Doing the works that Jesus does, or even greater works (14:12)
Having "life in his name" (20:31)

23. Texts with “Believe” in John
w/o direct object; “You just gotta trust”!
Believe IN God / IN me / IN…
NT Greek lit. says “believe INTO…”
“put your trust in/into God & Jesus”
“entrust yourself to God & Jesus”
Believe ME/HIM/…
Trust God/Jesus; believe what he says
Believe THAT…
Doctrines/beliefs about God & Jesus

24. More on “Signs” & “Believe”
“Signs” in the Fourth Gospel
“Believe” in the Fourth Gospel