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Signs in the 4G Gk: semion - Coggle Diagram
Signs in the 4G
Gk: semion
7 Signs
7 is the Hewish number of perfection (7 days of creation), this shows the perfection of Jesus' actions.
Christology (who Jesus is) - the saviour, messiah, God incarnate
point towards who Jesus is (God incarnate, who has the power to perform the signs) & what he came to do ( get people to believe in him so they can be saved)
These signs are selected to help aid the stated purpose of the 4G (Jn30: 20-21), which is to bring people to believe in Jesus so that they may gain eternal life, they are specifically selected to point towards symbolic significance.
Physical healing
2) healing of the official's son
3) healing of the paralytic
6) healing of the man born blind
Nature
4) feeding of the 5000
appears in all 4 gospels - because of Eucharistic significance
5) Jesus walks on water
1) water into wine
raising to life
7) raising of Lazarus
Synoptic gospels also include exorcism
not in 4G because the 4G is focused on the positives, he wan't to focus on what Jesus is bringing (the coming of the king in 4G, in synoptics the coming of the kingdom), not what he is keeping away (the devil)
"the word 'sign' is one of the most characteristic and important words of the Fourth Gospel"
CK Barrett
the signs are linked with the prologue through their links with I AM sayings as well as the Christology & Soteriology
the signs are examples of the 7 I AM sayings in action
the signs cause conflict, because by performing them Jesus is claiming to be God (blasphemy)
Nature
according to Jewish belief, only god has power over nature.
so when Jesus demonstrates that he can break the laws of mature, he is claiming to be God
Raising to life
according to Jewish belief, only God has power over life & death.
so when Jesus demonstrates he can bring someone back to life he is claiming to be God.
Physical healing
according to Jewish belief, illness is the result of sin (yours or an ancestor's)
So when Jesus heals people, it indicates he is forgiving their sin.
The signs are frequently linked with controversies with the Jewish authorities over Jesus' identity & work