The Point of the “Signs”
The point of the “signs” in the Gospel of John is to demonstrate Jesus’ divine authority and to reveal his identity as the Son of God. The signs are meant to point to something beyond themselves, namely, the character and nature of Jesus’ mission and his relationship with God the Father. They are intended to elicit faith in Jesus as the Messiah and to prove that he is the one sent by God to bring salvation to the world. These signs are not just acts of power but are also teaching moments that reveal spiritual truths and provoke a response from the witnesses.
The Reason Behind the Word Choice
John uses the term “sign” instead of “miracle” to emphasize the meaning and purpose behind the acts rather than the acts themselves. While a miracle is generally understood as a supernatural event that defies natural laws, a sign carries with it the idea of symbolizing or pointing to something greater. In the context of the Gospel of John, the signs are symbolic acts that reveal the glory of God and the truth about Jesus’ identity as the incarnate Word (John 1:14). The signs serve as evidence that Jesus is the source of life and the light of the world (John 8:12), and they invite observers to deeper understanding and belief.
Evidence from the Biblical Text
Within the biblical text, several passages can help answer these questions about the use of “sign” over “miracle.” For example, after the first sign at Cana, where Jesus turns water into wine, John writes, “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11). This verse explicitly states that the purpose of the sign was to manifest Jesus’ glory and to lead to belief in him. Through the use of the word “sign,” the Gospel of John presents the miraculous acts of Jesus as revelatory events that communicate deeper spiritual truths and serve to fulfill the purpose of leading people to faith and eternal life in the name of Jesus (Gundry, 2012).
References
Gundry, R. H., (2012). A Survey of the New Testament.
Holy Bible, New International Version (2011). Zondervan Publishing.