The seventh sign/miracle is the raising of Lazarus (John 11.1 ff), whose name means, ‘whom God helps’. When Jesus received news that His friend was at the point of death, He not only delayed until Lazarus was dead, but also waited until he had been buried and entombed for four days. When Jesus finally arrived, He voiced the reason for His delay: “that the Son of God might be glorified through it” and, “that you might believe”. There was a great purpose to His actions. While the Messiah could have returned to Bethany earlier and healed Lazarus prior to his decease, or raised him from the dead on the first or second day, His intention was to demonstrate to the leaders of the Jewish nation, that He was able to raise Lazarus, not just from the grave but from Hades. Because of the framework of Jewish belief at that time, they believed that the soul did not descend into Hades until after three days. Jesus needed to wait until the fourth day to demonstrate fully that His power reached to Hades. This sign would be used to demonstrate to the nation, for the last time, the Messianic credentials of Jesus of Nazareth. Furthermore, it was of such a calibre that it would also support His claim to deity, as He said: “This sickness is … for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” (John 11:4)
It is this miracle that demonstrated, illustrated, and elucidated, John’s inspired assessment of Jesus: “in Him was life” (John 1:4); and, “he who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” (1 John 5:12) Taking a phrase or two from the incident when Jesus forgave the sins of a paralytic before healing him, the Messiah could have asked here: ‘Whether it is easier, to say, I am the resurrection and the life; or to say, Lazarus come forth? But that you may know that the Son of man is the resurrection and the life, (He said to the deceased,) I say unto you, Lazarus come forth!’ Then he that was dead exited the tomb while still bound hand and foot with grave clothes.
We will more fully examine the raising of Lazarus later under the heading of ‘the sign of the prophet Jonah’ (chapter ten).
The Eighth Significant Miracle in John – The Miraculous Catch of Fish
The last sign recorded in John’s gospel is that which took place at the Sea of Galilee after the resurrection of the Messiah. (John 21:1 ff) The disciples should have gathered in the mountain region of Galilee, (Matt.28:16) but Peter had initiated a return to their old occupation, “I am going fishing.” The Greek word used for ‘I go’ is ‘upagw’, The word is made up of two elements. The first is ‘upw’ which can denote secrecy. The second is ‘agw’ which means ‘I go’. Together it is used to denote the final departure of one who ceases to be another’s companion or attendant. Wuest’s expanded N.T. translation reads, ‘Simon Peter says to them, I am going off, breaking my former connections, to my former fishing business.’ Here is Peter’s formal announcement that he was abandoning his preaching mission and going back to his former occupation. The word translated ‘fishing’ is a present infinitive meaning the action is durative, progressive and constant. It refers to the fishing as an occupation. Here then is a crisis. Peter, perhaps still not over his failure when he denied the Messiah, is returning to his old life, and leading the others to join him.
Jesus the Messiah meets the crisis with a double miracle, the first part of which was negative. This team of fisherman worked all night yet their nets were empty. Firstly, the Messiah demonstrated that fishing was not their future. Then, in the morning he stood on the shore incognito and instructed them to cast their nets again, this time on the other side of the boat. They caught 153 fish. This exceptional, miraculous draught of fish bore a remarkable similarity to that which they had experienced three years earlier. Accordingly, they understood the stranger to be the Messiah. On bringing the catch to shore, they were invited to a breakfast of bread and fish that had already been prepared. Thus, on obeying their Lord, their needs were met abundantly.
Some of the detail of the narrative is very illuminating. To emphasise the negative aspect of the miracle, Jesus enquired, “children, have you any food?”(KJV) In the NASB it is, “children, you do not have any fish, do you?” with the extra note, “literally, something eaten with bread”. The disciples answered, “No.” The enquiry, “Children, have you any food?” was very usual among the Rabbis of that day, and could mean, ‘have you sufficient for one meal?’ (in this context, breakfast), or, ‘I have bread – have you something to go with it?’ (Bread is the other symbol of the Melchizadekian blessing) (Gen.14:18). The disciples who had returned to their old occupation did not have enough for one meal. On the other hand, the Messiah had a meal of bread with fish already cooking. And in consequence of the second, positive aspect of the miracle, Jesus invited them to bring the recently caught fish. (John 21:10)
John now isolates the name of Peter for his next statement: “Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.” (John 21:11) This is in contrast with what happened at the almost identical miracle when Peter received his call to service (Luke 5:1-11). Then the net broke. But that was when Peter was a fisherman. Since then the Messiah had changed Peter’s career: “… from now on you will be catching men” (Luke 5:10). While Peter follows his commission as a fisher of men, the net of the gospel will not break.
In this, the last sign in John’s gospel, the principle of table fellowship is re-emphasised. They ate with the Lord. In the first sign in John’s gospel, table fellowship was prominent. There, He provided wine. Here at the lakeside He provided bread. Significantly, table fellowship is placed at the heart of the Church’s activities, where bread and wine symbolically represent the body and blood of Christ. (Matt.26.26-28; Mark 14.22-24; Lk.22.19,20) ‘The cup of the blessing that we bless—is it not the fellowship of the blood of the Christ? the bread that we break—is it not the fellowship of the body of the Christ?’ (1 Cor.10.16 (Young’s literal translation))
The Significance of the Signs in John’s Gospel
The signs for the nation before His rejection included turning the water into wine, healing the ruler’s son who was at the point of death, the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda, and feeding a multitude of people. These indicate that when Messiah came to them, the nation was a nation in captivity, without freedom and under a hard rule, not only that of Rome, but also that of the Sanhedrin.
(i) They were without blessing and without joy, as in the first sign, they had no wine.
(ii) Nationally, they were on the point of death, as in the second sign.
(iii) The third sign reflects their impotence as a nation, an impotence that was the result of sin, especially that of their leaders.
(iv) In consequence, the people were like sheep without a shepherd, which is the context of the fourth sign.
If they had trusted their Messiah,
(i) they would have had joy “up to the brim”, as at the wedding in Cana (John’s first sign).
(ii) they would have been restored from the point of death as with the nobleman’s son (John’s second sign)
(iii) given a new start with a new purpose, as with the paralytic at the pool of Siloam (John’s third sign), and
(iv) would have been fed (physically, intellectually and spiritually) by Jesus the Good Shepherd, as was the great crowd (John’s fourth sign).
However, the majority of the nation were categorised as “wicked”, “evil” and “adulterous”. They believed neither the Scriptures nor their Messiah. They followed the lead of the Sanhedrin and rejected the Messianic claims of Jesus. Jesus would give them one last national sign, the sign of the prophet Jonah. The first element of sign of the prophet Jonah was the raising of Lazarus (the seventh significant miracle in John). This Messianic attesting miracle was not a call to the nation to change their attitude to Him, but a practical exercise to demonstrate that nothing can melt the hard hearts of those who do not believe the Scriptures, not even someone rising from Hades. The obdurate unbelief of the Jews of Jerusalem, and the Sanhedrin in particular, was stripped bare for all to recognise.
The disciples, on the other hand, were a believing remnant, and saw His glory:
(i) At a wedding, in a context of love, when He brought joy by providing wine for the blessing of bride, groom and guests. (sign 1)
a. It would be a joy, that for the disciples, would be complete and enduring: “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full”. (John 15:11)
b. It would be a joy in a context of love: “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love”. (John 15:9)
(ii) On the sea, when He walked on water and calmed the storm, signifying there was no tempest that would be able to engulf them (sign 5)
a. His peace is effective in all situations; “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)
(iii) At the pool of Siloam, where He opened the eyes of a man born blind (sign 6) demonstrating that He is the Light of the world
a. While they followed Him they would always walk in His light: “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46)
(iv) At a graveside, where He raised the dead (sign 7)
a. He provides resurrection life: “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Cor.15:22,23)
(v) At the lakeside, where they dined on bread and fish (sign 8),
a. In the context of the resurrection, they enjoyed fellowship: “What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3)
For those who received Him as Messiah, He promised eternal joy, love, peace, light, life and fellowship.
Next Time: HOW DID THE NATION’S LEADERS INVESTIGATE HIS CLAIMS?
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