Jesus... Times Seven— Part I.

The apostle John never records an unnecessary detail.  In Hebrew numerology seven is the number of ‘completion,’ the end of something, its fullness and finish in perfection.

In the Gospel of John, e.g., in addition to the seven ‘nevers’ there are seven signs, seven physical and miraculous manifestations of the power and authority of Jesus Christ as Ruler of the Universe {Kurios}.  The Greek noun semeion means- ‘the distinguishing mark by which something is known,’ like a military standard, or a warning from the Heavens {Lk. 11:29-30; 1 Cor. 14:22}; like the divine symbol of circumcision as admission to the Abrahamic Covenant {Gen. 17:9-11}; or a miracle of divine origin performed by God Himself.  Thayer in his Lexicon defines semeion as- ‘miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the men sent by Him, or by which men prove that the cause they are pleading is God’s cause.’  Of the six New Testament words for ‘miracles’ semeion is the most frequently used to signify Abba was working in and through the Person of His Son to reveal His glory and the glory of His One and Only.

So, we have seven “miraculous signs,” seven semeia, in the Gospel of John.

[i] Turning well water into fine wine— 2:1-11; it represents the joy of Eternal Life, the celebration which awaits us in the Kingdom of God, and the undeniable abundance of Jesus’ grace to each and every one.

[ii] The healing of the royal official’s son {possibly one of Herod’s appointees}— 4:46-54; it pictures the simplicity of receiving the Gift of Life.  The man begged Jesus to “come down” to Capernaum “before my child dies.”  And “Jesus replied, ‘You may go.  Your son will live.’”  Then it says, “The man took Jesus at His Word and departed.  While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living” {Jn. 4:49-51}.  Here’s the lesson: Faith is the willingness to take God at His Word.

[iii] Healing the “invalid” at the “Pool of Bethesda”— 5:1-9; it represents the power of living in communion with Christ.  Remember this.  In our Apprenticeship to Jesus, our ‘learner’ and ‘follower’ to His Teacher and Trailblazer, we need to know how to lead our lives as He would if He were walking our Path in our place— cf. John 5:16-30 for the larger context.

Now, let’s come back to something Jesus said in John 5:17: “My Father is always at His work— to this very day— and I, too, am working.”  If Jesus’ Abba is “always at His work,” always about His business of redemption for a fallen race and restoration for a fallen world, if Jesus too is “working” along these exact same lines “because whatever the Father does the Son does also,” if the Son loves His Abba and desires that we as fellow members of the Father’s Royal Family, Sons and Daughters through faith in the “Firstborn over all Creation” {Col. 1:15b}, should love His Abba as He does and seek to follow in His footsteps, then shouldn’t we be doing what Jesus is doing?  Shouldn’t we be laboring alongside Him for the redemption of a fallen race and the restoration of a fallen world?  And shouldn’t we at least have some idea of what Jesus is doing in the present?

If we don’t know what He’s doing, that’s one thing; but if we don’t care what He’s doing, that’s entirely another.  So, which one is it?

HJC	Ric Webb  |  Shepherd Heart’s Journey Community 9621 Tall Timber Blvd. |  Little Rock, AR 72204 t +1.501.455.0296
hjcommunity.org
Heart’s Journey – Live Generously and Love Graciously