SIX ENCOURAGING SIGNS IN JOHN’S GOSPEL

Mark White

The gospel of John reveals six different miracles of Jesus, which, carefully examined, would yield encouragement to us on several different fronts.

If disappointments come our way, remember John 2:1-11 where Jesus turned water into wine. He remains the one to whom we can turn when things disappoint us. With Paul, we can say “The Lord stood with me and strengthened me.” ( 2 Tim. 4:17). If we have doubts, we can take encouragement from when Jesus healed a boy from a distance, telling his father to return home. The father did as Jesus said without question (John 4:46-54). Je- sus is still the one Who is “the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). When disabilities come to us, we can find strength from when Jesus healed a man who had been ill for 38 years (John 5:2-9).

By the Lord’s providence, we can still “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Eph. 6:10; Phil. 4:13). When our desires are unmet, remember that Jesus once fed 5,000 with a boy’s lunch (John 6:1-14). He still meets the desires of those who say, “For to me, to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). If we are in darkness, remember that Jesus once gave sight to a blind man (John 9:1-11). To those of us still stumbling in blinding darkness, Jesus is still “the light of the world” (John 8:12).

When death threatens us, we can recall when Jesus stood outside his friend Lazarus’s tomb and cried, “Come forth!” (John 11:1-44).

Better yet, the day will come when Jesus will speak and “all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth” (John 5:28-29). Death is not the end for the faithful Christian.

Jesus is a miracle worker. His name literally means “He who saves”. Jesus touches our lives in marvelous ways today, even though miracles have ceased (I Cor. 13:8-10). Like believing Thomas we can happily and confidently exclaim, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

Source: Cy Fair Church of Christ Midweek Messenger, Aug. 12, 2020