John’s Gospel records seven of Jesus signs before His
resurrection and one sign after His resurrection. These signs were displayed by
Christ to manifest His glory, turn unbelief to belief,[1] test faith,[2]
and proclaim His deity.[3]
John’s eight signs, however, were not the only ones Jesus performed. Surpassing
even these miraculous signs was Christ’s resurrection: a miracle demonstrating
His power over His own physical body and over the sting of death.[4]
The resurrection should be considered one of the signs of the Gospels because
it also accomplished the same results as the other signs.
In the resurrection, Christ manifested His glory by
demonstrating that He had power over death.[5]
Satan thought He had conquered Christ by slaying His human body, but just as
God had promised hundreds of years before, Christ would crush the Serpent’s
head by His resurrection.[6]
After His resurrection, Christ’s glory was displayed even more fully in His
ascension to the right hand of the Father.[7]
The resurrection was one of Christ’s signs to turn unbelief to
belief. Though Jesus had often spoken of His death and resurrection to His
disciples, they didn’t not understand it nor grasp the full meaning until His
ascension. The resurrection was meant to bring about ultimate saving faith in
those who would believe.[8]
The disciples did eventually believe. The women who followed Jesus believed.
The centurion at the cross believed. The thief crucified with Christ believed.
Countless others also followed the Savior and many gave their lives because of
this one sign. The other eight signs recorded by John were meant to bring about
faith in a Person. The resurrection was a sign of that Person meant to confirm
faith.
The resurrection tested the faith of Christ’s followers. Mary,
blinded by her emotions, had her faith tested when the “gardener” spoke to her.
Peter’s faith was tested through his denial. The disciples were tested in the
Garden of Gethsemane and during the three days and nights after the crucifixion.
The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were tested by Jesus Himself when He
scolded them for not remembering the words of the Old Testament Prophets. Thomas
faith was tested when he saw the Lord’s pierced hands and side. The
resurrection was the one great sign that tested faith to the utmost,
determining whether a person’s faith would stand or fall. Many had believed in
Jesus previous signs and wonders, but the sign of the resurrection laid the
foundation for saving faith. Without saving faith, there is no salvation,
forgiveness from sins, or eternity with Christ.[9]
The resurrection, like Jesus previous signs, also proclaimed
Jesus’ deity. Only the Giver of Life could break the chains of death and work a
physical and spiritual miracle in raising Himself from the grave. No other had
done this, and no others would. In raising Himself from the dead, Christ
demonstrated His equality with the Father, for God is the Author of Life.[10]
The resurrection was Christ’s greatest sign to believers and
unbelievers alike, that Jesus is the Christ.[11]
Those who believe today don’t have the blessing of seeing Christ’s physical
miracles. Though John and the other Gospel authors recorded the miracles of
Christ, our faith today rests completely on what Christ has already done and in
our faith in the miracles that others witnessed. Thomas had the advantage of
seeing in order that he might believe, but we are blessed because we haven’t
seen, yet we believe.[12]
The resurrection was also written that we might believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God, and that in believing we might have life through His
name.[13]
The resurrection stands in the past, present, and future as the greatest sign
of the Bible.[14]
[1]
Elmer Towns, The Gospel of John, 208.
[2] Merill
Chapin Tenney, Topics from the Gospel of
John, 157.
[3]
John MacArthur, The MacArthur New
Testament Commentary, John 1-11, 83.
[4] 1
Corinthians 15:54-55.
[5] 1
Corinthians 15:26-27.
[6]
Genesis 3:15.
[7]
Philippians 2:9-11.
[8]
Merill Chapin Tenney, Topics from the
Gospel of John, 158.
[9]
Leon Morris, Jesus is the Christ, 186.
[10]
John 2:18-22.
[11]
John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, John
12-21, 386
[12]
John 20:24-29.
[13]
John 20:31.
[14] 1
Corinthians 15:1-20.
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