The Feeding of the Five Thousand Water into Wine
Reveals the inadequacy of Judaism through the ‘boy with The Raising of Lazarus Reveals the inadequacy of Judaism as there are ‘six stone water jars’ and 6 is linked
the five small barley loaves’, alluding to the Story of Elisha Reveals that salvation is through Jesus as Caiaphas with incompleteness in Judaism, suggesting that it is Jesus who brings perfection and
feeding 100 people with 20 barley loaves, the ‘twelve states it is better for one man to die than for the completion.
baskets’ left over symbolise the 12 tribes of Israel who Romans to punish all the Jewish people, implying that Reveals that Jesus brings salvation as he changes water into wine, showing that the
v nourishes, and the manna in the desert
Jesus spiritually Jesus’ death will save all, there are elements that legalism of Judaism is inadequate, and the truth and grace of Jesus brings eternal life,
which fed the Israelites physically, while Jesus feeds forebode Jesus’ death, ie. The cave and the stone, the ‘Christ is changing that water of Jewish purification into the wine of the new age’
spiritually. weeping women, Thomas’ refusal to believe, the (Bruce), the placing of the wedding at Cana refers to the promise land of Canaan,
Reveals that Jesus brings salvation as this is the second binding cloths and the face cloth, and Jesus states ‘I showing that as the Israelites entered the promise land through Canaan, people can
Passover John mentions, showing that Jesus has come to am the resurrection and the life’, suggesting that receive salvation through Jesus.
give himself to the world, ‘surely this is the prophet who is eternal life is available in the present. Reveals Jesus as the Son of God as Mary is referred to as ‘woman’ showing the
to come into the world’. Reveals that Jesus is the Son of God as it is said ‘it is separation of Jesus from his earthly parent to show him as the son of the Father, and
Reveals that Jesus is the Son of God as it takes place ‘on a for God’s glory so that God’s son may be glorified the wedding is symbolic of the Messianic Banquet, showing Jesus as the Messiah.
mountainside’, referring to the Sermon on the Mount, through it’, foreshadowing that Jesus will raise him
reminding that Jesus is the new Moses who spiritually from the dead, Martha refers to Jesus as ‘the teacher’,
fulfils, ‘the wonderful illusiveness of Matthew’s setting on showing that he has spiritual power, he deliberately
the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus is depicted as the waits for Lazarus to die to make his miracle more The Signs are not Important
new Moses’ (Marsh), the crowds fail to understand the powerful and reinforce his power, and he has power They are not historical, but symbolic,
spiritual significance of Jesus’ teachings, and are focused over death, suggesting that he has Godly authority. and are very different from those in
the synoptics, and miracles are The Signs are Important
only on their physical needs, ‘wondrous deeds are not They reveal the inadequacy of Judaism to
absolute proof, but are always ambiguous’ (Kysar). impossible.
However, there is archaeological bring salvation, ‘the main concern was to
evidence to suggest that they did have evoke faith and strengthen it’ (Kummel).
some historical basis. They reveal that salvation and eternal
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind Miracles and Signs life are available through Jesus, ‘Jesus
Reveals the inadequacy of Judaism through the religious authorities’ rejection of They don’t always inspire faith, but
create ‘controversy, conflict and saw then as signs of the breaking on of
Jesus as he healed on the Sabbath, showing how the Jewish law made them blind,
condemnation’ (Reid & Tyler) God’s earthly rule’ (Stanton).
the four candlesticks suggest that Jesus replaces the Jewish law and the Torah, as
They reveal Jesus’ identity as the
these are symbolised with light.
fulfilment of Jewish prophecy and having
Reveals that salvation is through Jesus as the blind man is an example of someone
Jesus Walks on Water divine power and authority, ‘the point of
in darkness and spiritual blindness who receives eternal life and salvation, ‘the
Reveals that salvation is through Jesus in the present, as the boat the miracles is to confirm Jesus’ position
overcoming of blindness is more than a physical healing… blindness suggests
reaches the land immediately, ‘immediately the boat reached the shore’, as being sent by God’ (Vardy & Mills).
darkness, and the healing of darkness, light’ (Kysar)
and Psalm 107 uses the same phrasing when referring to eternal life. They reveal the other purposes for which
Reveals Jesus as the Son of God as it emphasises Jesus’ divinity as light is a symbol
Reveals that Jesus is the Son of God as there are echoes of the Parting of the Gospel was written, ie. Sacramental
of God, Jesus heals the man with mud, echoing the creation story, ‘he spit on the
the Red Sea, it is a fulfilment of Psalm 107, demonstrating that Jesus is teaching and to encourage Jewish
ground, made some mud with saliva’, and occurs at the Pool of Siloam, suggesting
the Messiah, his control over the elements shows his identity as only Christians to leave the synagogue, ‘there
that Jesus is sent by God.
God has power over nature, and his claim ‘it is I’ resembles ‘I am’, which is more sacramental teaching in John
is how God identified himself, so it is a claim to be God. than in the other Gospels’ (Barrett).
The Official’s Son
Reveals that salvation is through Jesus as the official is a gentile,
emphasising that salvation is available to all people, the son is
made well as the 7th hour, ‘at one in the afternoon’, which The Healing at the Pool
symbolises perfection and completion, and the language change Reveals the inadequacy of Judaism as the man has been ill for ‘thirty-eight years’, just as the Israelites
from negative to positive shows Jesus’ ability to bring salvation. wandered the desert for 38 years, and the ‘five covered colonnades’ symbolise the Jewish law, which
Reveals Jesus’ identity as the Son of God as he heals the boy failed the man, while Jesus brings a new age which supersedes the Jewish law.
with only words, just as God created the world with only words, Reveals that Jesus brings salvation as he heals the man on the Sabbath, ‘it is the Sabbath’, however it is
and there is a parallel between the boy as the earthly son and Jesus who brings true rest and completion, it occurs near the sheep gate, which is a reminder that
Jesus as the heavenly son, and afterwards, ‘he and his whole salvation is available to all, and it may have been a Pagan story originally, showing that Jesus supersedes
household believed’, showing that Jesus revealed his glory to the Pagan gods.
them as it has a transformative effect. Reveals Jesus as the Son of God as he breaks the laws of nature by healing the man, suggesting that he
has supernatural, divine powers.
