Occurrences of sign or signs in John

These are the occurrences of the word sign in John when it speaks of a miracle.  In all 18 occurrences the phrase "miraculous sign(s)" is used.

John 2:11

This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

John 2:18

But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”

John 2:23

Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him.

John 3:2

After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

John 4:48

Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”

John 4:54

This was the second miraculous sign Jesus did in Galilee after coming from Judea.

John 6:2

A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick.

John 6:14 

When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!”

John 6:26

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.

John 6:30

They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do?

John 7:31

Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. “After all,” they said, “would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?”

John 9:16

Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them.

John 10:41

And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.”

John 11:47

Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs.

John 12:18

That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign.

John 12:37

But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him.

John 15:24

If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father.

John 20:30

The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book.

The Sign Says

This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2:11 NLT

A Sign

• the most common greek word used for Jesus miracles in the NT is dynameis which denotes a 'mighty work', but John does not use it in his gospel.

• the word here is semeia 'signs'. The NT miracles are not mere miracles; they are all signs of some underlying reality. 1

• like John the Baptist testimony in chapter 1:6, his purpose was to tell about the light so that everyone might believe. The signs are to point to the light so everyone might believe.
  
  
• This follows the pattern of John seen in John 20:31  But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.  A __________ (sign, testimony, witness) that causes belief which gives you life
  

Sources
The Gospel of John, F.F. Bruce p 72

The chosen place of revealing

This was the story of one of the most historic occasions in human history. God was about to reveal His glory through the God/man named Jesus. This was the first public miracle Jesus would do which would show the world that he was the Messiah.

If we were in Jesus entourage I wonder where we would plan this meeting for him.

God chooses a much different place than we would I think. Here is a quote from Ken Gire "That glory was not revealed at the imperial palace in Rome.  Or at Herod's temple in Jerusalem.  Or at the colonnaded Acropolis in Athens.  But here in an impoverished village of Cana, nestled away in an obscure corner of Galilee." 1

If Jesus lived in Texas we would think he would unveil his Glory amidst a throng of reporters on the steps of the capital building in Austin, or maybe at half time of a Superbowl being held in the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington, and yet it was more like the place I graduated high school in Southland Texas. Southland has a population of maybe 150. There used to be one local store and I'm not sure if it is still open or not. It was a place like Southland, Cana, at a local wedding that God chose to have Jesus glory revealed.  Cana was in close vicinity of Nazareth where Jesus grew up.

This is like God, who is not impressed by the structures of men, to reveal himself in a common place.

Source:
1 Incredible Moments with the Saviour, Ken Gire [Grand Rapids, 1990] p 6

Glory dwelling among us

This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2:11 NLT

John uses the noun glory doxa nearly 20 times and uses the verb doxaxo more than 20 times with the general meaning to glorify. Obviously this is a significant idea to Johns gospel.

John 1:14 introduces this to us: So the word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Fathers one and only son. NLT


John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. NKJV


The word for made his home among us or dwelt which is in other translations is used in the Greek OT for the tabernacle of God. In other words, Christ is the locus of Gods dwelling with Israel as he had dwelt with them in the tabernalce in the desert (Ex.25:8,9). Hence the glory of God, once restricted to the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34) is now visible in Christ. ... this glory is not merely a display of power. for John the deepest irony is how glory is to be found in suffering and humiliation, for in this gospel, the corss of Chirst is again and again described as jesus glorification. 1

In John 2:11 God affirms through a sign that He is at work in Jesus and is in Him.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. NKJV

For John, glory is the exalted expression of god's being n Jesus, revealing grace and truth. His meaning may be understood by considering the Hebrew expression "goodness and truth" (hesed we' emet Ex. 33-35) When God shows His glory to Moses He give His words ot Moses and proclaims that He is abounding in goodness and truth (Ex. 34:6,7) 2


God displays the full manifestation of His goodness and truth in time and place that results in the renewal of His covenant with His people. He relates to Moses and His people not in the way that they deserve, but according to His own personal and immediate nature and capacity. Likewise, Jesus manifests God's immediate, personal presence to the people with grace -- understanding thier condition (2:24, 25) Jesus represents God's compassionate response to His peoples fallen and alienated condition. (17:5, 5:17) 3


1 The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary, general editor, author: Craig A. Evans p 42

2 Spirit Filled Life New Testament commentary Series, John: Jonathan D. Huntzinger pp 65,66

3 Spirit Filled Life New Testament commentary Series, John: Jonathan D. Huntzinger p 66