Butterworth Gospel Centre
The SEVEN'S in JOHN’S GOSPEL
I. [02 July, 2017] - The Seven’s in John’s Gospel – Part 1
The Seven Signs in John’s Gospel.
II. [09 July, 2017] - The Seven’s in John’s Gospel – Part 2
Jesus’ Seven I AM Sayings in John’s Gospel.
Introduction:
A. The Sevens in Scripture.
Seven = its numerical symbolism: the number of totality and completeness in scripture.
Referred to in over 700 times in Scripture; more than 50 times in Revelation.
1. The seven days of Creation –
God created the world in Six days and rested on the Seventh day. Gen. 2:2, 3
2. Jacob served seven years for Leah and seven years for Rachel Gen. 29:20, 27-30
3. Pharaoh dreamed of seven Fat and Fine-looking cows and seven ill-Favoured kine.
Gen. 41:2, 3, 5-7, 26, 27
4. Sevens Surfaced frequently in the Siege of Jericho: Josh. 6:4, 15
Seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they…compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
5. Leprous Naaman dipped himself in Jordan seven times and his skin
became Clean like that of a Child.to be cleansed. II Kgs. 5:10, 14
6. Seven occurred Often (seven x 2 times) in the ritual for the Cleansing of the Leper.
Lev. 13:4, 5, 21, 26, 31, 33, 50, 54; 14:7, 8, 16, 27, 38, 51
7. Seven Descriptions of the Divine Spirit. Isa. 11:2
8. Seven Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. Mt. 5:3-9
9. Seven Petitions of the Paternoster. Mt. 6:9-13
10. Seven Parables of the Prophetic Kingdom. Mt. 13
11. Seven Woes Pronounced on the Pharisees. Mt. 28:13, 15-16, 23, 25, 27, 29
12. Seven Letters to the Seven Local Churches. Rev. 2-3
B. The Sevens in John’s Scripts (Gospel).
Intro. The SEVEN’s Selected out and Specified:
1. The Seven Disciples –
Andrew, Jn.1:40; Peter, Jn.1:42; Philip, Jn.1:43;Nathanael, Jn.1:45;
Thomas, Jn.20:24; Judas, Jn.12:4; Judas, Jn.14:22;
2. The Seven Men –
John the Baptist, Jn.1:6; Nicodemus, Jn.3:1; Lazarus, Jn.11:1;
Annas, Jn.18:13; Caiphas, Jn.18:24; Pilate, Jn.19:19; Joseph of Arimathea, Jn.19:38
3. The Seven Women –
Mary, Jesus' mother, Jn.19:25; Mary, Jesus’ mother's sister, Jn.19:25;
Mary Magdalene, Jn.19:25;Mary, the sister of Lazarus, Jn.11:1;
Martha,Jn.11:1;Samaritan woman,Jn.4:7;Adulteress, Jn.8:3
4. The Seven Witnesses –
a. Father, Jn.5:37 – And the Father himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
b. Son, Jn. 5:31 – If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true
c. Holy Spirit, Jn.15:26 – But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me:
d. John the Baptist, Jn.1:6, 7 – There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
e. John the Apostle, Jn.21:24 – This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
f. Miracles,Jn.5:36 – But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent me.
g. Scriptures, Jn.5:39 – Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Jn. 5:47 - But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?
5. The Seven Signs –
a. Water Was changed to Wine, Jn.2:1-11;
b. A Nobleman beLieved and his son Lived. Jn. 4:46-54;
c. A Lame man made Whole and Walked. Jn.5:1-15;
d. Five thousand men Fed. Jn.6:1-14;
e. Jesus Walking on Water. Jn.6:15-21;
f. Healing a man Born Blind man. Jn.9:1-12
g. Raising dead Lazarus to Life. Jn.11:1-44;
C. The Seven Significant Signs in John’s Gospel.
Intro. The Purpose of the Signs – Threefold: Jn. 20:30, 31
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples,
1) The Selection of the Seven Signs to Show Proofs:–
…which are not written in this book: But these are written…
2) The Specific Purpose was to Point to the Son:
that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;
3) The Significant Product was Salvation through faith in His Name.
and that believing ye might have life through His name.
1. Changing water into wineat Cana Jn. 2:1-11
a. that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; Jn. 30:31a
i. This was the beginning of miracles Jesus did in Cana 2:11
Ø Before: He was the “Obedient” Son of Mary Privately. Lk. 2:5, 52
Ø Now: He was ready to Obey His Father Publicly – “Woman”! Jn. 2:4
cf. 19:26; cf. Lk. 2:40-49-52; Mt. 12:50
His mother then gave Orders for Others to Obey Him – “Whatever” Jn. 2:5
ii. The Miracle was the Opportunity to Manifest His glory. Jn. 2:11b
It was a Marriage Feast.
This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana…and manifested forth His glory
Ø The Wonder of the Miracle:
Turning 6 waterpots (with 20 or 30 gal. each) of Water into Wine. 2:6, NKJV
Ø The Wonder of the Master of the Feast: 2:9, 10, NKJV
He said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"
b. and that believing ye might have life through His name Jn. 20:31b
It resulted in Strengthening the Faith of His Disciples!
and His disciples believed on Him. Jn. 2:11c
2. Curing a Certain Nobleman’s soninCapernaum Jn. 4:46-54
From Cana to Capernaum - a Continuation in Purpose. 4:46
a. that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; Jn. 30:31a
i. The Person to be healed – the nobleman’s son sick unto death. 4:47
ii. The People chided by Jesus: 4:48, NKJV
"Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."
iii. Jesus Performed the Healing from afar – only the Son of God could do this! 4:50-52
iv. The Proof that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. 4:52, 53a
So the father knew that it was at the same (seventh) hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth:
b. and that believing ye might have life through His name Jn. 20:31b
The Father and his Family believed. 4:53b
This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come…into Galilee. 4:54, NKJV
3. A Lame Man Made Whole and Walked. Jn. 5:1-15
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 5:1
a. that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; Jn. 30:31a
i. The Impossibility of the Infirmed Man to be Cured by himself. Jn. 5:3-7
ii. The Intervention and “Indiscretion” of Christ to heal him on Sabbath day. 5:8, 9
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
Ø Only the Son of God could break his Staying there for nearly 38 years. 5:7
Ø Only the Son of God could “break” the keeping of the Sabbath. 5:10 cf. Lk. 6:5
Ø Only the Son of God could Say: Behold, thou art made whole: Sin no more...5:14
b. and that believing ye might have life through His name Jn. 20:31b
i. The Son of God Identified but Denied. 5:15
ii. The Jews therefore Sought to Slay Him. 5:16
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him,
because He had done these things on the sabbath day.
The Jews Sought Jesus’ Life and Lost the opportunity to be Saved and have Life!
4. Five thousand men Fed Jn. 6:5-14
The Single and Singular Miracle to be recorded in all the Four Gospels.
The Signature of the Signs: 6:2
And a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His miracles
which He did on them that were diseased.
a. that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; Jn. 30:31a
The Compassion on the Curious Crowd that followed Christ. 6:2
- The Problem that Popped up in Providing for the multitude. 6:5, 6
- The Purpose of His Probing questions – that it was beyond human solution! 6:6-9
- Only Jesus as Son of God could use the Small Source and Surrender of the lad
to Provide for the needs of the multitude, and with leftovers! 6:9-12
- Jesus can still use the fives and twos that we have with us today
for the blessings of the multitudes id we are prepared to surrender them to Him!
b. and that believing ye might have life through His name Jn. 20:31b
All these Pointed to the Proof that this Person must the Promised Prophet! 6:14
Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said,
This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
And this Prophet was none other than the Son of God Himself!
5. Jesus Walking on Water Jn. 6:16-24
a. that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; Jn. 30:31a
- The Scare of the Disciples at the Sight of Jesus walking on the Stormy Sea. 6:16-19
Ø The Removal of the Scare: 6:20
Ø The Revelation of the Son of God – It is I. 6:20 cf. 8:58
The Revealing of the Lord, God, the I Am. "It is I." (Gk. ego eimi) = "I am", not "It is I."
ii. The Second miracle of Peter walking on the Sea. Mt. 14:29
b. and that believing ye might have life through His name Jn. 20:31b
With their fear Removed and the Son of God Revealed
The disciples willingly Received Him – as Son of God, the I AM! 6:21, HCSB
Then they were willing to take Him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading – the Third miracle!
6. Healing a man blind from birth. Jn. 9:1-7-41
a. that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; Jn. 30:31a
i. The Condition of the Blind Man – Jn. 9:1
ii. The Cause for His Blindness – not sin, but for God’s Glory. 9:2, 3
iii. The Man sent from God: 9:4, 5
iv. The Mission of Christ 9:4
v. The Miracle of Christ. 9:6, 7
b. and that believing ye might have life through His name Jn. 20:31b
i. They who Rejected Jesus as the Son of God. Jn. 9:32-38
Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, He could do nothing.
They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins,
and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
ii. He that Received Jesus as the Son of God had his sins forgiven. Jn. 9:35-38
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him.
7. Raising of dead Lazarus to Life. Jn. 11:1-45
a. that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; Jn. 30:31a
i. The Grand Purpose of the Miracle: Jn. 11:4
When Jesus heard that, He said, This sickness is not unto death,
but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
ii. The Great Proof that Lazarus was dead –
– the Witnesses:
Jesus: Lazarus is dead. 11:14
Martha: Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 11:21
Mary: Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 11:32
iii. Only the Son of God could Perform the Miracle:
Jesus said…I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this? 11:25, 26
iv. Lazarus came to life nd God was Glorified; the Son’s Claim Justified! 11:39-44
b. and that believing ye might have life through His name Jn. 20:31b
Some Believed and had life:
She (Martha) saith…Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God,
which should come into the world. 11:27
Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him. 11:54
Others would not Receive Him and sought to put Him to death.
Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put Him to death. 11:53
Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews… 11:54