Miracles In John’s Gospel: Implications For The Family

Jesus’ Miracles In John’s Gospel

“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:30-31 NIV

Recently I made an eye-opening discovery while reading Max Lucado’s wonderful book, A Gentle Thunder: Hearing God Through the Storm. He noted that the Gospel of John recounts only seven miracles prior to Christ’s death. My first thought was, “That can’t be right!” So I got my Bible and checked for myself. I discovered that it not only was true, but the miracles themselves reflected key resources that faith provides. The miracles not only describe life-changing events, but also represent the reality that faith in Christ will make a difference in your life – and you can depend on it.

The number seven in the Bible is often referred to as the number of wholeness or completion, as in the seven days of creation (Gen. 1:3-2:3). In this case, the seven miracles supply complete proof that “the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (Jn. 1:14), and provide witnesses who attest to the fact that God became man. In addition to the proof and the witnesses, each miracle also addresses a specific aspect of living that I’d like to share with you. My personal perspective is that the seven miracles are organized into two groups – six about living, and one about life.

Miracle #1: Turning Water Into Wine (Jn. 2:1-11)
The Resource Of A Christ-Centered Marriage
Marriage has been defined as the central core of family life, and everyone knows the struggles that come with married life, both from within and without. However, this young couple had the wisdom to invite Jesus to their wedding. Consequently, when the celebration ran out of wine, the Lord was there to see that it kept flowing. What better picture of the importance of having a Christ-centered marriage. All marriages have their highs and lows, and couples often wonder if their marriage has run out of wine. Other times they may feel that the wine has turned sour.

But if faith in Christ is central to the marriage, like the Cana couple, you too will experience the miracle of Christ’s wine at critical times when discouraged or when lacking direction, resources or resilience. You’ll find that through the transitions and tensions of married life, a Christ-centered marriage is the only way to assure that the “best” wine will keep flowing. And that’s both the best part and biggest surprise. After all, the master of the banquet lodged a complaint with the bridegroom about the wine: “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now” (v. 10). Such is the promise Christ brings to a marriage.

Miracle #2: Healing An Official’s Son (Jn. 4:43-54)
The Resource Of A Father’s Faith
This miracle emphasizes the importance of a father’s faith in bearing his children up to the Lord in every age, stage and circumstance of family life. Here was “a royal official” (v. 46) who for his child’s well-being humbly sought the Lord for help. The testimony of this father – who petitioned the Lord for his son “who was close to death” (v. 47), and then “took Jesus at His word” (v. 50) when He said, “Your son will live” (v. 53) – attests to the power of faith and the resources available in Christ. The ripple effect was that “he and all his household believed” (v. 53). This father's faith became the channel through which his whole household believed, and as such he fulfilled his role and mission as spiritual leader of his family.

Miracle #3: Healing The Invalid (Jn. 5:5-15)
Resources Of Family And Friends May Fail, But Christ Will Not
This miracle involves a man who was an invalid, and from all indications had no family or community resources. He was destitute and desperate. His answer to Christ’s question, “Do you want to get well?” (v. 6) captures the depths of hopelessness that at times descends upon all of us. He says, “I have no one to help me” (v. 7). Sometimes in spite of marriage, children, parents, family, friends, associates or church fellowship, we can feel totally alone and without resources. It is at this moment that Christ’s question becomes critical. He asks, “Do you want to get well?” When we answer, even if it is with an excuse for our inability to act, He will respond – not only with direction but resources. He will prove the promise of Psalm 27:10: “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” This miracle and this man attest that there is no circumstance in which we are without resources when we have faith in Christ.

Miracle #4: Feeding The 5000 (Jn. 6:1-14)
The Resource Of A Faithful Mother
You may wonder why I’ve sub-titled this miracle “the resource of a faithful mother.” For the most part it is about adults who – in their excitement, curiosity and enthusiasm – followed Christ into the wilderness without thinking about their eventual need for food. So often I’ve been like the 5000, having over-extended myself in life’s struggles or my own pursuits and found myself, spiritually speaking, “without a lunch.” However, such is not the state of one young boy. He was prepared. He had his lunch with him. Now who do you think packed him a lunch of “five small barley loaves and two small fish” (v. 10)? My guess is his mother. And in doing so, she prepared him to offer his meager resources to the Lord to be turned into a miraculous feast.

Parents have no choice but to send their children into the world, but they can prepare them for the wilderness of the world by making sure they have spiritual nourishment at home that supplants any hunger for the world, and by providing them with a healthy “spiritual lunch” when they do go out into the wilderness. The point to remember is that the Lord is in the wilderness too, and He’ll use what our children bring and turn it into much more (v. 13).

Miracle #5: Calming The Storm (Jn. 6:16-24)
A Resource In The Storms Of Life
This miracle relates to one of the basic realities of life. There are times when we feel like we’re living life in a hurricane – sometimes emotionally, sometimes physically, sometimes mentally, and sometimes in all three at once. In spite of the fact that we’re assured that there won’t be any storms we can’t endure – and that we’ll always be provided with the resources we need to endure, cope or thrive in them (1 Cor. 10:13) – we often feel like those disciples in the boat in the middle of the storm. At times we may feel like Peter who tried to keep his eye on the Lord while walking on water in the middle of a storm (Mt. 14:28-31). But also like Peter we may have felt like we were drowning when a life raft has been provided. An unseen hand has reached down and lifted us up, preserving us in the midst of the storm, or calming the storm so we could continue our journey.

Sometimes it happened because of our desperate cry for help, sometimes because Christ was in our boat, and sometimes because He was walking in our storm. The key to this miracle is His presence. One of the questions this scene raises is whether we are willing to invite Him into our lives as a person, partner and parent, and whether we’ll look to Him in the storms of personal, marital and family life. Despite the storms – problems, difficulties or challenges – the Lord calls out: “It is I, don’t be afraid” (v. 20). When we listen, hear it, and respond to it, we will find we are on “the shore” safe and sound. Jesus is the calm in the midst of our storms.

Miracle #6: Healing The Man Born Blind (Jn. 9:1-34)
The Resource Of Faith In Adversity
While on the surface this miracle is about physical sight, it is really about insight into family dynamics and the impact of family background on what we see, observe, interpret and experience. The question the disciples ask is a family one: “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” (v. 1). They were probably thinking about Exodus 20:5 – that the sins of the father are visited on the children to the third and fourth generations – when they asked their question. Marriage partners often wonder, “Is my partner really like that, or is it because of how his/her parents raised them?” Parents also wonder where they went wrong when a child chooses a life path that is not in accord with their upbringing. The dynamics of family and faith often collide in the adolescent and young adult years of family life, and this miracle reflects that reality.

This miracle not only brought sight to the young man, but also got him and his family in trouble with the authorities. The story comes full circle: what started out as a question about the man’s family ends up involving them. Because the miracle occurred on the Sabbath, the Pharisees investigated. These unbelievers didn’t like the information they got from the young man so they asked his parents to explain it (v. 18). The implication is that his parents were religious, had brought their son up in the religious traditions, and were respectful and fearful of Jewish authorities. Put into a position of defending their son, they deferred to his adult status rather than answer for him: “Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself” (v. 21). This statement not only affirmed his adult status, but led to one of the clearest testimonies of who Christ is: “Whether He is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see ... Now that’s remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does His will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing” (vv. 25,30-33).

What confidence this young man expressed. His experience with Jesus prompted his faith, and his faith sustained him in the face of adversity that further established his identity and gave him the power to witness. That’s how faith in Christ works - you can depend on it.

Miracle #7: Lazarus Raised From The Dead (Jn. 11)
The Resource Of Eternal Life
This is the miracle about life rather than living. In raising Lazarus from the dead (v. 43), Jesus demonstrates His power and authority over life and death while on earth. It is certainly a miracle that got everyone’s attention then and our attention now. However, it is only another lesson in the curriculum that Jesus taught through His miracles. This miracle didn’t stop death from occurring, it only reversed its result temporarily. Lazarus eventually died again. It was not until Jesus’ own death and resurrection that the final victory over death was won, and the gift of eternal life given to all who believe in His name (1 Jn. 5:13). Faith in Jesus Christ gives eternal life through the miracle of new birth to everyone who believes. I’ve claimed this miracle. Have you? If not, that’s where you need to start. Jesus said. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (v. 25). That’s His question to you.

The Main Point
Now for the main point of this article. If you are a believer, you have access to all the resources in the first six miracles because you claimed the seventh. If you aren’t, you don’t, and need to start with number seven first.

And how does this relate to life in general, and to marriage and family life in particular? When it comes to personhood, marriage and family, the Bible is the best psychology book you can read. It provides instruction, guidance, correction, hope, encouragement and wisdom (2 Tim. 3:16). Its resources provide for mental health as an individual, relational health as a couple and functional health as a family. As a believer you have access to all the resources God gives to you as a person, partner and parent.

If you are not a believer, you will still benefit from the inherent wisdom of God’s Word, but at best it will only be good psychology, common sense or the best of human knowledge and wisdom. You may benefit peripherally from the practical usefulness of the information, but you won’t benefit from the transforming power of God’s wisdom, the direction of His Holy Spirit and the sustenance of a Lord and Savior who is ever present and who ever advocates on your behalf (Heb. 4:14-16; 7:22-25). My prayer and desire is that you will claim the benefits of faith in Christ as a person, a partner and a parent and thereby be identified as an individual, a couple and a family by the seal of God’s approval (Jn. 6:27).

By James P. Trotzer