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Who Is This Jesus?

by Dr. Bernard E. Northrup, Th.D.

RESEARCH THAT YOU CAN DO IN AN ORIGINAL SOURCE TO FIND THE INESCAPABLE ANSWER

FOREWORD

This booklet, WHO IS THIS JESUS? is a simple guide so that you personally can study what the Gospel of John has to say about Jesus. You are the one who must determine who Jesus is and what that should mean to you. I have tried my best to help you to discover the facts for yourself in this little Bible study on the Gospel of John. Sometimes I have presented the Scriptural statements in a slightly easier form, but carefully and accurately, for you to read. If you do indeed come to understand who Jesus is and what He can do for you through this study, I would be happy to have you share that with me so that we can fellowship in your newfound truth. I assure you that I will respond to any correspondence addressed to: Dr. Bernard E. Northrup, 861 Redwood Blvd. Redding, CA 96003, or you may send an email to: northrup@shasta.edu.

Chapter One: Who Is This Jesus?

I often hear the name Jesus Christ. Who is He? What can I learn about Him? What will it profit me to know who He is and what He has done? How may I find the answers to my questions about the life that lies behind me? Is there anything ahead of me in the future to make my life worth living today? Friend, you can find the answers to these questions and to many, many others in a little book, the Gospel of John. The Apostle John, who was a devoted follower of Jesus for the three and one half years of Jesus' ministry here on earth, wrote this little book almost 1,900 years ago to answer these questions for you. To know a person, it helps to know what He has said about Himself. Who and what did Jesus claim to be? When you examine the Gospel of John, you will know the answer to that question. You also will know that one of two things is true about Jesus. Either He was exactly what He claimed to be or He was exactly the opposite of what He claimed to be. How can we find out which is true? One way that we can find out is to listen to what others who knew Him well through personal contact have said about Him. What did those who came into close contact with Jesus say about Him? The Gospel of John also is rich in this information for it records both what His friends and His enemies have said about Jesus. Finally, in trying to understand who and what a person is, it helps to know what that person has done in His life. In this little Gospel of John you can ask this question of the author, the Apostle John, for he deliberately has gathered the events recorded in this gospel so that you might be able to know what kind of things Jesus did, what people have said about him and what He said about Himself. I think that you will enjoy meeting and getting acquainted with the person whom you will meet face to face in the Gospel of John. I have and what a difference it has made to me! I have prepared this little study guide to help you sort through the materials in the Gospel of John so that you may draw your own conclusions about the One who is the subject of this amazing book, the Gospel of John. That is Jesus in all that He is.

WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT HIMSELF?

Let us look first of all at the claims which Jesus made during the years of his ministry here on earth. I have sorted them out so that you may find them quickly before you read through the entire Gospel of John for yourself. In this little study, I will give you the chapter and the verse within that chapter so that you can find each important statement which Jesus made about himself. In each case, I will give you space to write down exactly what you find, word for word, in that verse in the New King James Version. If you are using another version, you will find that the spaces which I have given to you for filling in Jesus' words will not quite fit your translation but can be used and you will need to adapt the spaces somewhat. But do not let that discourage you. You are embarking on one of the most fascinating study tours that you ever will take! After Jesus had fed the five thousand people from five loaves and two fishes, (John 6:1-14), in verse 27 He used the name ___ ___ __ ___ of Himself when he said: " Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for that food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give to you: because God the Father has set His seal on Him." You will find Jesus referring to Himself in this way in John 1:51. There He says: ". . . Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon ___ ___ __ ___." In John 5:25-27 He says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is ___ ___ __ ___." Here in John 5:25 we have just seen Jesus referring to Himself in another way. "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of ___ ___ __ ___. In John 2:16 Jesus also identified Himself as God's Son when He said: ". . . Take these things away! Do not make __ _______ house a house of merchandise!" In John 3:12 Jesus claimed superior knowledge to Israel's religious leader when he said to Nicodemus: "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe, if _ ____ ___ ________ ______?" The woman of Samaria wanted to know about the Messiah or the Christ [the One Whom God has annointed] (John 4:25). Jesus responded and and answered her: "I ___ _____ __ ___ __ __" (4:26). That means that his coming had been promised long ago in the Old Testament. It also means that God specifically prepared Him and comissioned Him for His work on earth. In John 5:16 "...The Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath..." (He had healed the lame man by the pool on Saturday, the Jew's holy day of the week). They also recognized from His words (in verse 17) that Jesus claimed that He was equal with God. He said: "...My Father has been working until now, and I have been working" (5:17). Those who heard Him understood the significance of His words. "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was ___ ______, ______ _______ _____ ____ ___" (5:18). In Jesus' response to these who hated His words of John 5:17, He further reemphasized His identity. In John 5:25 He powerfully stated that when He said: "Most assuredly, I say to you, 'The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of ___ ___ __ ___: and those who hear will live." Yet He also spoke of His humanity at the same time. As the Son of God He said in verses 26-27: "For as the Father has life in himself; so has He given to the Son to have life in himself; And has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because __ __ ___ ___ __ ___." In John 5:39 Jesus said of the Old Testament Scriptures that "...these are they _____ _______ __ __." In John 5:46 Jesus said of Moses, the great lawgiver and writer of the first five books of the Bible, "For if you believed Moses, you would believe me: for he _____ __ __." After feeding the five thousand from the five loaves and two fishes, Jesus said (John 6:35) "I am ___ _____ __ ____: he who comes to Me shall never hunger; and he that ________ __ __ _____ _____ ______." In John 6:41 Jesus again caused the Jews to murmur against him because he said: "...I am the _____ _____ ____ ____ ____ ______." In John 7:29 Jesus said this of God and about Himself. "...I know ___ [God]: for _ __ ____ ___, ___ __ ____ __." In John 8:11 Jesus demonstrated Who He was by displaying His power to forgive sin. He said to the woman who was caught in adultery: "...Neither __ _ ______ ___; __, ___ ___ __ ____." Having forgiven that woman, Jesus said this of Himself in John 8:12: "...I am ___ _____ __ ___ _____: __ ___ _______ __ _____ ___ ____ __ ________, ___ _____ ____ ___ _____ __ ____." In John 8:13 the Pharisees denied the accuracy of these claims by Jesus, saying that He was bearing testimony concerning Himself and therefore His words were not trustworthy. He replied to them: "...Even if I bear witness of Myself, __ _______ __ ____, ___ _ ____ _____ _ ____ ____ ___ _____ _ __ _____; ___ ___ __ ___ ____ _____ _ ____ ____ ___ _____ _ __ _____" (John 8:14). The Jews did not understand this. They wanted to know where Jesus would go that they could not come (John 8:22). He responded in 8:23 in this way. ...You are from beneath; I am ____ _____. You are of this world: I am ___ __ ____ _____." Here where Jesus says "I am He," note that the word "He" is in italics. That means that the translators have supplied the word. It is very possible that the several times in the Gospel of John where we find Jesus saying "I am," that He actually is referring to one of the great names of God in the Old Testament. The great covenant keeping name YHWH, which is given and explained to Israel in Exodus 6, is built upon the Hebrew verb HYH. In the great name of God the little letter yodh is added as a prefix. It is obvious that the noun YHWH is derived from the verb form, a common practice in Hebrew. The yodh prefix reminds one of the imperfect verb form in Hebrew for it is used as a prefix on the imperfect [durative] verb form. The great covenant name (translated LORD in several versions) appears to imply the continual existence of the Lord Who remains faithful in every circumstance. He does not change. He eternally exists unchanging. Depending on the context in which the name is found it appears to imply existence in the past, present and future. The verb form could mean in different contexts either "I was," "I am" or I will be," "I was existing," "I am existing" or "I will be existing." I like to follow one of the French versions and translate the Old Testament name, YHWH by "the Eternal Lord." Christ's use of the expression, "I am" in several places in John strongly implies that He was claiming that He was the Eternal Lord. Here is a list of those places where this is found in John. John 4:26; 6:35; 6:41; 6:48; 6:51; (7:34; 7:36;) 8:12; 8:18; 8:23; 8:24; 8:28; 8:58; 9:9; 10:7; 10:9; 10:11; 10:14; 11:25; (12:26); 13:19; (14:3); 14:6; 15:1; 15:5; (17:24); 18:5; 18:6; 18:8; and 18:37. I have placed those that are irrelevant in parenthesis and have underlined crucial verses. Surely Jesus was claiming that He was truly God when He so continually used the expression, "I am!"

The Jews did not understand that Jesus spoke to them of his coming death nor that he had come from the Father. Therefore in John 8:28 he said: "...When you ____ __ ___ ___ __ ___, then you will know that _ __ [He], and that _ __ _______ __ ______; ___ __ __ ______ ______ Me, _ _____ these things." Jesus warned those who did not believe in him in John 8:24. He said: "Therefore I said to you that you will ___ __ ____ ____: for if you __ ___ _______ ____ _ __ [He], you will ___ __ ____ ____." Again I remind you that the pro-noun "He" has been added and His words, "I am" may have been a clue of His identity to those who knew their Old Testaments. Jesus told us where he came from in John 8:42. He said: "...If God were your Father, you would love Me: for _ _________ _____ ___ ____ ____ ___; nor have I come of Myself, but __ ____ __." To those who were thinking of Jesus as a great sinner He said this in John 8:46. "Which __ ___ ________ __ __ ___? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?" Similarly the Jews accused Jesus of having a demon. He denied that as recorded in John 8:49 and 50 saying: "...I do not have a demon; but _ _____ __ _____, and you do ________ __. And I __ ___ ____ My ___ glory...." Jesus further startled his listeners when he said this in John 8:51. "If a man ____ __ ______, __ _____ _____ ___ _____." In John 8:58 Jesus said this about Abraham who had lived 2,000 years before his own birth. "Most assuredly, I say to you, ______ _______ ___, _ __." Here again there is remarkable stress on the expression, "I am," and it undoubtedly infuriated those who recognized its suggestion that He was part of the Godhead. But that is the implication of many of the things which Jesus said of Himself. Often this phrase, "I am" is directly associated with one of the great healings, all of which were signs identifying who Jesus really was. By the way, the word "sign" is found often in the original Greek text of the Gospel of John. It poorly is translated the word "miracle" and other such words which do not accurately carry the right significance. For example, in John 9:35 Jesus called Himself "...the Son of God" after He had healed the man blind from birth and after that man had been cast out of the synagogue. John reports Him saying to the blind man that He had healed: "...You have both seen Him [the Son of God], and __ __ __ ___ is _______ ____ ___" (John 9:37). The man who had been blind from birth responded in John 9:38 in this way. "...Lord, _ _______, and he worshipped Him" (John 9:38). When Jesus was rebuking the spiritually blind Pharisees who refused to believe in him, in John 10:7 he spoke of himself in this way: "I am ___ ____ __ ___ _____." He went on in John 10:9 to say: "I am ___ ____: __ __ __ ___ ___ _____ __, he shall __ _____, and shall __ __ ___ ___, ___ ____ _______." In John 10:28 Jesus said of those who follow him: "I give unto them _______ ____; ___ ____ _____ _____ ______, neither shall any man _____ ____ ___ __ __ ____." Jesus said this of his relationship to God in John 10:30. "I and __ ______ ____ ___." When Jesus prepared to raise Lazarus from the dead, John 11:25 records that he said this to Martha, the sister of the dead man. "I am ___ ____________ ___ ___ ____: He that _________ __ __, though he were ____, yet shall he ____." Then he added this about living believers in John 11:26. "And whosoever ______ ___ _________ __ __ _____ _____ ___." According to John 12:32-33, Jesus taught what kind of a death he would die when he said this: "And I, if I be ______ __ ____ ___ _____, ____ ____ ___ ___ ____ __." Jesus explained why he came into the world in John 12:46. "I am come _ _____ ____ ___ _____, that whosoever _________ __ __ ______ ___ _____ __ ________." Jesus explained that in John 12:47 when he said: "...I came not to judge the world but __ ____ ___ _____." Jesus said this of himself in John 13:13. "You call me ______ ___ ____: and you say well; ___ __ _ __." In John 14:9 Jesus said this about himself. "...He that has ____ __ ___ ____ ___ ______; and how then do you say , ____ __ ___ ______?"

WHAT DID OTHERS SAY ABOUT JESUS?

It always is good to be cautious. We cannot always believe everything that a person has said about himself. After all, the Pharisees, religious leaders of Israel, refused the record which Jesus bore about himself. They said unto him: "You bear record of thyself; your record is not true" (John 8:13). Is there any way that we can find out if these great things that Jesus said about himself really are true? Jesus contradicted these enemies and said this: "Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go..." (John 8:14). He went on to say: "It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me" (John 8:17-18). Indeed, Jesus spoke more emphatically of four great witnesses that confirmed who he really was. John the Baptist was one (John 5:33-35). His works (which we will consider later) also bore witness concerning him (John 5:36). The Father has borne witness concerning him (as in John 1:32-34). But Jesus also said that the Old Testament Scriptures testified of him, even including the writings of Moses (John 5:39-46; Luke 24). Was Jesus the one that he claimed to be or was he merely a fraud? How can we really know? One good way to find out if a person really is telling the truth about himself is to listen to the testimony of other people about Jesus. The enemies of Jesus also had much to say about Jesus. Not all of it was good and you will have to decide whether they were really telling the truth or if they were misrepresenting him in what they said. Some of what they said was a remarkable admission about the person of Jesus. John also says many things about him. These are things that the Apostle John learned in the years that he constantly was with Jesus. Perhaps by listening to these testimonies we can better determine just who Jesus is. In John 1:14 John, the writer of this gospel, climaxes the beginning of his own account about Jesus by calling him "the Word." The Aramaic equivalent was used by the nation of Israel to refer to God. John says that "the Word ___ _____ _____ ___ _____ _____ __, (and we beheld ___ _____, ___ _____ __ __ ___ ____ ________ __ ___ _____,) ____ __ ____ ___ _____." John already has said in 1:1 that Jesus is eternal when he said: "In the beginning ___ ___ ____...." He recognizes Jesus as Deity in his next words when he says: "...and the Word ___ ____ ___ and the Word ___ ___." (1:1). In John 1:3 John recognizes Jesus the Word as the Creator of all things when he says: "___ _____ ____ ____ __ ___; and _______ ___ ___ ___ ___ _____ ____ ____ ___ ____." John says of Jesus in John 1:4 that "In him was life and the life ___ ___ _____ __ ___." Again in John 1:10 John describes Jesus the Word as the Creator. He says: "He was in the world, and ___ _____ ___ ____ __ ___, and the world knew him not." John tells us about when Jesus became man in John 1:14. "And the Word ___ ____ _____ ___ _____ _____ __ (and we beheld ___ _____...." Have you also noticed in John 1:14 that John calls Jesus "...the only ________ __ ___ ______, full of grace and truth?" In John 1:18 he also calls Jesus "...the only ________ ___...." In John 1:29 John the Baptist (who baptized Jesus in the Jordan River) said of Jesus: "...Behold ___ ____ __ ___, which takes away ___ ___ __ ___ _____." John the Baptist in John 1:34 also calls Jesus "...the ___ __ ___." In John 1:36 John the Baptist again calls Jesus "...___ ____ __ ___!" In John 1:40-41, we meet Andrew who became a follower of Jesus. He calls Jesus "...the _______," which means "...___ ______" (Both words mean that Jesus was annointed with oil by God, the Father). In John 1:45 we discover that to his earthly acquaintances, Jesus normally was thought of as "...Jesus __ ________, ___ ___ __ ______." However, Nathanael in John 1:49 recognized Jesus was more than that. He addressed Him as "...Rabbi (teacher), ____ ___ ___ ___ __ ___; You art ___ ____ __ ______." In John 6:69 Simon Peter, the disciple of Jesus who had been with him from the beginning, said these words of him: "...You art that ______, ___ ___ __ ___ ______ ___." When the Jews were seeking to kill Jesus (John 7:1), many of the people said of him in John 7:12: "He is _ ____ ___..." but "others said, "___; ___ __ _________ ___ ______." When Jesus challenged his enemies, asking in John 7:19, "Why go you about to kill me?" his enemies lied and said in verse 20, "You have _ _____: who _____ _____ __ ____ ____?" According to John 7:26, some of them of Jerusalem said this: "Is not this __, ____ ____ ____ __ ____? But lo, he speaks boldly, and they say nothing unto him. __ ___ ______ ____ ______ ____ ____ __ ___ ____ ______?" John 7:31 says that "...many of the people believed on him, and said, ____ ______ ______, ____ __ __ ____ ________ ____ _____ _____ ____ ___ ____ ____?" John 7:40 says that many who heard his teaching were driven to say these words: "...Of a truth ____ __ ___ _______." (Compare the prophetic promise of Deuteronomy 18:15 which had said: "The Lord your God will raise up unto You a Prophet from the midst of You (Israel), of your brethren, like unto me (Moses); unto him you shall hearken"). Jesus' enemies were infuriated at his claims that God was his Father and that he himself was eternal. In their fury they slander him in John 8:48 by saying: "Say we not well that ____ ___ _ _________, ___ ____ _ _____?" Martha, a friend, addressed Jesus in John 11:27 in this way: "...Yea, Lord, I believe that You ___ ___ _____, ___ ___ __ ___, which should come ____ ___ _____." His enemies said of Jesus in John 14:47, "This man ..._____ ____ ________." His enemies plotted in John 11:50 "that ___ ___ ______ ___ ___ ___ ______..." as they planned Jesus undeserved death. According to John 12:13, a crowd that met him riding into Jerusalem on an unbroken colt cried "Hosanna (Save now, we pray you): blessed is ___ ____ __ ______ ____ ______ __ ___ ____ __ the Lord." In John 19:4, Pilate who ordered the crucifixion of Jesus said this about Jesus: "I bring him forth to you, that you may know that _ ____ __ _____ __ ___." Pilate presented Jesus to the people as he was sentencing him to death in John 19:5 and 14 with these striking words: "...Behold ___ ___!" and "Behold ____ ____!" In John 18:38 (and 19:4) Pilate said of Jesus at his trial: "I ____ __ ___ __ _____ __ ___." John 19:2-3 records that the soldiers in mockery said to Jesus: "Hail, ____ __ ___ ____!" John 19:14-15 records Pilate's words when he bowed to the hateful will of the crowd of the Jews. He first said: "______ ____ ____!" Then he asked the crowd: "Shall I _______ ____ ____?" According to John 19:19, Pilate wrote this title on Jesus' cross: "Jesus __ ________ ___ ____ __ ___ ____." In John 19:21 the chief priests of the Jews tried to get Pilate to change what he had written above Jesus on the cross. They said: "Write not, "___ ____ __ ___ ____; but that he said, _ __ ___ ____ __ ___ ____." To them Pilate responded in verse 22: "____ _ ____ _______ _ ____ ______." In John 19:24 the writer John identifies that which happened at the foot of the cross as the fulfillment of the scripture (Psalm 22) which said, "They ______ __ _______ _____ ____, ___ ___ __ ______ ____ ___ ____ ____." According to John 20:9 the Old Testament promised that Jesus "...____ ____ _____ ____ ___ ____." John 20:16 tells us that when Mary Magdalene saw the resurrected Jesus, she called him: "_______ which is to say, ______!" In John 20:27-28 doubting Thomas, who did not believe in the resurrection, saw the resurrected Christ Jesus and his torn hands and his spear torn side. He believed and cried "...__ ____ ___ __ ___.!" But even the friends and enemies of a man may be tricked into thinking something that is not true about a person. Would you like to look at some of the evidence yourself so that you can evaluate it and decide who Jesus is for yourself? Do you remember what he said about his works as a witness concerning himself? He said: "But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me" (John 5:36). In his great account of the life of Christ, the Apostle John has made it easy for you to look at some of the things that Jesus did. He plainly tells you that he selected certain signs out of the many things that Jesus did (John 20:30) which would help you to recognize just who this Jesus really is. Just what did John think would be the most important of these signs for you to consider and what can they teach us about Jesus? Let us examine them to find out these life shaping answers.

THE LESSONS TAUGHT BY THE SIGNS JESUS DID

After the Apostle John had almost completed the gospel which he wrote, he told us precisely how and why he had organized the gospel. He told us what he had in mind when he arranged the gospel of John in the way that he did. He made it clear that the gospel was constructed around some of the great miracles which Jesus did. But John did not call these "miracles." Instead, he called the great miracles which Jesus performed "signs." Now a sign is something which is done to draw attention. It warns the one who sees it that something special is happening or that someone special is present or is coming. Now the Prophet Isaiah had prophesied in the Old Testament in Isaiah 35:2-5 that, when Israel would see "...the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God..." that the Lord would perform great miracles. He prophesies: "...Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart (a deer), and the tongue of the dumb sing...." This is exactly that which did happen when Jesus Christ was ministering here on earth. The other three gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke record many, many of these great works. Indeed, Luke 7 records the visit of John the Baptist's disciples when that forerunner had been cast into prison and was beginning to have doubts about the identity of Jesus. John sent them to ask: "...Art You he that should come? or look we for another?" (Luke 7:20). Verses 21 and 22 clearly indicate that Jesus gave them no immediate response. Instead, "...in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight" (v. 22). Only after this series of miracles did Jesus respond to them. Verses 23 and 24 say: "Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things you have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." It is clear that these miraculous acts specifically should have identified the person who was able to heal these physically incomplete and suffering people. And this clearly is the message of the miracle-signs which the Apostle John selected. Indeed, John has told his readers that he has chosen out certain of these miracles as "signs," a word found repeatedly in his gospel in the original Greek text. In John 20:30-31 John has said: "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, ____ __ _____ _______ ____ _____ __ ___ ______, ___ ___ __ ___ ______ ___; and that _________ __ _____ ____ ____ _______ ___ ____." Let us briefly examine each of these seven miracles to see how we may understand the Apostle John's great concern for us that we should really know by experience just whom Jesus is. When you count the miracles which are found in the gospel of John, you will find just seven great miracle-signs. What can they tell us about Jesus? Who is this who can do such mighty wonders? It is clear from John 20:31 that each one of these seven signs are selected "...that __ _____ _______ that _____ __ ___ _____, ___ ___ __ ___...." It also is clear that John was concerned about you, "...that believing, __ _____ ____ ____ _______ ___ ____." Let us briefly examine each of these seven miracle-signs to see how we may understand John's great concern for us that we should really know who Jesus is and that we might receive the benefits which this brings.

THE SEVENTH SIGN

As we look back through the gospel of John, we will find that the seventh sign and perhaps the most astonishing one performed by Jesus took place at Bethany. It is described in chapter 11. His friend, Lazarus, had been dead for four days. Martha, the sister of Lazarus, did not want the stone rolled away from the burial place. She said in John 11:39, "Lord, by this time __ ________: for __ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____." When Jesus had said to Mary, the other sister of Lazarus, "Your brother shall rise again" (John 11:23), Mary thought that Jesus referred to the resurrection of the dead which would take place sometime "...in the last day." Then "Jesus said unto her..." (in verse 25), "I am ___ ____________, ___ ___ ____: he that _________ __ __ though he were dead, ___ _____ __ ____...." Indeed, in verse 26 he even promised this to all who believe in Him. "And whosoever lives and _________ __ __ _____ _____ ___...." What did Jesus do at the grave of Lazarus according to John 11:40? He said to Martha: "Said I not unto You, that, if You would believe, ____ ________ ___ ___ _____ __ ___?" (Remember the promise of Isaiah 35:2 that said: "...they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.")? After prayer to the heavenly Father, Jesus then said: "Lazarus, ____ _____!" What happened then? Verse 44 tells us. "And he that was dead ____ _____, _____ ____ ___ ____ ____ ___________, and his face ___ _____ _____ ____ _ _______." What does this seventh sign of Jesus teach us? It teaches us that Jesus Christ had power over death and decay! Only the Eternal Lord could do that! I wonder if John was not thinking of one of the great names given to the Eternal Lord in the Old Testament when he choose to include this great miracle? When the Eternal Lord provided waters for thirsty Israel, Moses asked the question: "Is the LORD among us or not?" (Exodus 17:7). It was obvious from this great miracle that the Lord indeed was present in their very midst. Immediately following this miraculous provision of water, Israel had to fight off the attack of the Amalekites (Exodus 17:7-16). The Eternal Lord enabled them and gave them the victory. To remember the Lord's presence among them, Moses used the great name Jehovah-nissi which means "the Eternal Lord is our banner!" They were comparing the presence of the Lord's presence among them to the flag which always went at the head of each of the tribal armies as they marched through the wilderness. This seventh miracle-sign which Jesus did in the gospel of John when He raised Lazarus from the dead after four days clearly showed Israel that Jesus Christ was the Eternal Lord in their midst. In His coming and ministry He had done just as Isaiah the prophet had promised would be accomplished in the coming of God. This was something that no one else has ever done. Who is this Jesus? His name means: "The Eternal Lord, Jehovah, shall save." Ah, He is Jehovah Nissi who was in our midst during His earthly ministry.

THE SIXTH SIGN

What then is the sixth sign and what can it teach us? In John 9, Jesus met a man who had been blind from his birth (verse 1). In verse 3 Jesus explained to his disciples that the man had been born blind "...that the _____ __ ___ ______ __ ____ ________ __ ____." Concerning this blind man Jesus then said in verse 5, "...I am the _____ __ ___ _____." He then illustrated how he could make spiritually blinded eyes to see by completing that which was missing in this blind man's eyes. He made clay and had placed it on the eyes of the blind man. Then he sent the man down the hill to the pool of Siloam to wash. What did the blind man do? He obeyed. "He went his way, therefore, and washed, ___ ____ ______" (verse 7). Immediately the proud religious leaders scoffed at Jesus and said in verse 16: This man __ ___ __ ___, _______ __ _____ ___ ___ _______ ___ (Saturday)." But not all agreed with this bitter condemnation. Others said in response, "How can a man ____ __ _ ______ __ ____ ________? (verse 16). The unbelieving religious leaders gave their stubborn opinion of Jesus in verse 24. "Give God the praise: __ ____ ____ ____ ___ __ _ ______." The blind man who now could see was wise enough to respond to their attacks on Jesus in verse 31. "Now we know that ___ _______ ___ _______...." When he actually saw Jesus and could look on him, Jesus asked him this. "Do You believe __ ___ ___ __ ___?" He personally heard Jesus identify himself as the Son of God when Jesus in verse 37 said of himself: You have both seen him, and __ __ __ ____ _______ ____ ____." The response to Jesus of the blind man who now could see reminds us of the Apostle John's purpose in writing the gospel (John 20:30-31). According to John 9:38 this man immediately said: "____, _ _______. And he worshipped him." Have we found evidence in the Gospel of John which indicates that this is proper? This remarkable miracle-sign, the giving of sight to a man blind from birth, enraged the false religious leaders. Yet by means of this act, Jesus clearly had showed that he had power over physically incomplete bodies. While the miracle brought the miracle of sight to the blind man, it brought further blindness to those who refused to believe. That is precisely what happens today to those who refuse to recognize the true identity of the One who is the light of the world. For this reason in verse 39 Jesus said: "For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that ____ _____ ___ _____ __ ____ _____." Notice that this miracle of giving sight brought a terrible, false attack from those who had chosen to be spiritually blind by rejecting the message of what Jesus had just done. In their blind and unreasoning fury against Jesus, they made a fierce attack on the righteousness of Jesus. In John 9:16 they said: "This man is ___ __ ___, _______ __ _______ ___ ___ _______ ___." In verse 24 they said: "Give God the praise: we know that ____ ___ __ _ ______." Then they turned on the man who now was able to see and attacked his birth and his life by saying: "You were altogether ____ __ ____, ___ _____ ____ _____ __?" This terrible attack on the true identity and against the righteousness of Jesus Christ surely was unjustified. He openly had challenged his enemies on this very matter in John 8:46. "Which __ ___ __________ __ __ ___? And because I ___ ___ _____, ___ __ __ ___ ______ __?" I wonder if John the Apostle was not thinking of another of the great names of the Eternal Lord which is found in the Old Testament when he chose this sign to help us to believe that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God?" In Jeremiah 23:6 you can find a great name of the Eternal Lord which so reminds us of the bitter, unreasoning attack that was made upon Jesus Christ's righteousness, but which entirely was vindicated by this great miracle of John 9. The name is "Jehovah Tsidkenu" which means "the Eternal Lord is our righteousness." As you continue to study the New Testament, you will find that Jesus Christ is indeed the very means by which we as New Testament believers become righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that God made it possible for believers to receive the very righteousness of God "in him," that is, in Jesus Christ. "For he (God the Father) has made him (Jesus Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." It is clear then that one's relationship to Jesus Christ determines whether he has the righteousness of Jehovah Tsidkenu, "the Eternal Lord our Righteousness," or not.

THE FIFTH SIGN

The fifth great miracle-sign which Jesus did is found in John 6:15-21. It grows out of another great miracle sign that caused the people of Israel to want to make Jesus Christ their king. John 6:15 tells us that Jesus left a crowd of 5,000 people to avoid that. While he was on the mountain alone, darkness began to fall over the Sea of Galilee. His disciples, apparently confused, decided to take their boat and go home to Capernaum on the north end of the Sea. As they rowed in the darkness, according to John 6:18, a great storm arose. When they had struggled against the sea for a long distance from the shore, the disciples were utterly astonished for, according to verse 19, "...they see Jesus _______ __ ___ ___, ___ _______ ____ ____ ___ ____: and they were afraid." Verse 20 records the words that quieted their fears. They were: "...__ __ _; __ ___ ______." But the miracle-sign extends beyond his walking on the water. Verse 21 tells us that after he entered the ship, "...immediately ___ ____ ___ __ ___ ____ _______ ____ ____." Who is that who has power over the turbulent elements? Who can command the wind? Jesus had done this on this same sea on another occasion. Mark 4:39 records his very words: "Peace, be still." And Mark tells us that, on that occasion, "...the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." To these troubled disciples, in great danger from the violent elements, one of the great names of the Eternal Lord found in Judges 6:24 certainly would have been unusually meaningful at that time! Gideon took the Eternal Lord at His word when he promised peace to that man so that he might lead the nation of Israel out of the troubled political times of that day. He called the altar which he built to worship the Eternal Lord "Jehovah Shalom" which means "the Eternal Lord is our Peace." This same One can bring peace to the troubled heart that is tossed by the winds and trials of today as well as then for Paul says of Jesus Christ who has made believers near through his own blood: "He is our peace" (Ephesians 2:13-14). Is it then surprising in John 14:27 to find Jesus Christ saying these things to us through his disciples in the upper room? "Peace I leave with you, __ _____ _ ____ ____ ___; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not ____ _____ __ ________, neither ___ __ __ _______." Or as he said in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken unto you, that __ __ __ _____ ____ _____. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; _ ____ ________ ___ ______." I wonder. Is it possible that Paul was even thinking of the great name, Jehovah Shalom, when he penned this words in 2 Thessalonians 3:17? "Now ___ ____ __ peace _______ ____ ___ peace _______ by all means. The Lord be with you all."

THE FOURTH SIGN

The fourth great miracle-sign which remarkably demonstrates the identity and the greatness of Jesus Christ is the feeding of the five thousand people from five little loaves of bread and from two little fishes. It is found in John 6:1-13. The story is told simply without any flourish. John 6:11 says: "And Jesus took the loaves: and ____ __ ___ _____ ______, he __________ __ ___ _________, and the disciples __ ____ ____ ____ ___ ____; and likewise of ___ ______ __ ____ __ ____ _____." After all of the great crowd had eaten of the miraculous supply, verse 13 tells us that the disciples gathered up "twelve _______ ____ ___ _________ __ ___ five barley loaves, _____ ________ ____ ___ _____ ____ ____ ____ ___ _____." No wonder that in verse 14, the crowd recognized Jesus by this great miracle-sign as "...that _______ ____ ______ ____ ____ ___ _____." No wonder that they would have declared Jesus to be their king (verse 15). He could keep their bellies full! But the crowd saw only that. They failed to grasp the meaning of this great sign which showed that Jesus Christ had power over physical matter like food to create or to multiply it at his own will. How meaningful it would have been at that time for that crowd to have recalled the introductory words of that great Shepherd Psalm, Psalm 23! There the Eternal Lord is called Jehovah Ro'i or "The Eternal Lord is my Shepherd." It also could be translated: "The Eternal Lord is the One shepherding me." The words which follow in that Psalm similarly are remarkably instructive in this setting by the lake. "I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul" (Psalm 23:1-2). It is not surprising to find the one who readily had fed the five thousand, speaking in John 10:9 and 11 and saying: "I am ___ ____: by me if any man enter in, __ ____ __ _____, and shall __ __ ___ ___, and find pasture." "I am ___ ____ _________...." But Isaiah had promised that, when God would come, he would heal incomplete, inoperative and handicapped bodies. "...Behold, your God will come...and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart (deer), and the tongue of the dumb sing...." Did the Apostle John record any more miracles like that? Indeed he did.

THE THIRD SIGN

The third great miracle-sign which Jesus Christ performed took place at the pool of Bethesda. It is recorded by John in chapter five of his gospel. We have the opportunity to stand by a great pool where there were many who were longing for physical healing. There we see (in verse 5) "...a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years." Again John 5:6 records that, without any fanfare to draw attention to himself, Jesus simply said this to the man. "...____ ____ __ ____ _____?" When the man expressed his longing, "Jesus said unto him, ____ __ ___ ___, ___ _____." As usual, this caused a great stir and anger among the unbelieving religious leaders of that day for Jesus deliberately had healed the man on the Sabbath, the Jew's holy day of the week (verse 9). When these leaders challenged Jesus about this (verse 16), Jesus responded: "My Father _______ ________, ___ _ ____ (verse 17)." Those leaders knew what this meant. Verse 18 reports that they knew that he "...said also that ___ ___ ___ ______, ______ _______ _____ ____ ___." In the following verses Jesus made it clear that he not only had power to raise an impotent, paralized man and to make him walk but that he also had power to call forth the dead in resurrection (verse 25). In this verse Jesus Christ gives this promise to those who would believe in him. "Verily, verily I say unto you, ___ ____ __ ______, ___ ___ __, when ___ ____ _____ ____ __ _____ __ ___ ___ __ ___: ___ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____." But in verse 24 he had given a wonderful promise which gives assurance that one can leave the withered and twisted manner of life which has plagued him from birth. He offers a means whereby one can move to the fullness of everlasting (eternal) life. It is through faith. He says: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and _________ __ ___ ____ ____ __, ____ ___________ ____, ___ _____ ___ ____ ____ ___________; ___ __ ______ ____ _____ ____ ____." What can one learn as he observes this wonderful One who has power over diseased bodies, who promises such great gifts? Ah, what an opportunity for one to look upon this man who was healed and to remember that great compound name of the Eternal Lord which is found in Exodus 15:26, Jehovah Raphe, which says: "I am the Lord that heals You!" For truly Jesus Christ has that power of healing an impotent physical body or even one who is broken by sin! This third great miracle-sign clearly demonstrates who Jesus Christ is!

THE SECOND SIGN

The second great miracle-sign likewise is a miracle of healing. However, it must be observed that this miracle has a very unusual element in it. While Jesus was at Cana on the mountain ridge north of Nazareth, a man from the royal family who lived miles away in Capernaum came pleading to Jesus. His son was sick almost unto death with a great fever. Would Jesus hurry and come? Now Capernaum where Jesus Himself lived is almost a two day walk from Cana. Rather than go with the nobleman, Jesus simply responded to the man's faith and said to him these words found in John 4:50. "...Go ___ ___; ___ ___ ______." The man turned and hastened down the mountain toward his home. The next day while still on the way, he met his servants who were hurrying to tell him the wonderful news. "...Your ___ ______." At the very hour when Jesus had spoken the words, the son became well. Notice that this miracle adds a new dimension to these other great miracle-signs which Jesus had performed, which John selected "...that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 20:31). Here at Cana, Jesus Christ had demonstrated very quietly before this man and before his own disciples that he had power over distance to heal the troubled body of a boy who even then was dying. Ah, what a time to remember the great words which close the book of the great prophet, Ezekiel! Jehovah Shammah! "The Eternal Lord is there!" And how this should remind us of the devoted words of David when he spoke of the greatness of the Eternal Lord who is omnipresent (present everywhere)! "Whither shall I go from your spirit? Or whither shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend up into heaven, You art there; if I make my bed in hell (sheol), behold, You art there" (Psalm 139:7-12). Jesus Christ was perfectly capable of healing a person two days journey away just as well as he could have done it before his very eyes! How well it would be for us if we were like that nobleman who placed simple faith in the person and words of Jesus Christ! He had heard the words reported in John 4:53: Your son lives: and _______ ________, ___ ___ _____ _____."

THE FIRST SIGN

The first great miracle-sign which John chose to record to show that "...Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God" was most unusual. He, his mother, Mary, and his disciples all were invited to a wedding at Cana. It is obvious that those sponsoring the wedding banquet were not rich, for the dinner for the bride and groom soon was marred by a lack of the refreshing drink of the land. They had no wine. (By the way, the word "wine" was used very broadly in that day to include naturally fermented alcoholic drink that had at the most 3 to 4% alcohol, fresh, unfermented grape juice, and non-alcoholic grape juice which had been concentrated by very gentle boiling, stored, and then later diluted with 3 to 20 parts of water somewhat like our concentrated (but frozen) grape juice today. Jesus' mother asked him to do something for the bridegroom to help him in his plight. John 1:1-11 tells us that Jesus had the servants fill six large stone water pots with water (verse 7). Then he instructed them in verse 8 in this way. "Draw out now, ___ ____ ____ ___ ________ __ ___ ______." By the time that the water was carried to the governor of the feast, it had completely changed its chemical composition. Indeed, the governor of the feast called this "...the good wine!" (verse 10). The Apostle John spoke of this great miracle-sign in this way in verse 11. "This beginning __ ________ (the original Greek word is "signs") ___ _____ ...." What could one learn about Jesus Christ from this remarkable miracle which showed that Jesus Christ had power over his creation? (See John 1:3). I wonder if John may have had another of the great names of the Eternal Lord in mind when he chose to report to us that this "...beginning of miracles (signs) did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory."? Centuries before, Abraham, his human ancestor, at the command of the Eternal Lord, had slowly walked up Mount Moriah with his son, Isaac. He went to sacrifice his beloved son in perfect faith that the Eternal Lord would keep His promises concerning that very son (Hebrews 11:17-19). As planned by God, the Eternal Lord provided there a substitute to die in Isaac's place, a ram that was caught in the thicket (Genesis 22:13-14). He had provided a substitute which foreshadowed the provision that He Himself would make on that same mount centuries later at the cross when His own Son, Jesus, took our places to die for us as our substitute to pay for our sins. Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh which means "the Eternal Lord will be seen." And when the Savior took our place on that mount when he was crucified, indeed it was the Eternal Lord who came as flesh to be seen by man, to die for man at that time.

WHO THEN IS THIS JESUS?

We plainly have seen him plainly identified by the seven signs which the Apostle John has selected "...that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God." He is the Lord who will be seen, Who would take our place "...that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Christ)" (2 Corinthians 5:21). He has demonstrated himself to be the Eternal Lord who is omnipresent and who has power over distance to heal a sick body of one who is about to die, One who can meet our needs as we face eternal death (Romans 6:23). He has shown that he is the Eternal Lord of Healing who can take those who are physically (and spiritually) incomplete and make them whole. His provision of food proved that he is the Lord our Shepherd who can provide for all of our needs, no matter how great, physically, mentally or spiritually. In quieting the storm troubled waters, he identified himself as the Lord our Peace who can bring peace into the troubled world or into our lives to quiet our tormented, sin-sick hearts. Though accused of unrighteousness, he plainly has demonstrated that he is the Eternal Lord our Righteousness who can complete that which is missing from our lives, even including our lack of righteousness in which to stand before Him one day. In his raising a decayed body from the dead, all should have known that he is the Eternal Lord our Banner who can be ever present with us whether through life or through death to take the believer into eternal life with Him. Who then is this Jesus? He is my Savior for I have believed all that John has told us about Him. I have found that all that Jesus Christ said about Himself was absolutely true and that He has met my desperate need of light, love, righteousness and everything that I could ever need. He came to be to me the bread of life and the water of life. When I received these and His free salvation, He gave me eternal life (John 6) nearly half a century ago. I finally had come to recognize that all that men recognized about Him for good as described in this Gospel of John was true and that I must have Him as my own Savior. I recognized that the wonderful miracle-signs which John had set forth in his gospel required me to respond to the beautiful invitation which He gave in Matthew 11:28-29. "Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I ____ ____ ___ ____. Take __ ____ ____ ___, ___ _____ __ __; for _ __ ____ ___ _____ __ _____: ___ __ _____ ____ ____ ____ ____ _____." One day, just as John 5:24 records Christ's words, I heard His word "...and believed on him." At that time I received _______ ____ just as that verse says. Jesus Christ in this verse promises all who will come unto Him that they "...will not come into condemnation...." Each one "...is passed from death into life." Like doubting Thomas (John 20:28-29), I came to the place where I cried of Jesus Christ: "My ____ ___ __ ___!" How happy I am that John had me in mind when he wrote these words of Jesus great miracle-signs. "...These are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and that believing you might have life through His name" (John 20:31). I hope that you have found in the message of John this same joy that came to me with that discovery and with the gift of Jesus Christ. After all, this message was for you to receive also so that you might have eternal life, the life that only the Eternal Lord can give. After all, God had you in mind when He sent His only Son into the world. One of the major purposes in His coming was that He might save you. What then should you do with Jesus Christ, the wonderful person whom you have discovered in the Gospel of John? Perhaps John 1:12 and 13 will help you to answer that question. "But as many as received Him, to them he gave the authority to become the children of God, even to them that believe on His name; Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Remember that it was Jesus Christ who said: "But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14). He also said: "Truly, Truly I say unto you, He that hears my word and believes on him that sent me has everlasting life. He shall not come into judgment but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24). He says to you: "I am the bread of life. He that comes to me shall never hunger. He that believes on me shall never thirst" (John 6:35). "Truly, truly I say unto you: He that believes on me has everlasting life" (John 6:47). "I am the light of the world. He that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). My friend, is not this the moment for you to obey the prophetic warning which Isaiah gave to you many centuries ago and accept the Lord's servant and receive His light, His salvation and all that He can do for you? "Who is among you that fears the LORD, who is obeying the voice of His servant who is still walking in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and stay upon his God." (Isaiah 50:10). He has provided the only way of escape from the judgment which all face who reject Him. "Look, all of you that build a fire, who circle yourselves about with sparks. Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that you have lighted. This you will have from my hand. You will lie down in sorrow!" (Isaiah 50:10-11). Why don't you receive your wonderful Savior right now?

If you do indeed come to understand who Jesus is and what He can do for you through this study, I would be happy to have you share that with me so that we can fellowship in your newfound truth. I assure you that I will respond to any correspondence addressed to: Dr. Bernard E. Northrup 861 Redwood Blvd. Redding, CA 96003, or you may email me.