SIGNS OF THE MESSIAH

An Introduction to John’s Gospel

ANDREAS J. KÖSTENBERGER

Signs of the Messiah: An Introduction to John’s Gospel

Copyright 2021 Andreas J. Köstenberger

Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225 LexhamPress.com

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (nrsv) are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (nlt) are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Print ISBN 9781683594550

Digital ISBN 9781683594567

Library of Congress Control Number 2020948474

Lexham Editorial: Derek R. Brown, Elizabeth Vince, Danielle Thevenaz

Cover Design: Kristen Cork

In loving memory

of the apostle John

the son of Zebedee

who, though dead, still speaks

through the witness he bore

to the Word, the Christ,

the Son of God

Jesus of Nazareth

Messiah

Lord of all

Savior of the world.

“As the Father sent me,

so I am sending you.”

(John 20:21)

Contents

Introduction: “Give Me a Sign!”

Part 1

AUTHORSHIP, PROLOGUE, and CANA CYCLE

(John 1–4)

1 AUTHORSHIP and JOHN’S PROLOGUE

2 THE CANA CYCLE, PART 1

The Cana Wedding and the Temple Clearing (John 2)

3 THE CANA CYCLE, PART 2

Jesus’ Conversations with Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman (John 3–4)

Part 2

FESTIVAL CYCLE

(John 5–10)

4 THE FESTIVAL CYCLE, PART 1

The Healing of the Lame Man (John 5)

5 THE FESTIVAL CYCLE, PART 2

The Feeding of the Five Thousand (John 6)

6 THE FESTIVAL CYCLE, PART 3

The Healing of the Man Born Blind (John 9)

Part 3

CONCLUSION to BOOK OF SIGNS

(John 11–12)

and BOOK OF EXALTATION

(John 13–21)

7 CONCLUSION to the BOOK OF SIGNS

The Raising of Lazarus (John 11)

8 JESUS’ PREPARATION OF HIS NEW MESSIANIC COMMUNITY

The Farewell Discourse (John 13–17)

9 THE JOHANNINE PASSION NARRATIVE AND EPILOGUE

(John 18–21)

For Further Study

Discussion Questions

Subject Index

Author Index

Scripture Index

List of Figures

Fig. 1 Chiastic Structure of John’s Prologue (John 1:1–18)

Fig. 2 Structure of Cana Cycle (John 2–4)

Fig. 3 The Seven Signs of Jesus in John’s Gospel (John 2–12)

Fig. 4 A Study in Contrasts: Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman (John 3–4)

Fig. 5 Major Selected Characters Featured Exclusively in John’s Gospel

Fig. 6 Major Selected Discourses Featured Uniquely in John’s Gospel

Fig. 7 Numbers Related to Striking Signs of ...