humankind. So Jesus calls those who asked for this kind of sign “an evil and adulterous generation.” John uses the word sēmeion 17 times, of which 11 refer to the miracles of Jesus. It may be a general reference such as Nicodemus had in mind: “Rabbi, we know that it is from God that you have come as a teacher, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him” (3:2). Notice that Nicodemus both discerns that the miracles are not ends in themselves (they are “signs”)