The Deity of Jesus Pt. 2

In his Gospel, John set out to make it clear that Jesus, the Word of God that was both with God and was God from the beginning, had become a human being and lived among his people. John accomplished this by writing about eight specific sign miracles of Jesus that related to eight “I AM” statements in which Jesus clearly stated his deity, all of which occurred during the three and a half years of his earthly ministry. Signs were extremely important to the Jews. Throughout the Bible God manifested himself to his people through signs. John writes: “Now Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book; but these (signs) are recorded that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. (NASB)”

The first sign that John records in his gospel was the turning of water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. Being able to change water into wine clearly demonstrated his power as the Creator, Jehovah. The water would have taken the Jewish mind back to the beginning of creation, when God’s Spirit hovered over the waters and created all things, including Adam and Eve, the first married couple ordained by God.

According to John Walvoord in the Bible Knowledge Commentary, the wine represented joy. God’s creative work brings joy to him and to his creation. (In the beginning God looked upon all he created, included Adam and Eve and saw that it was very good. Genesis 1:31 NET) Walvoord also contrasts Jesus turning water into wine as a sign of joy, with Moses turning water into blood, a sign of judgment in Exodus 7:20. The I AM statement of Jesus that corresponds to this first sign is found in John 15:1-8 when Jesus proclaims “I AM the true vine…” and again “I AM the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me—and I in him—bears much fruit…”(NET Bible). The sign miracle demonstrates that Jesus is God the true vine and the source joy (the wine) for those who believe in him.

This sign also relates to the fifth sign that John recorded in his gospel of Jesus walking on water. After Jesus fed the 5,000 and knew that they wanted to make him king, he departed to a certain mountain. His disciples get into a boat and head across the Sea of Galilee from Tiberius to Capernaum. After they rowed in rough seas for a few miles, Jesus comes walking across the water to the boat saying, “It is I, do not be afraid.” Just as God’s Spirit hovered over the waters at creation, now as Jesus Christ, he walks across the waters of his creation. This sign of Jesus power over his creation demonstrates that Jesus is Jehovah, the Almighty God. In John 18:5, 6, Jesus states “I am…I am” clearly communicating that he is Jehovah.

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983.

Net Bible: New English Translation. [Spokane, Wash.]: Biblical Studies Press, 2003. p. 1990.