Page 21 - The Gospel of John - Student textbook

Study Section 4: Jesus Begins to Perform Miracles

4.1 Connect

Have you ever really understood why Jesus performed thousands of miracles? Before Jesus ever
came to earth, others had performed many miracles. Joshua asked God to stop the rotation of the
earth for a day. Elisha floated a heavy metal hatchet. The people watched God blast the walls of
Jericho out from the inside of the city. Miracles certainly were not new to the coming of Christ.

Jesus, however, performed thousands of miracles. Why do you think He did that? Think about it. If I came to
your church and told you that God had sent me to give you a special message, you might question whether that
was true or not. But if I stood there, then floated to the ceiling, you might listen more carefully as if what I were
telling you was from God. People should listen to you as a spokesman from God if you can heal their bodies of
their ailments, and especially if you can bring sight to a blind person, or speak to the wind and waves and make
them stop. Jesus performed miracles to authenticate who He was and to validate His message. He said He was
from God, spoke God’s words, then healed hundreds to prove what He said was true. Today, let’s see how Jesus
began His ministry by seeking souls and verifying His message.

4.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to explain why Jesus referred to himself as the “Son of Man.”

2. The student should be able to share why Jesus performed his first miracle in Cana of Galilee.

3. The student should be able to describe how Jesus displayed his deity in John 2:12 – 25.

4.3 The Seeking Souls

38 When Jesus turned and noticed them following Him, He asked them, “What are you looking
for?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are You staying?” “Come
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and you’ll see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with
Him that day. It was about 10 in the morning. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the
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two who heard John and followed Him. He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
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“We have found the Messiah!” (Which means “Anointed One”), and he brought [Simon] to
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Jesus. When Jesus saw him, He said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which means
“Rock”).

These first spoken words by Jesus in John's gospel is a master question for all of us. "What are you looking for?"
Jesus longs to direct our seeking towards the highest treasure that anyone can obtain, everlasting life that is
found only in Himself. Perhaps Intimidated by Jesus' presence, Andrew and John reply not by answering His
question directly, but by asking one of their own. By asking “where are you staying”, they were courteously
requesting an extended private interview with Him. The question also singled their willingness to become his
disciples. Jesus responds in a way that He always responds to seeking souls longing to know Him, come and
you'll see. This is a promise to be found all through the Scriptures. Any honest seeker will always find Him.
Deuteronomy 4:29 You will search for the LORD your God, and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your

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