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The testimony of Andrew is next given: "we have found THE MESSIAH" (41).
Nathaniel concludes the witness of the chapter with the words, "Rabbi, Thou art the Son
of God" (49). Then comes the first sign. Immediately before the second sign comes the
meeting of the Lord with the woman of Samaria. What is her testimony?
"I know that Messiah cometh.......Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee, I AM
HE.......The woman saith to the men, Come, see a man which told me all things that ever
I did, IS NOT THIS THE CHRIST?.......Now we believe not because of thy saying, for
we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the
world" (John 4: 25-42).
Then follow the second and third signs. The third sign is followed by bitter
opposition. What was the chief feature of the opposition? Not only was it because the
Lord had healed the man on the Sabbath day (5: 16), but "because He not only had
broken the Sabbath, but said also that GOD WAS HIS FATHER, making Himself equal
with God". In the verses that follow, the word "Son" with reference to Christ occurs no
less than ten times, and the Father thirteen times. Between the central pair, the fourth and
fifth signs, come the words, "This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the
world" (6: 14). At the conclusion of the controversy which follows the fifth sign stand
Peter's memorable words:--
"We believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" (6: 69).
The crowd voices the common feeling in chapter 7::--
"Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? Howbeit when Christ cometh,
will He do more signs than these which this Man hath done?.......Of a truth this is the
prophet; others said, This is the Christ.......there was a division among the people
because of Him" (26, 31, 40, 41, 43).
Chapter 8: concludes with the stupendous claim of Christ, "before Abraham was
I AM". Then comes the sixth sign. The gradual illumination of the blind man's heart
and mind is beautifully set forth in the record. His first confession was, "He is a prophet"
(9: 17). As a result of his loyalty to the Lord who had blessed him "they cast him out".
Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and when He had found him He said unto him,
"Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" We might have expected anything but this, some
word of sympathy, some word of cheer, but no, the Lord of life desires this soul to
believe and live:--
"He answered and said, Who is He, that I might believe on Him? And Jesus said unto
him, Thou hast both seen Him and it is He that talketh with thee; and he said, Lord, I
believe; and he worshipped Him."
The last sign before rejection now draws near, and the Jews come to the Lord and say,
"If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly"; as a result of His answer we read:--
"Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.......for blasphemy; and because
that Thou, being a man, makest Thyself God.......because I said I am the Son of God"
(10: 24-42).
The seventh sign contains Martha's confession:--