The signs in the Gospel of John were directed to the nation of Israel because the Jews required a sign, and God used these signs to prove to Israel that Jesus was the promised Messiah.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the eight events in John are signs, not merely miracles or wonders, and that the Jew required a sign. Because Christ's earthly ministry was primarily to the Jew under the Old Testament covenant promises, these signs carried an intrinsic lesson for the nation of Israel. They were meant to prove to Israel that Jesus was the Messiah.
1 Corinthians 1:22 — Paul plainly states that Jews require a sign, which explains why the signs in John's Gospel were directed to Israel.
Acts 2:22 — Peter addresses the men of Israel with miracles, wonders, and signs, showing signs were tied to Israel's confirmation of Jesus.
Scripture plainly states that the Jews require a sign (1 Corinthians 1:22). In Acts 2:22, Peter addresses 'Ye men of Israel' and describes Jesus of Nazareth as 'a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you.' Even in the earliest preaching to Israel, signs are presented as God's testimony to the nation. The Bible therefore connects signs directly to Israel.
Les Feldick teaches that the Gospel of John records eight signs, and that these are not just miracles or wonders but signs, because the Jew required a sign. All of these signs, miraculous though they were, were directed to the nation of Israel. Les emphasizes that everything in Christ's earthly ministry was directed primarily—not exclusively—to the Jew under the covenant promises of the Old Testament. Les also notes that seven of the eight signs take place before His crucifixion, and the eighth takes place after His resurrection. The number seven, God's number, indicates completion. Each sign had an intrinsic lesson for the nation of Israel, and every one of them carried a 'whole trainload of truth' for Israel. Les repeatedly says the main purpose of Jesus' signs and miracles was to prove to the nation of Israel that He was the Messiah. Compassion for the sick and blind was real, but the main thrust was identification. Even in Acts, Peter addresses 'ye men of Israel' with miracles, wonders, and signs, because God was still dealing with His covenant people. Signs and miracles were woven all through Israel's history, from Moses to the ministry of Christ, to prove God was at work.
Les Feldick teaches that there are eight signs in John's Gospel—just eight. Seven of them take place before His crucifixion, and the eighth takes place after His resurrection. Les notes that the number seven is indicative of completion, God's number. The signs are not simply wonders; each one is a sign with an intrinsic lesson for the nation of Israel.
No. Les says Christ's earthly ministry was directed primarily, but not exclusively, to the Jew under the covenant promises of the Old Testament. At that point in redemptive history, God was still dealing with His covenant people, and the signs served to prove to Israel who Jesus was.
The Apostle Paul wrote that the Jews require a sign (1 Corinthians 1:22). Les points out that this was true all the way through the Old Testament. From Moses going to Pharaoh with signs, through Israel's history, God repeatedly used the supernatural and the miraculous. That is why the Gospel of John records signs—they were the means God used to reach the nation of Israel.
The Eight Signs Are for Israel
Les says there are eight signs in John's Gospel, not just miracles or wonders, and because the Jew required a sign, these signs were directed to the nation of Israel under the Old Testament covenant promises.
Seven Signs Before the Crucifixion
Les teaches that the eight signs in John are all there are, with seven before the crucifixion and the eighth after the resurrection, and that each sign carried an intrinsic lesson for Israel.
Jews Require a Sign
Les explains that Jesus performed miracles to prove who He was, citing 1 Corinthians 1 that the Jews require a sign; the religious leaders even asked Jesus for a sign because it was their nature.
Signs Proved Jesus Was the Messiah
Les teaches that while compassion was real, the main thrust of Jesus' signs and miracles was to prove to the nation of Israel that He was the Messiah.
Signs Carry Truth for Israel
Les reminds that the seven miraculous signs in John each carried a trainload of truth for the nation of Israel, just as the signs in Moses' day proved God was going to do the supernatural.
Signs Continue With Israel in Acts
Les points out that even in Acts 2, Peter addressed 'ye men of Israel' with miracles, wonders, and signs, because God was still dealing with His covenant people.
Signs Aimed at Converting Israel
Les teaches that after Israel's rejection of the Messiah, the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jewish believers so that more signs could continue to convince Israel to convert to faith in their rejected Messiah.
Paul Confirms Israel's Demand for Signs
Les notes Paul, writing to a Gentile church, says the Jews require a sign, and that signs and miracles are woven all through Israel's history to prove God was at work.
1 Corinthians 1:22: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
Paul's statement that Jews seek a sign, explaining why the signs in John were directed to Israel.
Acts 2:22: Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Peter's Pentecost address to the men of Israel, citing signs and wonders among them as proof of Jesus' approval by God.
Les Feldick teaches there are eight signs in the Gospel of John—seven before His crucifixion and one after His resurrection. He says the number seven is indicative of completion, God's number.
No. Les says compassion was certainly true, but the main thrust of His signs and miracles was to prove to the nation of Israel who Jesus was—the promised Messiah.
Les explains that the Jews require a sign, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:22. It was their very nature, and they were always looking for signs to confirm who Jesus was.
Watch the Teaching: The 8 Signs in John's Gospel — What They Mean for Israel