We first of all find it touched upon in 9:34, `The Pharisees said, He casteth out demons by the prince of demons';

and no comment is passed. In 12:24 we discover it to have gathered strength, and then the Lord exposes their

thoughts, and brings to bear upon them the fact that the kingdom of God had come unto them. Will it be believed

that after all the signs and wonders which the Lord had given, miracles for which He had become famous throughout

the length and breadth of the land, these insolent rulers of this age have the temerity to say, `Master we would SEE A

SIGN from thee' (12:38)? The Lord's answer indicates that the time for showing signs is passed. The next great sign

shall be that of His resurrection.

We shall observe the same order in the Gospel of John. Seven out of the eight signs come in the first half of the

Gospel. Then come chapters 13 to 17, where the Lord is with His own, and the eighth and concluding sign is that

which follows His resurrection.

The parables of the mysteries of the kingdom (Matt. 13) follow the Lord's rejection, and the miracles that follow

are a complete set by themselves. The first reference to miracles after the great rejection (chapters 12 and 13) is of a

negative character: `He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief' (13:58).

We will look at the whole series, however, before we consider any in detail:

A1 13:58.

Not many because of unbelief.

C a 14:14.

B1

Many healed.

b 14:15-21. 5,000 fed.

SEVEN

D 14:22-33.

The Sea.

MIRACLES

E 14:36.

Perfectly whole.

The Woman of Canaan.

C a 15:29-31. Many healed.

b 15:32-39. 4,000 fed.

A2 16:1-4.

The demand for a sign refused.- No sign but

that of the prophet Jonah.

B2

F 17:14-21. Lunatic. Faith remove mountains.

G 17:27.

Tribute. Kingdom not yet come.

(19:2. Multitudes healed).

SEVEN

H 20:30.

Blind. Son of David.

H 21:1,2.  Colt. Thy King cometh.

MIRACLES

Blind and Lame. Son of David.

Fig tree withered. Faith to

remove mountains.

A3 27:42-44.

Demand for evidential miracle refused.

B3 27:52 to 28:8.

THE SIGN OF JONAH.

The first set of seven miracles does not partake so much of the character of signs as of miracles of compassion.

`He went about doing good. And Jesus ... was moved with compassion' (14:14). The feeding of the 5,000

resembles the feeding of the 4,000, and there again the Lord says, `I have compassion on the multitude'.

The second series of seven begins to foreshadow the development of events. Immediately after the glory of the

Transfiguration, the Lord deals with a difficult case of demon possession, and makes reference to a faith capable of

removing mountains. Then follows the miracle of the tribute money and its question:

`Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith

unto Him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should

offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast

opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for Me and thee' (Matt.