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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 comes chapters 13:-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:--
The Miracles after the rejection.
A1 | 13: 58. Not many because of unbelief.
B1 | Seven miracles. |
| C | a | 14: 14. Many healed.
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b | 14: 15-21. 5,000 fed.
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D | 14: 22, 23. The Sea.
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E | 14: 36. Perfectly whole.
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D | 15: 21-28. The woman of Canaan.
| C | a | 15: 29, 30. Many healed.
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b | 15: 31-39. 4,000 fed.
A2 | 16: 1-4. The demand for a sign refused.--
No sign but that of the prophet Jonah.
B2 | Seven miracles. |
| F | 17: 14-21. Lunatic. Faith remove mountains.
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G | 17: 27. Tribute. Kingdom not yet come.
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(19: 2. Multitudes healed).
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H | 20: 30. Blind. Son of David.
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H | 21: 1. Colt. Thy King cometh.
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G | 21: 14. Blind and Lame. Son of David.
| F | 21: 19. Fig tree withered. Faith to remove mountains.
A3 | 27: 42-44. Demand for evidential miracle refused.
B3 | 27: 52 - 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