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Signs in John's Gospel - The Lamp Broadcast

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152 SIGNS IN JOHN’S GOSPEL<br />

sign <strong>in</strong> John’s gospel, is the first of seven festivals which God gave<br />

to the Israelites dur<strong>in</strong>g Moses’ day (Lev. 23:4ff). <strong>The</strong>se festivals,<br />

kept year after year by the Israelites, foreshadowed future events<br />

perta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g to Israel which will occur follow<strong>in</strong>g the Tribulation, beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g<br />

with Christ’s return and extend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the establishment<br />

of the millennial k<strong>in</strong>gdom. In this respect, these seven festivals<br />

could be referred to as the prophetic calendar of Israel.<br />

<strong>The</strong> thought of “the k<strong>in</strong>gdom” is first brought to the forefront<br />

by the mention of Christ tak<strong>in</strong>g His disciples aside and go<strong>in</strong>g up<br />

<strong>in</strong>to a mounta<strong>in</strong>. <strong>The</strong>n, before anyth<strong>in</strong>g about the sign is dealt<br />

with (hav<strong>in</strong>g to do with Israel and the k<strong>in</strong>gdom), the nearness of<br />

“the Passover” is mentioned.<br />

“<strong>The</strong> Passover” had to do with death and shed blood. It had<br />

to do with the Israelites slay<strong>in</strong>g lambs, with the blood of these lambs<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g shed, and with the Israelites apply<strong>in</strong>g that blood to the door<br />

posts and l<strong>in</strong>tel of the houses <strong>in</strong> which they dwelled, accord<strong>in</strong>g to God’s<br />

<strong>in</strong>structions (Ex. 12:1ff).<br />

“<strong>The</strong> Passover” had to do with substitutionary atonement, someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

which first began to be opened up and revealed <strong>in</strong> Genesis<br />

chapter three (v. 21). Death had been decreed upon the firstborn<br />

<strong>in</strong> every household; but God provided a substitute, a lamb from<br />

the flock which could die <strong>in</strong> the stead of the firstborn. And the proper<br />

application of the blood of this lamb on the doorposts and l<strong>in</strong>tel<br />

of the house <strong>in</strong> which the firstborn lived showed that the firstborn<br />

resid<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> that house had already died. A substitute had died <strong>in</strong> his<br />

stead, someth<strong>in</strong>g which God recognized (cf. Gen. 22:8-13).<br />

God, through Moses, had told the Israelites:<br />

“…the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it<br />

[the paschal lamb] <strong>in</strong> the even<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts<br />

and on the upper door post of the houses…<br />

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite<br />

all the firstborn <strong>in</strong> the land of Egypt…<br />

And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where<br />

ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you…” (Ex. 12:6b,<br />

7a, 12a 13a).

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