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Seven signs

5/14/2022

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Previously on Seven fails…
The proposition in summary was that given the righteous are favored they rise from falls and failure seven times, or time and time again. It’s not that the righteous are perfect or sinless, but that they are favored with resilience. The righteous may take many hits but even though they are defeated they can – and often do – rise again. The fact that they do rise again and again is a testament to the abundant grace of God toward them.
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
1Peter 3:12
Using this idea as a backdrop, is it possible to view the Apostle John's construction of his gospel record using seven signs through seven miracles as an example of a full measure of grace toward Jerusalem and the people of Israel as a whole? The nation comprises His righteous people and the testimony of history shows their propensity to fall over and over even though disproportionately advantaged by His favor (Romans 3:1-3).
In his well-organized gospel John displays a litany of awakening signs that are as such a sufficient expression and measure of grace. Let it never be said that the Lord has shortened His arm of favor toward the righteous. In spite of it all, John’s summation states the Lord’s own, His righteous ones, by-and-large failed to receive Him (John 1:11)
A case for Israel
The raising of Lazarus is the seventh sign miracle performed by Jesus that John uses in his record of the incarnate Word. He has of course done many others (John 20:31}. Some of the others that John never mentions are recorded by Matthew, Mark and Luke – some but not all. One might well say that beyond the seven, God has as one hymn writer said, “given, and given, and given again” as “grace upon grace” (John 1:14-16}. The death, burial and resuscitation of Lazarus serves as a good illustration of Israel’s status before God, not as they see themselves but as God Himself sees them. As His righteous ones they have fallen and are falling. How far have they fallen? How rich is God’s grace toward them? Lazarus shows us.
Since Jerusalem was sacked and her temple edifice demolished some twenty years prior to John’s writing it might be thought that the wicked have won, Israel is dead and buried, and God has finished with His righteous nation. They have fallen and failed more than a sufficient number of times to demonstrate they are no longer worth messing with particularly since they crucified the Lord of glory, God’s ultimate grace to them. “By now they stinketh”
That is a mistake wicked minds often make.
By the grace of God and to the surprise of the nations, Israel will rise again as the righteous people of God. They just keep getting up. By now one would think Israel would be but a wisp of dust on history’s stage but here they are today, reconstructed dry bones, fleshed out and standing erect as a people in their ancient gifted land with a prophetic future salvation yet to come. That is if we believe the authors of our Bible.
“All Israel will be saved”
Romans 11:26
Violent assaults and political attempts to erase them have all failed. They will yet be as a signet of the faithfulness of our God, and He will use them in the outpouring of His justice as He turns the tables upon our wicked world.
Israel, will rise again by the grace of God!

Grace today y’all
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