Some signs are world famous –the Eiffel Tower is a symbol of Paris and France, the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of New York City and the U.S., and the Opera House is a symbol of Sydney and Australia. Other signs are recognized and appreciated only by local populations or special groups. For example, the red Mobil horse atop the Magnolia Building, that used to be Dallas’s tallest skyscraper, is hardly visible to tourists today, unless a local resident points it out to them. During the Depression Era, hobos traveling around the United States developed a complex system of signs that told other hobos whether they could expect a meal or a place to sleep at a paricular house or farm.
On the other hand, some signs are not intentionally invisible – it just turns out that way in everyday life. One example close at hand is the Trinity church sign out there on the lawn. As many of you know, it is virtually invisible to the cars zipping by on Zang Blvd. The church sign looks lovely when we look at it from the sidewalk, but from the driver’s seat in a car traveling around the curve at 40 miles per hour, the sign is visible in the driver’s line of sight for only a second – making it effectively "invisible."
In our contemporary world, we are bombarded by signs obvious and subtle – from bumper stickers on cars to cars parked to overflowing on both sides of a residential street on a Saturday morning [marking a garage sale]. We have created a multi-billion dollar industry to create and display signs – we call it advertising. Many of us are so tired of the message overload associated with advertising that we just want to escape to some place of peace and quiet.
Life was simpler during the period of Jesus’ ministry in the early first century. Since most folks were not literate, signs with words were of little value to the public at large. For instance, a sign on the road from Bethlehem to Jerusalem declaring "Jerusalem – 4 miles ahead" would have been of little use. On the other hand, "signs" of a much different kind were recognized in many domains where we no longer see them as useful ways to interpret the world around us.
In the Gospel according to John, we encounter such "signs" throughout his account of Jesus’ ministry in Judea and Jerusalem. The first instance of Jesus’ "signs" is to be found in John 2:11. These "signs" are given different translations in the KJV, the RSV, the NIV, and the NIV. Listen to the text in the four versions:
KJV -- "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him."
RSV -- "Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him."
NIV -- "This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him."
NRSV -- "Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him."
In case you don’t remember, this was the "miracle" or "sign" of turning water into wine at the marriage at Cana in Galilee. This was a highly visible sign of Jesus’ power over the earthly limits imposed on ordinary human beings.
Soon after, Jesus went up to the temple in Jerusalem during Passover. There he drove out all of the merchants and money-changers. In response to his actions, the Gospel reports in 2:18 that the Jews in the temple asked him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" (NRSV)
Then, in John 2:23, we see how signs and beliefs are linked:
"When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing." (NRSV)
In John 3:2, when Nicodemus visited Jesus at night, Nicodemus declared,
"Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." (NRSV)
In John 4:48, an official whose son was ill came to Jesus and begged him to come down and heal his son. Jesus said to him,
"Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." (NRSV)
And so it goes through the Gospel of John. What other translations render as "miracles" or as "miraculous signs," the NRSV translates simply as "signs." As you listen to the remaining "signs" attributed to Jesus, as reported in the Gospel of John, think about which translation works best for you.
John 6:2 A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick.
John 6:14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world."
John 6:26 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
John 7:31 Yet many in the crowd believed in him and were saying, "When the Messiah comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?"
John 9:16 Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided.
John 11:47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, "What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.
John 12:18 It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him.
John 12:37 Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him.
John 20:30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.
For me, what the Gospel of John calls "signs" seem so extraordinary that they should be called "miracles," rather than "signs." Perhaps this is because we dwell in a forest of signs, where our signs seem rather ordinary. There is little in the way of miracles conveyed through the signs that we encounter on a daily basis.
Yet, this need not be true. We are capable of miraculous signs. Indeed, one of my favorite examples of our capacity for collective action is represented by a very special sign – a cardboard balloon shape with orange and yellow vertical stripes.
During a certain period of each year, we find these cardboard signs hanging by the hundreds in supermarkets, convenience stores, IHOP Restaurants, and in other locations where customers contribute to the Children’s Miracle Network – an alliance of 170 children’s hospitals spread across the United States and Canada. In Texas, 18 children’s hospitals are members of the Children’s Miracle Network, with Children’s Medical Center Dallas being our local member.
Another "miracle network" is represented by the alliance of denominations and organizations known as "One Great Hour of Sharing." If you have been with us during the Lenten season, you have seen our Minute for Missions presentations – all linked to the sign of the blue cardboard fish.
OGHS is focused on an offering that makes real the love of Christ for individuals and communities around the world who suffer the effects of disasters, conflict, or severe economic hardship, and for those who serve them through gifts of money and time. The following denominations participate in OGHS:
American Baptist (ABC)
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ)
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Church of the Brethren (COB)
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Reformed Church in America (RCA)
United Church of Christ (UCC)
The United Methodist Church (UMC)
and Church World Service (CWS)
One Great Hour of Sharing connects thousands of congregations, regardless of our diverse beliefs about theology, liturgy, or social justice. In today’s world of controversy, this is a real miracle.
Jesus declared his ministry through miracles known as signs. He was aware that belief was connected to a proper understanding of these signs and miracles. This is why he did not criticize the one called "doubting Thomas," so much as he blessed those who have not seen and yet believe (John 20:29).
Throughout his ministry, and especially in those last days among his disciples, Jesus did many signs and miracles. For over a century, Trinity Presbyterian Church has been responsible for many miracles, and we still have opportunities to perform signs and miracles among our neighbors. Let us show our neighbors that we are Jesus’ disciples at Trinity Presbyterian Church, that we have received the Holy Spirit and still are capable of sharing this spirit with our neighbors. Even though our church may be "invisible" to cars zipping by on Zang Blvd., we can be more than merely visible. Through our actions and our miracles – what we can call the signs of the Spirit – we do make a difference in people’s lives. Today still can be a special time for the people of Trinity, but only if we let it be "a time of the signs." Amen.