John’s gospel is like a courtroom with Jesus on trial. The words ‘witness’ and ‘testify’ occur often. In John 5 Jesus listed four witnesses who testified to His authenticity: (1) His miracles (signs); (2) John the Baptist; (3) God the Father; (4) The scriptures.
The book of John is saturated with signs of life. It recounts many miracles and other indicators that point to Jesus as the ultimate giver of life. His miracles said what He Himself said: “Come to me to have life.” (John 5:40, NIV)
Jesus, in His own defense, also called the scriptures to the witness stand. “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!” (John 5:39, NLT) Signs point to something other than themselves. So do Christ’s miracles. So do the scriptures. God speaks in sign language.
Sign language saved my life. In my college years, I was part of a fire suppression crew that fought a huge forest fire in Okanogan, Washington. Our helicopter pilot was running low on fuel so he dropped us off on a ridge at a spot that wasn’t very flat. Three other guys got off. Then I got off, grabbed a chain saw, and began to run up hill.
After a few steps, I looked up and saw my crewmembers motioning frantically with their hands, “Get down!” I bent over just in time. My buddies said that just before I bent at the waist the helicopter blade was dangerously close to the top of my head.
Sign language is all around us. I like to watch the agile people who gracefully sign for the deaf in our church. The seas and the skies speak in sign language. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1, NIV)
The guys on my fire crew were screaming at me, but I couldn’t hear them. Looking up and seeing sign language gave me more years of life. I’m so glad God shared with me using sign language that showed me the way to a bazillion more years of life.
Life Spark: Anticipate God speaking to you in sign language today. (John 5:31-47)
Life-challenge: Speak to someone with sign language today. Use a smile, a hug, or a pat on the back to say, “You matter to me,” then whisper a prayer and thank God for signing the same message to you.