Signs are miraculous events, supernatural phenomena or everyday things that are given a special significance. The term is used in John's Gospel to describe the miracles of Jesus Christ.
Miraculous signs
2 Corinthians 12:12 See also Exodus 10:1; Psalm 78:43, Psalm 105:27; Matthew 24:24 parallel Mark 13:22; Mark 16:17; Acts 2:43; Romans 15:19
The marks of a true apostle — signs, wonders, and miracles — were performed among you with great perseverance.
The signs of Jesus Christ in John's Gospel
John 2:11 John refers to the miracles of Jesus Christ as “signs” in order to bring out the significance of these deeds. See also John 6:26 Jesus Christ, the bread of life; John 9:16 Jesus Christ, the light of the world; John 11:47 Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life
Jesus performed this, the first of His signs, at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
Jesus Christ refers to Jonah as a sign
Matthew 12:39–41 parallel Luke 11:29–32
Prophetic signs
Exodus 3:12 See also 1 Samuel 10:7–9; 1 Kings 13:1–5; 2 Kings 19:29 parallel Isaiah 37:30; Isaiah 7:14–17, Isaiah 8:18, Isaiah 19:19–20; Luke 2:12
“I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”
Signs of protection
Exodus 12:13, Exodus 12:23; Joshua 2:12–13, Joshua 2:17–21
Signs given to guarantee promises
The rainbow
Genesis 9:12 See also Genesis 9:13–17
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:
Circumcision
Genesis 17:10–11 See also Genesis 17:12–14; Romans 4:11
This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
Signs serve as reminders of past blessings
Monuments
Religious observances
Passover: Exodus 13:9, Exodus 13:16; Exodus 31:12–17; Ezekiel 20:12, Ezekiel 20:20
Signs associated with the birth of Jesus Christ
The virgin birth
Isaiah 7:14 See also Matthew 1:22–23; Luke 1:34–36
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.
The birthplace
Luke 2:12 See also Luke 2:7, Luke 2:16
And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
The star
Matthew 2:1–2 See also Matthew 2:9–10
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
Signs associated with the death of Jesus Christ
Darkness at midday
Matthew 27:45 parallels Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44–45 See also Amos 8:9
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
The curtain of the temple torn in two
Matthew 27:51 parallels Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45
At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split.
The dead came back to life
At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split. The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people.
Signs associated with the coming of the Holy Spirit
The sound like a violent wind
Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Tongues of fire
They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Speaking in other languages
Acts 2:4 See also Acts 2:5–11
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Signs associated with the second coming of Jesus Christ
General signs
Matthew 24:3–8 parallels Mark 13:4–8, Luke 21:7–11
While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Signs preceding the second coming
See also Matthew 24:9–24 parallels Mark 13:9–22, Luke 21:12–24
Signs simultaneous with the second coming
Matthew 24:27–31 parallels Mark 13:24–27, Luke 21:25–27; Luke 17:24; Acts 2:19–20; Joel 2:30–31; 2 Peter 3:12–13
False signs
Deuteronomy 13:1–3 See also Isaiah 44:25; Matthew 24:24 parallel Mark 13:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:11–14, Revelation 16:14, Revelation 19:20
If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.