Cees and Anneke Noordzij — Soteriology
b8 — Jesus’ Signs in the Gospel of John
Atonement and the Priesthood of Christ
In the third sign (the healing at Bethesda), Noordzij emphasizes that Jesus accomplishes His redemptive work as high priest. The day on which Jesus healed the paralyzed man was the great Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29-31): “The high priest shall make atonement for the sanctuary, on account of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel, and on account of their transgressions, all their sins” (Lev. 16:16, 30). Noordzij observes that this is an “incredibly glorious day.”
The typological meaning is central for Noordzij: “We have a heavenly high priest, Jesus, who universally raises up the weakened man in Bethesda through the Word that He speaks.”1 The healing is not only physical; it is the sign of the atonement that Christ accomplished. The “thirty-eight years” of the invalid refers to Israel’s forty years of wilderness wandering as a result of unbelief (Deut. 2:14).
Redemption of the Body
In the sign of the official’s son—where Jesus speaks “Your son will live” in prophetic present tense—Noordzij sees the promise of complete redemption. He quotes Rom. 8:23: “We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.” This goes beyond healing alone; it is the complete redemption to be realized in the coming age.
Noordzij declares: “There comes healing from all internal conflict! There comes complete redemption!” (Rev. 14:3-4; Isa. 62:12).2 Redemption encompasses both the inner struggle and the ultimate liberation of the body.
Resurrection and the Firstborn of Many
In the seventh sign—the raising of Lazarus—Noordzij sees the eschatological dimension of the work of redemption. Lazarus is “an image of the fullness of Christ, of His body of many sons.” Jesus raises Lazarus and says: “Come out” (John 11:44). This is a type of the general resurrection.
Noordzij quotes Rom. 8:29: “Jesus is the firstborn of many brothers.” The whole body of Christ will be freed in the same manner: “Indeed, the whole body of Christ will be completely freed from all the bonds of death.” This refers to John 5:28-29: “Do not be astonished at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”3
Divine Authority and Election
In the sign of Jesus walking on water (sign 5), Noordzij cautiously introduces the theme of divine predestination: “The time is near when the Lord will give authority to ‘His own’ to walk on the ‘waters from below’” (Rom. 8:29-30). This suggests a connection between God’s predestination (Rom. 8:29-30) and the liberation of His elect.