There are six generally accepted "signs" in the Gospel of John. These are listed in the table below. Each of them confirms a specific type of metaphorical emphatic "I am" statement of Jesus as shown in the table. Each of these six signs appears to be referred to as a "sign" in the Greek text. Each sign involves Jesus asking someone, or sometimes more than one person, to do something, and then, as they do it, the supernatural event occurs.

Bible scholars have presented various opinions regarding whether there are seven signs, and if so, what the seventh sign might be. Since the six generally accepted signs each confirm a specific type of metaphorical emphatic "I am" statement of Jesus, and there is a seventh type of metaphorical emphatic "I am" statement, there should be a seventh sign that confirms the seventh type, and there is, as shown below. See the good shepherd page for a detailed explanation of this seventh sign.

There is one significant difference between this sign and the other six. In each of the first six, Jesus asks someone to do something, and then, as they are doing it, something supernatural happens, but in the case of this seventh sign, Jesus does something supernatural first (entering the room when the door is shut), and then, afterwards, asks the disciples to do something (receive the Holy Spirit in the case of the disciples other than Thomas, touch his hands and side and believe in the case of Thomas), so the order is reversed.

Like the other six signs, the seventh sign appears to be referred to as a sign in the Greek text (John 20:30-31), but this is misunderstood. John 20:30-31 states, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." Notice the word "signs." Notice the words "these are written." What are written? Signs -- signs are written. Why does it say "these [signs] are written" at this point in the text? Because John 20:19-29 gives an account of the seventh and final sign that corresponds to one of the seven types of metaphorical emphatic "I am" statements of Jesus. This statement is not about the purpose of the Gospel of John, per se, but about the purpose of the signs in the Gospel of John. This statement is not the "original ending" of the Gospel of John, as it is sometimes called, it is the ending of the account of the seven signs which correspond to the seven types of metaphorical emphatic "I am" statements. See the menorah page for more on this topic.

Some people want to include Jesus walking on water as one of a set of seven signs; however, Jesus walking on water does not appear to confirm a specific type of metaphorical emphatic "I am" statement, as do the generally accepted six. It does, however, confirm an emphatic "I am" statement, but not one with a metaphorical predicate. It confirms "I am he" without any predicate, since that is what Jesus said as he was walking on the water. Walking on water may be a sign, but it is not referred to as a sign in the Greek text, and it does not appear to be one of a set of seven with the other six. Only Jesus entering a room when the door is shut matches the remaining type of metaphorical emphatic "I am" statement, "I am the good shepherd," and appears to be referred to as a sign in the Greek text.

It is interesting to note that there are some parallels between the feeding of the 5,000, followed by Jesus walking on water, with the 23rd Psalm. The sheep lie down in green pastures, and the multitudes sat on the grass to eat. The shepherd leads the sheep by the still waters, and after Jesus crossed the lake, stilling the storm, the people followed him to the other side of lake, etc.

The miraculous catch of 153 fish does not confirm a specific type of metaphorical emphatic "I am" statement, as do the generally accepted six. It does, however, confirm an emphatic "I am" statement, but not one with a metaphorical predicate. It confirms "I am he [the Messiah]." Messiah means "anointed one," that is, anointed with the Holy Spirit. When the Samaritan woman at the well said that she knew that the Messiah was coming, Jesus said, "I am he [the Messiah]." As the Messiah, he tells her that he can give her "living water," which is the Holy Spirit (John 4:13-14, 7:37-39). The significance of the miraculous catch of fish is explained on the  The Living Water  page.

The catch of fish may be a sign, but it is not referred to as a sign in the Greek text, and it is not one of a set of seven with the generally accepted six. It is, however, like the generally accepted six in that Jesus tells the disciples to do something (cast their nets on the right side of the boat), and then the miracle happens as they are obeying his command.