Sinikka Smothers

Numbers have great significance in the Bible, from the days of creation in Genesis to the churches addressed in Revelation. Even being someone who cringes away from math, which is definitely not one of my talents, I find God’s use of numbers fascinating. The intricacy with which God has crafted every slight detail of the world is truly awe-inspiring and something that only He could have accomplished. Lest we become lackluster, however, it is important to continually study and acknowledge the creativity and genius of the Lord.

With the Bible itself being the best resource and the one that should be consulted and used over and above any other, there are also other good supplementary books that draw attention to specific topics or areas of Scripture. “Seven Sevens in the Gospel of John” by Sinikka Smothers is a relatively short but detailed and well-thought-out book about how the number seven continually appears in John’s Gospel account and how it relates to us today. I don’t think that there is necessarily a wrong layout for putting forth this information, and the author does well in arranging seven main parts into seven smaller sections. Although I am familiar with what is discussed, I appreciate the change of perspective that comes from considering the groupings of events. The seven main sections include the signs and miracles that Jesus performed, the seven women who met Jesus, Pilate’s seven questions for Jesus, seven life-changing conversations, God’s plan of the ages, and the seven ministries of the Holy Spirit.

Interspersing contemporary stories and anecdotes within the chapters, Smothers reinforces the personal connection that we each need to have with our Savior. I appreciate how she ends each chapter with the Resurrection, either chronologically or by suggestion, because it further impresses upon readers the fulfillment of Scripture and the promise of eternity for the faithful. One of the things that I learned while reading this book is that the Pharisees particularly sought to kill Jesus after He resurrected Lazarus because according to Jewish beliefs, once someone died, their spirit could remain nearby for a brief period of time, but being dead for four days, Lazarus’ spirit would no longer be present and he would have begun decomposing. I also came to further realize the significance of the Resurrection in tandem with the Day of Atonement and the role of the high priest. The Jewish high priest would annually enter the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial animal on the mercy seat. In a beautiful and prophetic manner, Jesus became our High Priest by entering the Holy of Holies, sacrificing Himself, sprinkling His own blood on the stone where His body had lain, and rising from the dead. The two angels who appeared to Mary Magdalene in Jesus’ tomb represent the two cherubim guarding the ark of the covenant. Somehow I had not fully made this connection before, and it took my breath away when I read it. I love closing a book with a renewed sense of faith and joy in the Lord and more knowledge of Him.

I recommend this book for both new and mature Christians as well as skeptics because it provides an excellent overview of the New Testament, particularly the gospel of John, and it focuses on the events of Jesus’ life that are related in Scripture.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.… (más)

This book really intrigued me because I have always heard that the number seven was significant to the Bible and the teachings of Jesus. I like the way the author broke down the chapters to reflect different accounts in John that are significant to the number seven. I have read John many times but I never considered how a particular number had meaning to the book of John.
Right away I realized that the story of five loads of bread and two fish were exactly what this book is referring to. Then I began to think about what other truths would I find as I read the book. It seems I have told the story about the feeding of five thousand but never connected that the number seven was right there in the story. I think I like the book because it points out stories where seven is used that we have probably read many times without connecting how the number seven flows through the book of John.
The personal stories mixed in the chapters were good and brought a light to the Gospel of John. I remember the story in one chapter where it talks about a mother who lost her teenage daughter to a car accident. Her daughter had been texting and driving. I loved what the mother said to a group of high schoolers; “Truth matters, and truth can change lives if it is received and not rejected.” The Bible speaks truth but it is our decision whether we follow that truth or ignore it. Just like Thomas in the Bible we doubt things we cannot see. We need to see it to believe it. “He will make Himself known to us when we sincerely seek Him.”
I enjoyed the book and think it was written well with scriptures and Biblical stories that reflect the book of John. It would be a good tool to have when reading John to dig deeper into God’s Word.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.… (más)

This book brings awareness to seven different themes in the Gospel of John starting with "Seven Names of Jesus imprinted on Seven Miracles". The author weaves her imagination through these events, thrusting the reader into the middle of the action. One of my favorite themes was Seven Women Who Met Jesus. The author's insights help us pause and think about the lives of these women and the impact that meeting Jesus had on them. I also enjoyed how the author shared some modern-day stories to emphasize biblical truths. This would make a great study companion to the Gospel of John for an individual or group.… (más)