John 6:26 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." There's a movie out that just won several awards, Three Billboards. I really haven't seen the movie but have read a synopsis of it. Apparently, a mother whose daughter was raped and murdered put up the billboards to express her frustration that her daughter's killer had not been found. The movie has inspired several others to use billboards to draw attention to their causes. I'm not really recommending the movie or it's offshoots. However, when I read this passage of scripture, it came to mind. Jesus tells us the purpose of His miracles. His miracles certainly enabled Him to take care of some physical and natural needs that existed, but they were meant to be more than that; they are signs. Signs can be beautiful, inspiring, thought provoking but signs are not the product. Signs point us to something else. An advertisement points to a particular product that the advertiser wants the viewer to try--a restaurant, a hotel, a certain kind of car, etc. A mileage sign points how far it is to the next city. And Jesus called the miracles He did signs. What do they point to? The Kingdom of Heaven.
Now if you'll indulge me just a little further, Jesus is the Father's billboard. There was a crime committed, the derailment of the human race and every person in it. And Jesus' synopsis of it is this: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full (John 10:10)." The difference about this billboard is that Jesus is advertising that the problem has been solved. The perpetrator has been caught and justice has been served, which is actually grace and mercy, and results in a LIFE sentence eternally-- not a life sentence of imprisonment and death but an eternal life of LIFE to the fullest! Praise Jesus!