John’s purpose is made clear in the words spoken by Martha. John’s purpose in including this as the seventh miracle also shows a progression of power. There is no greater power than the ability to bring a dead man back to life, except the ability to do it permanently. This seventh miracle is the final miracle that bears witness to Jesus’ ultimate resurrection. John wants the reader to realize that these seven miracles pale in comparison to the eighth miracle, and these seven were strong enough to merit belief in Jesus on many separate occasions. He constructs an implied a fortiori argument, by leading the reader to the conclusion, “If these people believed because of these lesser miracles, how much more should we believe because of the greatest miracle, the resurrection?” John’s purpose comes to full fruition in these miracles.
