Seeking Signs
Jesus performed many supernatural wonders during his earthly ministry. Many were healed, demons were cast out, he walked on water, and even saved a wedding by turning water into wine for the celebrations. On many of these occasions, the scribes and Pharisees opposed him upon the basis of the signs themselves.
They claimed the acts were evil on the basis that they were performed on the Sabbath, that he cast out demons by the power of Beelzebub, or whatever random reason they had to reject the signs that were before them. People demand proof, but even when the proof is staring them in the eye, if they do not wish to believe it they will find an excuse.
However, that never stops the willfully ignorant from claiming that they would believe if they could just see more evidence. Jesus was confronted with just such a request in an event recorded in Matthew 12.
Evil and Adulterous
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
Matthew 12:38
This was not too long after Jesus had cast a demon out of a man who had been blind and mute that this request is made. The same group who had accused him of doing wonders by the power of Satan are now coming to him demanding he perform more signs for them! All they would receive instead was a rebuke.
But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
Matthew 12:39-42
A generation who, having seen so much evidence, still demanded more wasn’t doing so because they had a standard of proof that hadn’t been reached yet. Instead, they were evil and adulterous in heart. They claimed to be faithful to God but rejected his kingdom in their midst. They didn’t recognize it because they were unfaithful.
The Ultimate Sign
And what is this “sign of Jonah” they would receive? Jesus, three days after his burial, would rise again! Even his closest disciples didn’t understand that he meant he would actually be killed and take life back up again at that time. This is one of many cases where he tells people of his coming execution and it went right over everyone’s head at the time.
However, many of his generation would deny the resurrection even after it occurred! Roman guards (who would normally be executed themselves for not being on duty when they were supposed to) were paid to tell the story that their entire unit had fallen asleep while fishermen sneaked past, broke an imperial seal, and stole the body that was their entire duty.
If there was ever a time to question the official narrative, it’s when men who probably ought to be executed for dereliction of duty are walking around bragging about it! Beyond that, the men who were telling a different story refused to deny the resurrection even on penalty of death. Some would be willing to die for a lie they believe is true, but how many would be willing to die for something they know is false?
The sign of Jonah had been given to their generation and many were too wicked and adulterous to accept it.
Sign of Judgement
The resurrection has something in common with Jonah besides 3 days in the depths as well. Like Jonah, Jesus is a sign of a coming judgement and need for repentance. We all now live with the resurrection of Jesus as history. Jesus, who is attested to more than Jonah or Solomon, is our sign. To reject him is to invite the scorn of people throughout all of history who believed in God on far less evidence than we have.
It is a shameful thing to disbelieve such a cloud of witnesses and all the evidence available to us. This generation will be no different than the one he was speaking to. Unless a person is given a new heart, no temporary change will matter. Or as Jesus said it:
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”
Matthew 12:43-45
A clean sweep isn’t enough. The evil avoid by force of will today will invite greater evil tomorrow. What we need is not to put our own affairs in order, but to submit them into the loving hands of our savior. If you’re waiting for more evidence, know that you already have enough. If you think you’re going to do well enough on your own know that you will not.
Put away the excuses and trust in the one who conquered death today.
