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Matthew 12:39 - More Than a Miracle.Matthew 12:39 (NLT) But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.Matthew 12:39 (CWR) Jesus said, "Godless people are always asking for indisputable proof before they believe anything. No greater miracle will be given than what happened to the prophet Jonah. CONTEXT Jonah was a prophet sent to the Assyrian city of Nineveh (read his story in the book of Jonah). Because Assyria was such a cruel and warlike nation, Jonah tried to run from his assignment and ended up spending three days in the belly of a huge fish. When Jonah got out, he grudgingly went to Nineveh, preached God's message, and saw the evil city repent. By contrast, when Jesus came to his people, they refused to repent. Here Jesus was clearly saying that his resurrection would prove his identity as the Messiah. Three days after his death, Jesus would come back to life, just as Jonah was given a new chance at life after three days in the fish. This prediction does not contradict Jesus' death on a Friday afternoon and resurrection on a Sunday morning because Jewish thought understood a "day" to include part of a day or a night. Saying "three days and three nights" was the same as saying "portions of three days." [Life Application SB 2019] INTRODUCTION The Pharisees were asking for another miraculous sign, but they were not sincerely seeking to know Jesus. Jesus knew they had already seen enough miraculous proof to convince them that he was the Messiah if they would just open their hearts. But they had already decided not to believe in him, and more miracles would not change that. Many people have said, "If I could just see a real miracle, then I could really believe in God." But Jesus' response to the Pharisees applies to us. We have plenty of evidence - Jesus' birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and centuries of his work in believers around the world. Instead of looking for additional evidence or miracles, accept what God has already done and move forward. Then your life will help form the chain of evidence to reach another person. [Life Application SB 2019] COMMENTARY PEARL More Than a Miracle Have you ever thought that if you could do a miracle, then your non-Christian friends would believe? If that is what it would take, then God would do it. The religious leaders asked Jesus for a miraculous sign, but He told them, "Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights" (Matthew 12:39-40 NLT). At the same time Jesus refused a sign, He promised a sign. He refused the sign they wanted, which would have had no effect on them. But He promised the only sign that could truly impact and change them. Jesus was telling them, "Someone greater than Jonah is here. And I'm offering forgiveness." While Jonah came preaching God's judgment, Jesus came preaching God's mercy and grace. Jonah was disobedient, but Jesus was obedient. Jonah preached to one city, but Jesus came for the entire world. Then Jesus continued, "The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here - but you refuse to listen" (verse 42 NLT). The queen of Sheba was not Jewish, but she came to Jerusalem seeking the wisdom of the great King Solomon. She made a grueling 1,200-mile journey to hear what he had to say, because she desperately wanted to hear truth. In essence Jesus was saying, "You should know better than to ask for a sign. You should know what is true and what is right." We can't help but draw a parallel to our own nation. We should know better. Our country was built on biblical precepts. The first book in our public school system was the Bible. Our laws were based on biblical principles. But today we can't even post the Ten Commandments in a classroom. As we see anarchy in the streets and violence spreading across our society, people are crying out for a return to family values. But we need more than family values; we need the morality those values are based on. And then we need the spirituality that morality is based on. We can't have morality without spirituality, because who determines what is moral and immoral? We must have a set of standards, and we find them in the pages of Scripture. Jesus was saying to the religious leaders, "So you want a sign? Here it is. I'm going to die on the cross and rise from the dead. That is your sign." The Sign Our Unbelieving Friends And Family Need To Know About Is That Jesus Died On The Cross For Them And Rose From The Dead. This Is What We Need To Proclaim. It's The Greatest Sign Of All. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The Pharisees Were Not Sincerely Seeking To Know Jesus. Jesus Knew They Had Already Seen Enough Miraculous Proof To Convince Them That He Was The Messiah If They Would Just Open Their Hearts. But They Had Already Decided Not To Believe In Him, And More Miracles Would Not Change That. We Have Plenty Of Evidence - Jesus' Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, And Centuries Of His Work In Believers Around The World. Instead Of Looking For Additional Evidence Or Miracles, Accept What God Has Already Done And Move Forward. Then Your Life Will Help Form The Chain Of Evidence To Reach Another Person. [Life Application SB 2019] The Sign Our Unbelieving Friends And Family Need To Know About Is That Jesus Died On The Cross For Them And Rose From The Dead. This Is What We Need To Proclaim. It's The Greatest Sign Of All. Greg Laurie LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Matthew 16:4 - Demanding a Sign. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2009/20090610-1139.html Hebrews 11:6 - Faith Is Vital!!! https://www.abible.com/devotions/2009/20090415-1054.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |