The sign of Jonah

The sign of Jonah

Scripture:

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.

Matthew 12:38-42

Observation:

In this passage, some Pharisees and teachers of the law ask the Lord for a sign. In Mark, the same account is listed as the Pharisee’s asking Jesus for a “sign from heaven”. At that time, Jesus was already performing many miracles, healing the sick, casting out the demon possessed, feeding the 5,000. Hence, the sign from heaven they were asking for was probably something visually spectacular, most likely fire from heaven like that which occurred on Mount Carmel when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. The question asked of Jesus was similar to His temptation in the desert when the devil asked him to throw himself down from the top of the temple to prove He was the son of God.

The Lord rebukes them by stating that only a wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign. On Mount Carmel, the people were wavering between two opinions, and depended on visual miracles to decide which God to follow. Such faith is only superficial and is a warning for us today not to chase after miracles or signs and wonders but remember that true faith is believing without seeing as stated in Hebrews 11:1 Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Later the Lord also told Thomas and His disciples “Blessed are those who do not see, and yet believe”.

However, the Lord also adds that only the sign of Jonah will be given them, prophesying how just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for 3 days and 3 nights, so too, He would spend 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth before He was resurrected. What is the heart of the earth? It is another way to describe Sheol, where the dead go. In Jonah 2:2, we see how Jonah cried out of the depths of Sheol. In this passage and many other parts of the Bible, we are told that Sheol or Hades or Hell is a real place and it is somewhere beneath us in the core of the earth. Because of His great love, our Lord Jesus died and rose again to provide the way for us to escape from the horrors of hell! May His name be praised forever even for that alone. Yet, the reality of hell is something we need to be keenly aware of, as we pray for the salvation of loved ones and also guard our lives lest we fall away to the corruptions of the world.   

Thereafter, the Lord then further rebukes this generation for not repenting like the people of Nineveh in Jonah’s time and not coming to listen to the Lord’s wisdom like the Queen of Sheba came to learn from Solomon’s wisdom. We need to have a repentant heart, a heart inclined to listen and learn from the wisdom of God!

Application:

We are reminded not to prioritize chasing after signs and wonders but instead training our heart and lives to be humbly faithful even when things are difficult. We need to remember faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Thank our Lord Jesus for His wonderful love and great sacrifice that has saved us from our sins and the horrors of hell. Look to Him always for salvation. Remember that hell is real and terrible! Pray earnestly for our loved ones that they may be saved. Image how terrible it would be to see them suffering in the depths of hell.

Know how important it is to have a repentant heart towards God, turning to Him from our sinful ways. Make time to seek our Heavenly Lord, to listen to Him and learn from His wisdom. He is infinitely wise and gives wisdom generously to all who ask him, without finding fault,

Prayer:

Praise thee, Heavenly Lord, for the great things You have done. You died that I may be forgiven. You rose again that I may rise with You in life. Praise Your name forever! Turn my heart towards You O Lord. Let me not be part of a wicked and adulterous generation that runs after signs and wonders without deep faith. Let my faith be strong even when I do not see. Let my heart be faithful even in the darkest of times! Give me a heart for the lost, I pray. Teach me to love others, to greatly desire for their salvation from hell. Teach me Your wisdom I pray, let my heart be inclined to listen to You. May Your name be praised forever! In Jesus name, Amen.