The Sign of Jonah

“A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed (Matthew 16:14).

For two years the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees had been privy to the miraculous power of Jesus. There was no mistaking His power divine because that power was performed for the good of mankind. And if there was any question remaining in their mind, Jesus even cast out demons that possessed people, demonstrating His power over Satan.

Evil knows no bounds except the limitations placed upon Satan and his minions by God Himself. In reading Job chapters 1 & 2 Scripture clearly reveals that all things are subject to the authority of God - even Satan. He can only do what God permits him to do. 

Jesus was aware of the motive behind the elders of Israel when they asked for a special sign that would prove His Messiahship (6:1). He knew they had no intention of conceding that truth. Their only interest was to trap Jesus so they could accuse Him of fraud and blasphemy. No sign, no matter how great, would convince them that Jesus was the Christ. Their eyes were truly blinded to the truth, their hearts were stone cold and devoid of any love toward God or His Son, their spirit was as depraved and dead as the sinners they condemned. They had the Messiah of God standing right in front of them - and they hated Him so much they wanted to kill Him.

One sign would be given to them - the sign of Jonah. This would be the final and ultimate sign Jesus would give to the elders, to the Jews, and to the world. It would verify the truth He was, and is, the Messiah of God, the Lord and Savior of the world. What was the sign of Jonah? Jesus explained it earlier in Matthew 12:39-41, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For 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 in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

Jesus would be tried, condemned, beaten, crucified, and buried. Three days later He would rise from the dead - the sign of Jonah. But the elders still would not believe. Instead, they bribed the Roman guards to spread the lie that the disciples stole His body from the grave and hid it secretly. Truly they were a wicked, sinful, evil, and spiritually adulterous generation.

“Father, I rejoice in knowing that salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ, is not only available to all who believe in and receive Him as Lord and Savior, but it is also secure in Him because You raised Him from the dead and He has ascended on high to Your right hand in glory. We patiently wait for His return and for the consummation of salvation that was begun in us when we first believed. May all glory and honor and praise be Yours through Jesus Christ, Amen.”

Pastor