The New Testament tells us that only a wicked and evil generation will ask for a sign from God. The primary Scripture focus today is found in Matthew 12. Here is one of the many of the New Testament accounts of the Pharisees attempts at testing Jesus. In verse 38 the Pharisees ask Jesus if He will give them a sign that He is from God. Christ answers them saying, "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 judgement with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here." (Matthew 12:39).
Clearly the sign of Jonah is a direct allusion between the stories of Jonah and the unfolding story of Christ. This brings up some key points that shouldn't be ignored:
1. Jesus clearly is prophesying His death and resurrection. Just as Jonah spent three days in the fish, so also would Christ spend three days in the grave. He is telling them of the sign which would be brought forth.
2. Jesus says that even Nineveh would spite this generation on judgement day. Most of us know the story of Jonah, and know that Nineveh was one of the worst and disgusting cities of its time. Despite this, even they turned at the preaching of a mere man (I know he was a prophet of God, but he was still human). The generation during the time of Jesus didn't even turn at the preaching of the Son of God.
3. Finally, and most importantly, Jesus never once says that these astonishing condemnations are exclusive to only that generation. In fact, in the tone that I read, it seemed to be a warning to ALL generations. Any generation can be subject to this. Notice it says "a" wicked generation, not "the" wicked generation in the beginning of that passage.
Conclusion: the essential message I received from this passage, was one of warning, yet one of awesome power. Jesus is telling us that there is no sign needed from God except this: Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, died a martyrs death on the cross, and was raised from the grave three days later. This sign should be enough for all believers of God's genuine existence. The warning comes for those who ask to see a sign. If Jesus Christ wasn't sign enough, nothing ever will be. Don't be the generation asking for a sign; be the one knowing Christ was enough.
Clearly the sign of Jonah is a direct allusion between the stories of Jonah and the unfolding story of Christ. This brings up some key points that shouldn't be ignored:
1. Jesus clearly is prophesying His death and resurrection. Just as Jonah spent three days in the fish, so also would Christ spend three days in the grave. He is telling them of the sign which would be brought forth.
2. Jesus says that even Nineveh would spite this generation on judgement day. Most of us know the story of Jonah, and know that Nineveh was one of the worst and disgusting cities of its time. Despite this, even they turned at the preaching of a mere man (I know he was a prophet of God, but he was still human). The generation during the time of Jesus didn't even turn at the preaching of the Son of God.
3. Finally, and most importantly, Jesus never once says that these astonishing condemnations are exclusive to only that generation. In fact, in the tone that I read, it seemed to be a warning to ALL generations. Any generation can be subject to this. Notice it says "a" wicked generation, not "the" wicked generation in the beginning of that passage.
Conclusion: the essential message I received from this passage, was one of warning, yet one of awesome power. Jesus is telling us that there is no sign needed from God except this: Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, died a martyrs death on the cross, and was raised from the grave three days later. This sign should be enough for all believers of God's genuine existence. The warning comes for those who ask to see a sign. If Jesus Christ wasn't sign enough, nothing ever will be. Don't be the generation asking for a sign; be the one knowing Christ was enough.
