As mentioned in some previous articles, asking for a sign from God is not wrong. The Messiah was prophesied to perform certain signs, and Jesus clearly fulfilled all of them. Yet, after all of it, we read that the people in general, the Pharisees and Sadducees were repeatedly asking for more signs. We will deal with three questions pertaining to 'signs' in today's article.
John 2: 18,19 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
When is it enough? What is enough? Jesus cured someone who was born blind, healed the lame, the deaf, and the dumb, cast out demons, raised three people from death, walked on the waters, multiplied bread and fish, calmed the storms, and much more. If they wanted miraculous, they got it right there. He spoke with authority when interpreting the Scriptures. He also showed how He fulfilled old testament prophecies. Was that enough? No. I am not sure if any other sign could have been performed which they would have thought to be final and a sure thing. What about a sign of mass genocide and supernatural death of all the Romans? Probably that might have helped them believe. But believe in who? Surely not in the Jesus described in the gospels. What other sign? The ultimate sign given to them, and to us is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is a lot of historical evidence and reasoning regarding these two events in the life of Jesus: something which Jesus considers enough. Do we? If not, why not?
John 6: 26,27,30,33-35 (to the people) Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? (Jesus replied) For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Is sign the destination, or a guidepost? We have heard many say that they will believe in God if they are healed of a sickness, brought out of suffering, or made prosperous. Even when it is granted, many times they tend to account the healing to a medical procedure, deliverance as circumstantial, and prosperity as a fruit of their labor. Jesus warns us against tendencies of looking for a sign as opposed to looking for Him. Are we looking for the bread to fill our stomachs, or are we looking for the bread of life?
Matthew 16: 1-4 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Matthew 12: 40-42 because just as Jonah was in the stomach of the sea creature for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. But look—something greater than Jonah is here! The queen of the south will stand up and condemn the people living today, because she came from so far away to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But look! Something greater than Solomon is here!”
Are we missing the signs given? There are three reasons given of how one could miss a sign.
Inability to interpret the signs - The way God works through the natural world, through history, through the church, and in our personal lives could all be signs. Have we checked to see if God is waiting to reveal anything to us through these events?
Unrepentant heart - Jonah being alive after drowning in the sea was enough a sign for a whole city to listen and accept God's word, and repent. Are we unwilling to see the signs, because if we do, we might have to repent of our evil ways?
Apathy - Just on the possibility of visiting a wise man, the queen of the south traveled from so far away to hear Solomon. If the possibility to have a personal relationship with such a wonderful God of the Universe exists, how far are we willing to travel to check and see if it is true?
Link to the previous article: How can we know that You are the One? Link to the next article: Why do You talk in parables?
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