Jesus is Essential
Luke 11:29–32: And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.
The “sign” would be His own resurrection, of course. He directs them back to two incidents in the Old Testament. The first is the account of the prophet Jonah. Jonah was apparently raised from the dead when he was in the fish. God brought him out of darkness and death into light and life.
Jonah’s experience was typical of the coming death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Ninevites received Jonah and his preaching after his miraculous deliverance, and they repented. The acts of Israel, as a nation, place her in a much worse position because she did not receive her Messiah and did not repent. 1
Walking with Jesus
What will it take for you to repent? It took Jonah and a great fish to reach the Ninevites. It took the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ to reach the world. But that does not seem to be enough anymore. Does your faith need constant signs, or is His redemption sufficient for you day by day?
Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor any works like Your works. Ps.86:8
Not responding to the knowledge of God has eternal consequences.
Praying
Lord, keep my eyes and my heart focused upon You and Your wondrous works.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (Luke) (electronic ed., Vol. 37). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
