The Sign of Jonah {Matthew 12}
12:30 AM
Monday April 15
“Proof! Show us proof!” Those were the cries of some of the scribes and Pharisees who, after witnessing Jesus heal a blind and mute man and accusing Him of doing so through the power of Satan, demanded the Lord show them a sign. Their hardened hearts couldn’t accept in faith that Jesus was indeed their long awaited Messiah. Knowing this Jesus answered, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah.” (vs. 39) What is the sign of Jonah? Jesus goes on to say, “Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days in the heart of the earth.” (vs. 40-41)
Jonah was a man who after trying to flee from God in disobedience, was swallowed by a great fish, spending three days and nights in the belly of the beast before being vomited alive unto dry land. This final sign, the sign of Jonah, was given by Jesus as a foreshadowing of His soon to be fate. In His greatest miracle of all, Jesus was crucified on the Cross, buried, and rose again on the third day. He forever conquered death and established His divine authority as the Son of God, the promised Messiah, and King of the Jews. it is only through His death and resurrection, His suffering and sacrifice, can we have the gift of eternal life.
Even though the scribes and Pharisees exhibited a wicked disbelief, a healthy skepticism can be a good thing. Especially when it comes to discerning those who claim to speak for God or to represent His Word. Jesus Himself warns, “For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many.” (Matt. 24:5) Because of this God tells us to test everything against what the Bible says. To be like the Jews of Berea who after hearing the preaching of the word spent time, “examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11) And why do we use the Bible as our “litmus test” of truth? Because we know that every word of Scripture was breathed by God. (2 Tim. 3:16) Every word is true and is the foundation of the Christian Faith.
Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This means that as Believers even though we might not get every question answered, nor offered irrefutable “worldly proof”, we have faith in God and in His Word. We believe the Scriptures which tells us, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) We trust in Jesus when He says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)
As we celebrate this holy week leading up to Easter, while the lost continue to search for a sign, we can rest in our assurance that Jesus Christ is who He says He is. He is the promised Messiah, the Son of God, and our Lord and Savior whose sacrificial death and glorious resurrection is all the proof we’ll ever need!
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