Text: Matthew 12:38-42
“For just 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.” —Matthew 12:40
The Pharisees were “fit to be tied!” That’s a southern expression used when someone is so angry that he must be tied up to restrain him from committing an act of aggression. Jesus had gotten under the skin of these religious hypocrites, and they wanted to fight back in more ways than one.
After Jesus “unlawfully” healed on the Sabbath and then freed a man of demonic oppression, the smug Pharisees accused him of doing the work of the devil by attributing it to Beelzebub, or “the prince of demons.” They necessitated a “sign” that Jesus was truly who he claimed to be. They demanded proof of his deity. But Jesus answered them:
“An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just 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 at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” —Matthew 12:39-41
The sign Jesus gave them was a picture of his death, burial, and resurrection, by pointing to the prophetic implications of the life of Jonah. Just as Jonah was hurled into the sea to appease the wrath of God coming upon others, Jesus would absorb the wrath of God on the cross for the atonement of our sins, and thereby fulfill the justice of God by paying the penalty our sins deserve. Just as Jonah spent three days in the belly of a massive fish that eventually released him, so Christ would spend three days in the heart of the earth. But death could not hold him. The grave could not contain him. His enemies could not defeat him.
Of all the countless miracles associated with the life of Jesus, there are none more significant than his resurrection from the dead as confirmed by over 500 eyewitnesses. Imagine having over 500 people testify in a court of law today and having all of their accounts perfectly harmonized without any inconsistencies. Most prosecutors today are brimming with confidence if they have just three or four corresponding eyewitnesses to their case. The resurrection had hundreds of witnesses, but the Pharisees were too stubborn, prideful, and arrogant to receive the salvation Jesus came to give them.
But there is another caveat Jesus gave to confront the callousness of the scribes and Pharisees. He told them “the men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation to condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah.” Remember those Ninevites that Jonah cared so little about—the “wicked” people that the renegade prophet didn’t think were worthy of second chances and the good news of God’s mercy? Well guess what? They repented. And according to Jesus, they will rise again to “condemn” those who reject the Gospel message.
Those demanding more signs that day were of the same crowd of which Jesus said, “corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do” (Matthew 21:31). God had given them an abundance of signs, and more signs on top of those signs, and yet they still rejected the most blatant sign of all—JESUS has conquered death, hell, and the grave.
CONSIDER: Jesus is the undisputed risen Champion, the living Son of God, presently seated at the right hand of the Father, and making intercession for you and me. If you are looking for a “sign” of His faithfulness in the face of sickness, suffering, betrayal, loneliness, depression, loss, discouragement, or failure, look no further than the Resurrection. He is alive and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, too difficult for Him. He doesn’t need you to convince Him that your needs are important, He simply longs for you to worship Him… and TRUST Him as your LIVING HOPE.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for the greatest sign from heaven—a picture of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection that will never grow old. Holy Spirit, thank you that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is now alive in me. You will continue to lead me in a triumphant victory over all that is in this world, to the glory and honor of Jesus, Amen.
Questions for Reflection and/or Group Discussion
- In your opinion, what is the strongest evidence for God?
- What did a hostile group of people ask Jesus to do? (Matthew 12:38)
- What kind of people did Jesus say asked for additional miraculous signs? (v.39) How did Jesus respond to the request for a sign? (vv.39-40)
- Why will the “men of Nineveh” be in a position to judge? (v.41)
- How can you demonstrate the reality of the resurrected Christ in your life today? How should it shape your worship?
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