Seeking a Sign

SI: We do not want to miss the ultimate sign of Jesus’ power in the Resurrection.

SP: For both believers and unbelievers to understand the importance of the sign of Jonah.

SQ: Do we understand the stand of Jonah?

I. Introduction

He is Risen! Happy Easter everyone! I hope today is a day where we can reflect on the Resurrection of Christ and His saving work in our lives. Today I want to talk about Signs and not those signs you see on road, but rather signs of Christ’s power.

Many kids hunted for Easter eggs during this Easter season. I remember not being the best at searching for Easter Eggs because I was try to look in the spots that were too hard and not the obvious ones. In the same way today I want us to look at the Jews and how they missed something right in front of their face and I want to look at how we can do this too.

Today I want is to examine how we may be looking for sings of the faith while ignoring the greatest sign. I want to challenge us as believers today to not be seeking the wrong things from Christ and our faith. When we seek the wrong things out of our faith we will look for the wrong sign.

Our passage this morning comes from Matthew 12: 38-42 which says this....

Matthew 12:38–42 NKJV

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” 39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For 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. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

In this passage Jesus is answering a question that the Pharisees and scribes ask him following being accused of casting out demons by satan. He then condemns the pharisees for blaspheming the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus with this question, but I think Christ’s answer provides a valuable lesson for us today.

I. Why do we seek a sign

Matthew 12:39 “39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”

a. Because we create plausible deniability.

We do not want to wrestle with our sin and unbelief so we say things like “we need proof.”

God is not mocked though because like it says in Romans 1 we have all the evidence we need. Romans 1:18-20

Romans 1:18–20 NKJV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

The Jews wanted to continue to live their way so they denied the sign.

Do want we want to continue to live in our lifestyle?

Maybe instead of asking for signs we make objections such as If God is so good why is there evil? The Bible doesn’t match up with science? or The I was hurt by the church?

Whatever objection to Christ you might have, it comes from a place of pride because we do not recognize our greatest need.

b. Because we do not understand what sign we need.

The Jews missed the sign because they wanted Jesus to be a warrior king, but they did not see the true thing that they needed was forgiveness from sins.

We may seek for God to “make our lives better” or “to bless us” or most dubious to “save us from hell” , but what we really need is to be free from sin!!

Jesus gives us the one thing we cannot get on our own and this is the sign we should be seeking.

II. What sign did Jesus give

a. The sign of the resurrection.

The sign that gathers us together this morning. Jesus gave the ultimate sign by being victories over death. In the passage he goes on to explain what sign he left. Verse 40 says this Matthew 12:40 “40 For 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.”

1. Jesus uses the example of Jonah being in the fish for three days to symbolize his resurrection.

Interestingly Luke does not mention this in recording the word that Jesus says but Matthew is sure to record this part of Jesus’ answer.

The resurrection is the only sign we need because it proves Jesus power of sin and death.

It proves Jesus was God

It proved that Jesus can overcome death

Through this sign the penalty for all of our sins was paid!

2. This sign could be accomplished by no one else.

No other prophet, no other teacher, just God.

It gives a undeniable proof of power over other false religions.

3. This is the main sign

A.It is not like Jesus had not performed other signs and miracles in His ministry, but here Jesus highlights the most important sign of his resurrection.

b. Jesus wanted the pharisees to look for the right sign, the ultimate sign that would tell them who Jesus is and it ultimately tells us who Christ is as the one who gives us power over death.

B. The sign of a witness

Jonah witnessed to Nineveh

Jonah warned of the judgement and they repented of their sins.

Jesus witnessed to the Jews and gentiles of the judgement and the need for the repentance of their sins.

It’s not like Jesus didn’t witness but the Jews rejected his witness.

Luke doesn’t mention the Resurrection probably because in his gospel he is trying to stress more of the message of Jesus.

III. We stand judged if we miss the sign.

Matthew 12:41–42 “41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.”

To add to the effect Jesus points out that people that the Jews do not like, gentiles will judge them because they received the sign on much less.

a. The queen from the south

2 Chronicles 9:8 “8 Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on His throne to be king for the Lord your God! Because your God has loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.””

She saw the wisdom and greatness of Solomon as a sign that pointed to God and she praises God.

b. Nineveh

Jonah 3:5–10 NKJV

5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. 6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? 10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

C. us today?

The Jews would be condemned because they will see a far greater sign than that of those of Jonah and of Nineveh, but will we be condemned because on this very Easter Sunday we celebrate the great sign of Christ as the redeemer and saviour. We will believe on the power of Christ and repent from our sin or will we continue to rebel seeking more of sign. The sign has come the resurrection has occured and now it is time for you to answer?

Today is for you to decide what will it be?

Will you stand judged by the people of the past who believed on God?

Or will you continue living in evil and adulterous way running from the truth?

Conclusion

As we reflect on Easter this season. I want us to reflect on the ultimate sign that Jesus gave. For those of you who have seen and believed on the sign I hope you praise God for the sign and share with others about what Christ has done like the Queen from the south. I pray for those of you who do not yet believe on the sign I pray that you like the Ninevites can cry out to God in repentance.