TITLE: Encountering Opposition: It’s Never Enough

INTRO: No amount of proof is ever enough for those who are unwilling to accept the truth. The story of the Exodus illustrates how the Egyptians witnessed the plagues, signs, and wonders done by God through Moses, yet they remained in disbelief, choosing to reject the unfolding truth. Their hearts were hardened despite the evidence right before their eyes, demonstrating that the unwillingness to accept truth can lead to dire consequences.

REASON TO LISTEN:

PREACHING POINT: We must caution those who constantly need more evidence of Jesus’ identity, knowing that Jesus has shown sufficient evidence for those who genuinely desire to know him.

TRANSITION:

TEXT: vv38-39a 38 Then some of the scribes (lawyers of Israel who were often also Pharisees) and Pharisees (Israel’s theologically educated religious teachers)answered him, saying, “Teacher, (Israel’s teachers, with false humility, call Jesus teacher, all while rejecting him as Israel’s true teacher) we wish to see a sign from you.” (Instead of absolutely losing it in front of the crowd because Jesus called them seeds of Satan, the religious leaders carefully attempted to regroup and prepare to question the validity of Jesus’ signs once again) 39a But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous (unfaithful, one who goes after another. One who professes fidelity and cheats on God.)generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it…

· The relentless questioning aimed to test Jesus without any commitment to trust him sincerely.

· Jesus was impeccable at uncovering the intent of questions. Always open to honest inquiry while rejecting false humility.

POINT 1: Uncover the Intent of Questions vv38-39a

PROVE: 2 Timothy 3:7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

APPLY: Is the question a genuine inquiry about God or a smokescreen designed to disregard any real exploration of biblical truth?

TRANSITION: As the Pharisees aimed at dismissing Jesus, Jesus responded with the consequences of rejecting him.

TEXT: 39b-41 39b except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, (Jonah 1:17) so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (prophesying and foreshadowing his death, burial and resurrection) 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, (courtroom language, testifying) for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, (recap that scene in Jonah) and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. (Jonah was one of Israel's great prophets, but Jesus elevates himself above Jonah as a more excellent messenger of God.)

· Jonah 3:4–9 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. & he called out, “Yet forty days, & Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. 6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

· Prophet: Mouthpiece of God. When a prophet spoke, people heard God speak and they regarded it that way.

POINT 2: Regard Jesus as the Word of God 39b-41

PROVE: Jn. 1:1–3 1 In the beginning was the Word, & the Word was with God, & the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, & w/out him was not any thing made that was made.

APPLY: When Jesus speaks, God speaks. Whoever Jesus says he is, he is because God said so.

TRAN: Anyone willing to step forward to genuinely investigate biblical truth claims can arrive at the truth see v42.

TEXT: v42 42 The queen of the South (Queen of Sheba 1 Kings 10) will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, (courtroom language, testifying) for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. (A greater King is here)

· 1 Kings 10:1–10 1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. 2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. 3 And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 5 the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her. 6 And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, 7 but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard. 8 Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Blessed be the Lordyour God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” 10 Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, (120 years’ worth of wages) and a very great quantity of spices and precious stones. Never again came such an abundance of spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

· Like the Queen of Sheba, we need to affirm the identity of the rightful King of Israel and affirm him as such.

POINT 3: Receive Jesus as Your King v42

PROVE: Eph. 1:19–23 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

APPLY: Chapter 12 applied

· Jesus is your prophet v41

· Jesus is your High Priest v6

· Jesus is Your King v42