Show Us Your I. D., Journey #86

[Maggie]

Show Us Your I. D.
Journey #86 Matthew 12:38-45

Immediately after the religious emissaries from Jerusalem had accused Jesus of being in league with the devil and they were put to shame by Jesus' answer, the local Pharisees in Capernaum approached Him, "Teacher, we want to see your credentials.
Give us some hard evidence that God is in this.
We want to see a miraculous sign from you."

Though Jesus had already performed numerous miracles, the Pharisees and scribes demanded a sign to validate His claim to being the Son of God.

This request was no doubt in self defense by trying to sow suspicion about Him among those following Him.
The ‘sign' they wanted was something other than the healing and exorcism Jesus was performing.
In Matthew 16:1, they again asked specifically for a "sign from heaven."
Though Jesus had already performed many, many miracles, they came to Him wanting a sign.

The Apostle Paul wrote that "the Jews require a sign" (1 Corinthians 1:22).
Jesus refused to grant them a sign.
Knowing their hearts and minds, Jesus told them of the ultimate sign that they would receive.
He directed them back to two incidents in the Old Testament.

"He answered them, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah" (Matthew 12:39).
Although Jesus did not accuse the Pharisees of adultery outright, the implication was that they were guilty of that very thing.
Immorality is a deadly sin that corrupts those who are involved in it.
The adulterer wants only to continue in their sin, yet reconcile it with their religion.

What was the sign of Jonah?
Well, listen to Him.
"The only proof you are going to get is what looks like the absence of proof:
Jonah-evidence."
"For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be gone three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:40).

Jonah had come from Galilee, as did the Lord Jesus.
The prophet 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 symbolic of the burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jonah himself was God's sign to Nineveh and his words were God's message.
It was the greatest sign that could be given to men----the reversal of death!!Jesus Christ's resurrection was such an overwhelming miracle that it changed the course of history of the entire world! Yahoo!

He has a few more words to say to His listeners.
""On Judgment Day, the Ninevites will stand up and give evidence that will condemn this generation; for when Jonah preached to them, they repented and changed their lives and now ONE FAR GREATER THAN JONAH IS HERE and you squabble about "proofs!" (Matthew 12:41).

Jesus spoke of the Ninevites, who received Jonah and his preaching after his miraculous deliverance from the large fish, and they repented.
The acts of Israel, as a nation, place her in worse condition because she did not receive her messiah and did not repent.
Where does that place America? Where does that place you?

Jesus continues with His Old Testament incidents.
"On Judgment Day, the Queen of the South will come forward and bring evidence that will condemn this generation; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now ONE GREATER THAN SOLOMON IS HERE and you quibble over ‘evidence!" (Matthew 12:42).

The Queen of Sheba traveled from the furthest known regions to hear the wisdom of Solomon.
On the Day of Judgment, she and the people of Nineveh will come forward with evidence and condemn those who had been favored to have the very Son of God among them and yet still refused to repent.

Jesus was saying, "I AM God's sign among you."
Jesus stand as God's sign saying that "a greater than Jonah is here," "a greater than Solomon is here," as He had said He is Lord of the Sabbath, "one greater than the temple is here."

The Jews required a heavenly sign. Jesus gives them the Word and points to Himself.
People are called to recognize God's sign---God's Word.
Look to Him all you ends of the earth, for there is none greater than Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
"I've come that you might have life," Jesus said.
The cross brought forgiveness. The resurrection brought life which is the reversal of death.
Jesus Christ is reaching out to you wanting to give life.
Choose life---------for the alternative is death.

[Jane]

I saw that cross in a dream one time Maggie and I walked through it to the other side and know I was on solid ground even in my dream

[Morris]

The adultery the Scribes and Pharisees were guilty most of was of course spiritual adultery - the very same sin for which God judged the whole of Israel.

It's also the same sin for which they will be again judged this time around as well. Even now, Israel is guilty of as much as if not more sin than any other country. It's far more secular even than America.

[Maggie]

Good point, Morris. Israel's history has been one of continual unfaithfulness. May we be passionate in our prayers for Israel that they repent of their spiritual adultery and seek Messiah.

[Jane]

well we all wonder off at times just like the Israelies did and still do , it is a job staying on the right track and plenty of thinking most of the time, But these old knee joints still bed to humble me so I can ask for forgiveness and go on