Signs of God

There is lots of irony in today’s Scripture story (Matthew 12:38-42).  The religious leaders of Jesus’ time wants a sign from Jesus (12:38), but the irony is that they are blind to the many signs of God’s kingdom He has been showing them all along.  Therefore, it is also quite ironic that these religious leaders will be shamed at God’s judgment day by pagans who did recognize God’s signs.  Jesus gives two examples:  the Ninevites who believed Jonah (12:41) and the Queen of the South who accepted Solomon’s wisdom (12:42).  Instead of taking Jesus on His word that He is the Messiah, these religious leaders want a miraculous sign.  Maybe that is a big part of our problem today as well.  We expect God to be some Holy Magician.  Only the sensational and extraordinary will work for us.  We have trouble living from God’s Word and the promises embedded in his Word.  And because we don’t trust his Word, we also don’t see the many signs of His presence and activity in the ordinary routines of our lives.  We look for something more than the obvious.  The three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (as Jonah was in the belly of the fish) refers to the sufficient sign of Jesus’ death and resurrection (12:40).  If that is not a good enough sign to make us believe, then no other miracle will get us there.  Let the Word of God refocus our eyes to see the living Christ present in our houses, working places, neighborhoods and towns today!

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