Gospel Signs

Matthew 16:1-4 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from Heaven. 2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
 
HEAVEN’S signs point to the eternal Kingdom. The Lord God has always been willing to show himself clearly to his people. God gave a sign to Noah: “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” (Genesis 9:13) To Abraham: “Circumcision will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.” (Genesis 17:11) To Moses: “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” (Exodus 3:12) To the shepherds: “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)
   But something was wrong with the Jews’ vision as Jesus ministered. Jesus had been giving sign after sign to the Jews that the Kingdom of God had come to earth. But they continually wanted more sign evidence of Jesus’ divine power.
   In response Jesus denied his power to the unbelievers. He had done many signs and wonders. The opposition had even accused him of breaking the law for his signs of healing and demon exorcism. They were like the unbeliever’s hard heart that continually says, “Prove it!” while the proof of God is written on his heart.
   In response to the unbelievers, Jesus promised only the sign of Jonah. That meant he would be three days in the tomb as Jonah was three days in the great fish. (If you doubt Jonah’s story, know Jesus said that it is true.)
   The purpose of Jesus’ ministry was not to do sign after sign for the sake of signs – “How wonderful he is!” a world wanted to exclaim. But Jesus came to glorify God through the signs of physical healing, so the Jews would be ready to hear the good news of eternal healing. He ministered with miraculous signs to point the world to the cross, the grave, the resurrection and the eternal Kingdom. These are the signs he would show to the disciples, the Pharisees, the Sanhedrin, the ordinary Jews, the Romans and the world. Many came to faith in Jesus, and many still did not and would not believe, even as the signs transformed lives.
   If you do believe, count it as a wonderful sign God has given to you, just as he gave to Peter (see next lesson).