September 4S ee the Sign?

Luke 23:35-37 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
 
THE rulers sneered, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” Once again, they proved how persistently the unfaithful deny Jesus.
    Often they had urged Jesus with unbelieving hearts, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” (Matthew 12:39) They wanted no sign but only a trap to remove him. Yet, Jesus repeatedly demonstrated God’s power to the rulers. But with blind eyes and cold hearts, they denied his power. Worse, they even credited Satan as the source of Jesus’ power! God’s glory was personally in their midst. But all they could see was the image of their own darkness.
    Jesus, though, had promised them he would deliver to them a sign from the cross. Following one of the Pharisees’ demands, he replied in Matthew 12:39 “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” This is Jesus promise he will rise again. Jonah was three days in the fish as good as dead. Then the Lord restored him to his prophetic ministry to Ninevah. Jesus was three days in the grave. The Holy Spirit then raised him to continue God’s ministry on earth. Forgiveness came to Ninevah, who repented under Jonah’s prophecy. Forgiveness comes to sinners who repent in response to Jesus’ teachings. Jesus’ most powerful signs of all is that he did not come down from the cross physically to reject the cross. But he stayed there to die, so you and I will have the Resurrection sign to show to the world. Surely is the Son of God.  Resurrection, forgiveness and life are all the signs we need!
    So, it happened. In three days, the sneering rulers would, indeed, hear of Jesus’ resurrection sign. The resurrection stories would swirl throughout Jerusalem and eyewitness evidence would grow. Indeed, Jesus came down from the cross and showed them signs: Acts 4:8-12 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.” 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
    Acts 5, too, records how the apostles preached the gospel, healed the sick and baptized those saved in Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. In the Spirit’s power, they faithfully showed to the Jews the signs that Christ is the Son of God. The rulers could not stop the signs shouting, “Jesus is Lord!”
    Need some hope? Need some joy? Need some faith? See the sign.
     
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for the sign of Life everlasting you have given to us. Amen.