Matthew 12:38-50

Matthew 12:38-50

38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove that you are from God." 

     39 But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, faithless generation would ask for a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so I, the Son of Man, will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 The people of Nineveh will rise up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And now someone greater than Jonah is here—and you refuse to repent. 42 The queen of Sheba will also rise up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, because she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And now someone greater than Solomon is here—and you refuse to listen to him. 

     43 "When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. 44 Then it says, `I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and clean. 45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation." 
46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers were outside, wanting to talk with him. 47 Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to you." 

     48 Jesus asked, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" 49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "These are my mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!"

Devotional (by Chris Bunch)

    Many people have said, “If I could just see a real miracle, then I could really believe in God.”  In fact, that is how this scripture begins.  The religious leaders say:  “Hey Jesus, show us a miraculous sign----and then we’ll believe.”  Then, Jesus enters into two stories from the Old Testament.
One is the story of Jonah and the other is the story of the Queen of Sheba (Jonah is a short book in the Old Testament that you could read----just 4 chapters---a little over 40 verses.  The story of the Queen of Sheba is in 1 Kings 10).   Both are great stories and I encourage you to read them both.  However, because we are preparing for Easter Sunday the Story of Jonah is what I will focus on.  
    First, let me give you the gist of the story of Jonah.  Jonah was called by God to go and tell a godless group of people, the Ninevites, to repent----which simple means to turn away from sin and turn towards God.  This task was a scary one because this nation was very violent.  So, Jonah ignored God’s call and ran in the opposite direction.  
One day as he is on a ship and is thrown overboard and winds up in the belly of a great fish----maybe the size of a whale.  He spent three days in the belly of the great fish.  God eventually had the fish spit Jonah out and he went and told the Ninevites to turn to God and they did.  The whole city repented and it was saved.
    The religious leaders ask for sign, and Jesus forecasts the sign of his death and resurrection.  This week we celebrate that three days after his death Jesus would come back to life and conquer death, just as Jonah had been brought back to life after spending three days in the fish.  However, when Jonah returned to tell Ninevites to turn from their sin and turn towards God----they listened.  But, after Jesus’ resurrection, many still did not believe because they didn’t see this miracle with there own eyes.
Today, one of the reasons why many people do not believe or do not believe very much is because they are looking for a sign.  For many of us we think if God would just show us a miraculous sign we would believe or believe more.  I mean if he just sent me a million dollars or healed my family member who has cancer or took away all the stress in my life----then I would believe or believe more.
    Well, this week we will celebrate the greatest miracle ever known----the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Only Christianity has a God who became human, literally died for his people, and was raised again in power to rule forever and provide a home in heaven for those who turn to him.  
So, rather than looking for additional evidence or miracles in life, let us celebrate and accept what God has already given us in the miracle resurrection of Jesus Christ.  And, as you celebrate this miracle, why not walk across a room and invite another person to listen to this powerful story this Sunday.

Prayer:     Jesus, many times I am not satisfied with the powerful evidence of your death and resurrection, but I desire more.  Help me be content to realize that this miracle is more than enough----it is all the evidence I will ever need.  
Thank you for dying on a cross to forgive all of my sins and conquering death so that I might have eternal life.  Give me the strength this week to invite someone to hear this powerful story.  I pray in your name.  Amen.