Thoughts for the Day

When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgement with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

This little sequence from Luke's Gospel can also be found in Matthew's Gospel with some significant differences (Matthew 12.38-42) and it's enough to say there have been hundreds of books written about Jesus' words. We should remember that the word "sign", certainly in John's Gospel means a "miracle". So here is the picture, Jesus is surrounded by crowds of people all wanting something from him - a blessing, a healing, or proof that he is the "Son of Man" (the traditional title for the Messiah). The opposition from the scribes and the pharisees is getting stronger, and despite the miracles Jesus has already carried out, they are demanding something bigger and better, or else they will simply not believe he is the Messiah.

Jesus promises them the "sign of Jonah". At the time, many believed that the people of Nineveh had repented because they knew God spoke through the prophet, having saved him from drowning (Jonah 2). Just as Jonah had been a sign of God's presence a long while ago, so Jesus was a sign for his generation. When Jonah preached, people recognised evidence of God at work; when the Queen of Sheba came before Solomon, she recognised his wisdom as coming from God. These pagans Jesus says, had recognised the true God, yet God's own people do not believe in him, one who is even greater.

Ultimately it is not great miracles that change attitudes. Faith is about taking one step into a possibility - which eventually becomes a probability and later a certainty - that God is offering us a new way forward into the future.

Lord Jesus Christ,
give us the faith to believe in Your promises,
so that we may trust You when life is hard.
Teach us to step forward with confidence
knowing that you are there to help us.
When things look dark
may we observe Your light
that shows us where to travel,
and welcomes us at the end of our journey.
Amen.