The Sign that is for Every Generation

When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here” (Lk 11:29–32).

Once again the teaching and miracles of Jesus increased the size of the crowd. Once again Jesus confronted the crowd. His plan was clear and consistent. He wanted followers to take a step away from the cloud and closer to Him to become true disciples. In today’s text we see Jesus expose the hearts of those in the crowd that were looking for some sign that confirmed His claim that He is the Christ. They were looking for something big, dramatic and physical, something they could see or hear. But Jesus told them that as the people of Nineveh received the sign of Jonah, they would see the only sign of the Son of Man, which is revealed in the person and the gospel message of Jesus Christ Himself. Here the Spirit of Truth uses the words of Jesus to confront our hearts too. How often do we demand a sign from the Lord to encourage us when the going gets tough or to reassure us that Jesus is who He claims to be? It’s in moments like these that we are like those in the crowd who in looking so hard for something so big, miss the something so obvious that God gave us in Christ, the sign that is for every generation.

The sign of Jesus and His gospel reflects the passion of Christ. Just as Jonah was buried in the belly of a great fish, Jesus would be buried in the grave for three days… “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). Jonah suffered because of his disobedience when he tried to run away from the call to preach to the Ninevites. Jesus willingly suffered crucifixion and burial to atone for the sins of mankind… “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). Christ’s death at Calvary is a sign of His passion for every generation.

The sign of Jesus and His gospel raises the perception of sin. Just as Jonah’s preaching convicted the hearts of the Ninevites, the grace of God released in Jesus’ preaching and teaching confronted the crowd with the reality of sin… “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin” (John 15:22). When we believe and live according to His words we become instruments of God’s heart-piercing grace, confronting others around us… “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). Our born again life and pursuit of holiness is a reflection of the grace of Christ, a confrontational sign for every generation.

The sign of Jesus and His gospel reveals the profit of repentance. Just as Jonah’s preaching compelled the Ninevites to repent of their sin, Jesus’ preaching of the gospel was intended to move the hearts of His listeners to repentance… “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). The Spirit teaches through the Apostle Paul that genuine repentance leads to salvation… “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). It is Jesus’ desire that true disciples in every age, who have witnessed and experienced the new birth, should proclaim this message of repentance to all nations… “Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:47-48). Our earnest proclamation of the gospel in word and deed will produce repentance in many because it is a compelling sign for every generation.

As we grow up into Christ we become a clear and compelling reflection of Jesus and His gospel…

The Sign that is for Every Generation.