May 7 - Sign of Jonah

Matthew 12:38-42

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.

This is one of the parables that is difficult to understand. The sign that the Pharisees would receive was Jesus’ resurrection. It wouldn't have made much sense to the Pharisees or, for that matter, to the disciples at this point. They really had no idea that Jesus was going to die or rise again.  After the fact, though, these words would return to their minds and hold great power.

The next two points Jesus makes regarding the men of Nineveh and the Queen of the South refer to the Ninevites repenting and the Queen of Sheba who traveled to hear the wisdom of Solomon.  Both of these references are to Gentiles and Jesus tells his listeners that these people will judge the Israelites.

The story of Jonah and the memory of Solomon were two great points in Israel’s history and Jesus tells his listeners that someone greater than those two men is standing before them and yet they ask for a sign.

He has been healing people and performing miracles. He has spoken with great authority regarding the words of God and has perplexed the most learned of the Pharisees and they ask for a sign.

What would it take for them to believe?

Do we look for something more than what is right in front of us when it comes to our relationship with Jesus?  What sign are we waiting for?  He is right here. He is right now.