What Kind of a Sign Would Make You Happy?

Fletcher Moss Park, Didsbury. 

Scripture:

Luke 11:29   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. ³⁰ For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. ³¹ The queen of the South will rise at the judgment 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! ³² The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!

Observation:

The people kept asking for different signs from Jesus. They didn’t want to see that his work was revealing the character of God. Love, forgiveness and physical healing were all works of a heavenly Father who wants his children to see who he is and how they are to live in the world. They wanted to see fire fall from the sky, or thunder to boom. Vengeance and punishment upon those who had hurt them would have be preferable to the relational work of God being done through Christ. 

Jesus responds by comparing his listeners to the people of Ninevah and the Queen of Sheba. This would have been quite an insult to them as these stories represent Gentiles. Jesus was letting his listeners know that were Gentiles who were willing to accept the signs of God in the past, and yet, those who called themselves God’s people, were not satisfied with seeing God’s nature revealed in their presence. The Gentile Queen and the people of Ninevah repented at what they had seen. The crowd failed to realize that something far greater than Jonah was standing in front of them, and they wanted another sign. 

Application:

Nearly 2000 years ago the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem. Since that day the Holy Spirit has enabled people of all nations to be disciples. This is the great sign that God has given, the miracle of the transformational work of the Holy Spirit in peoples’ lives, and this, happening all over the world. And yet, for many, this is simply not enough. 

Look at the beauty of creation and wonder whether there is a God behind it all that has designed all we have the privilege of enjoying! For many, this is simply not enough to believe that God exists. Too many are still begging God for a sign — one that is out of character for the nature of God. We are still wanting him to send down fire and brimstone, instead of seeing God in the relationships and healing that is continuous and on-going. 

Maybe we are simply looking for God in the wrong places. God is present and active through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Each of us can live holy lives that reflect the character of God. What we fail to understand is that we are the sign. For us to act and respond as Christ in the world makes us the living sign of God’s active presence. If you’re looking for a sign of God at work, start by looking at your own life. Where would you be without God’s grace? Let’s stop expecting God to do that which is not within God’s nature. 

Prayer:

Lord, as I look out the window this morning, I see the beauty of your sign. You are here in the trees and the beautiful spring flowers. You are here in the greening of the earth. You are here in me — having saved me from what I might have been. I love you. Amen.