Spoken at SGBC

6-15-97

Luke #95

11:29-32

I Would Like To See A Sign Please

(Luke 11:29-32 NASB) And as the crowds were increasing, He began to say, "This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah. {30} "For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so shall the Son of Man be to this generation. {31} "The Queen of the South shall rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. {32} "The men of Nineveh shall stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

As we continue to move through chapter eleven we see that interest in Jesus is increasing. He is surrounded by a very large crowd wherever He goes. These people are deeply impressed by His miracles. Some of them actually think He might be the Messiah. The Scribes and Pharisees however are not among those. They have concluded that He preforms His miracles by the power of the Devil. It was necessary for them to cast a negative light on Christ for He was becoming entirely too popular for Pharisaic comfort. At one time these Jewish officials were so disturbed and worried about Jesus' popularity they declared, "The whole world had gone after Him,"(John 12:19).

The crowd was expectant, what would happen next? Were they about to witness another healing or a resurrection from the dead? The crowds pressed in upon Christ looking for and requesting a sign from heaven, (verse sixteen).

Christ's reply to these sign seekers must have shocked them and it should shock many in our day. For the masses still desire a sign. They come from miles around to see a miracle, a sign from heaven, they long for something that will prove the reality and integrity of God. There have been sign seekers in every age. Christ's opinion of such people remains the same now as it was then.

Here are the words of Christ. "This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah." What kind of sign were they looking for? The Bible doesn't say. Some of those present may have been sincere, really wanting to believe and thinking that seeing another miracle would do it. Still others were there for the show. Like the man who attended the Pentecostal church I grew up in. He use to put a dollar in the plate and lean over to me and say, "Best show in town son, well worth a dollar." He was there for the entertainment, the sensational. He had no interest in worshiping God by faith in Jesus. Many in this crowd, perhaps most, were there to see strange and exciting things that would amaze them. No matter what the reason, Jesus declares that sign seekers are wicked people! He speaks of those in His generation, the generations that followed and this generation as well. Sign seekers are wicked people! Those who demand proof beyond that which God has chosen to give are wicked, unbelieving people.

Matthew in his recording of this incident adds that sign seekers are "Adulterous" as well. They are adulterous because they look to and trust in something besides Jehovah God and His Christ as the basis of their faith. "I hear God's word, they say, but I must see or experience something else before I can believe." The problem it this. To rest ones faith in Christ plus something is to be a spiritual adulterer. The Church, corporately and individually must maintain a monogamous relationship with her Husband, Jesus the Lord.

Hear the words of 2 Corinthians 11:1-3 NASB.

"I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. {2} For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. {3} But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from THE SIMPLICITY AND PURITY OF DEVOTION TO CHRIST." The Christian Gospel is simple and pure. It has to do with Christ Jesus the Lord who is the Savior of all who come to Him by faith. Faith in Christ plus nothing saves from the wrath of God. Trust in additions or refuse to trust in Christ without an extra-biblical sign and you have added to the Gospel and defiled its purity. You have brought in another lover, you are an adulterer.

Sign seekers are wicked people, says Jesus. If you think His words are too strong think about this. At the very moment the Jews were asking for signs they were being given sign after sign. Miracles such as physical healing, demon expulsions, even the raising of the dead had already occurred. But this was not enough, they would have more before they would believe. Jesus, however, says no. You will receive nothing but the sign of Jonah. Matthew's version tells us what is meant by the "Sign of Jonah."

(Matthew 12:39-40 NASB) But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; {40} for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Luke 11:30 NASB. "For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so shall the Son of Man be to this generation.

Do you remember the account of Jonah and the Ninevites? Let's review it just a bit.

(Jonah 1 NASB) (Between Obadiah and Micah) The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, {2} "Arise, go to Nineveh the great city, and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me." {3} But Jonah ROSE UP TO FLEE to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. {4} And THE LORD HURLED a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up. . . . {6} So the captain approached him (Jonah) and said, "How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish." (They had prayed to their gods to no avail.) {7} And each man said to his mate, "Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us." So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. . . . {9} And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land." {10} . . . "How could you do this?" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. {11} So they said to him, "What should we do to you that the sea may become calm for us?". . . ."Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.". . . . {15} So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging.. . . . .{17} And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and JONAH WAS IN THE STOMACH OF THE FISH THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS.

(Jonah 2 NASB) Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish, {2} and he said, "I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; Thou didst hear my voice. . . . {10} Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.

(Jonah 3 NASB) Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, {2} "Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you." {3} So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the LORD. . . . {4} Then Jonah began to go through the city one day's walk; and he cried out and said, "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown." {5} Then the people of Nineveh believed in God;. . . .{6} When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat on the ashes. . . . {10} When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.

Our text in Luke says that Jonah was a sign from God to the people of Nineveh. The sign was a man back from the dead. He had been cast into the sea during a raging storm and then swallowed by a great fish. He should be dead. Yet here he was walking the streets of the city preaching repentance from wickedness. God locked him up in the belly a great fish for three days and three nights. He was their for his own sin. Jonah's experience looked forward to and foreshadowed Christ's death and burial for our sins as well as His resurrection from the dead. This is the sign of Jonah. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. This is the sign that would be given to men and they would receive no other. Any person who asks for more than the testimony of the Bible as concerns Christ's resurrection, before they will believe, is a wicked and adulterous person.

Jonah was a sign and Christ was a sign, both of them pointing away from themselves to God. In the first instance the people listened and repented. In the second instance they did not. Rather they said, "Give us a sign." We want proof that you are who you say you are. "Give us a sign!" What extreme wickedness this is! Their wickedness is magnified when you remember that the people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah, but would not repent at the preaching of Christ.

A comparison between the light and privilege of each people reveals that the Jews bear the greater responsibility and guilt. That this is true is made clear in the scripture.

(Luke 12:47-48 NASB) "And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, shall receive many lashes, (Here are the Jews for they had the Law of God but refused to obey it. The Ninevites did not have the written revelation. Compared to the Jews the Ninevites lived in utter darkness yet, they repented of their sin.) {48} but the one who did not know it, (The will of the master i.e. God.) and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

So the principle stands, the greater the privilege the greater the responsibility to respond and the greater the punishment for disobedience. Every one this side of the Law of God and especially this side of the Cross lives in the brilliance of God's revealed will for man and in the midst of great privilege. Therefore, all who refuse to repent and come to Christ for forgiveness of sins will receive many lashes, that is, a greater punishment.

When the response of the Ninevites to Jonah is compared with the response of the Jews to Christ we see how sinful the Jews were.

Think about this. The Son of God himself, "one greater than Jonah" was preaching to the Jews calling them to repentance and faith yet, they did not repent. Jonah was a minor prophet to whom the Ninevites did respond. Jesus was completely sinless

filled with wisdom and compassion. Jonah was a sinful, foolish, and rebellious prophet who obeyed God only after severe, life threatening, discipline. Jesus came with a message of grace and pardon, of salvation full and free. Jonah's message was one of doom. Christ's message was supported by many signs, miracles and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. There were no miracles or other signs to confirm Jonah's message. Nothing other than his survival at sea and in the fishes belly. Christ brought His message to a privileged, enlightened people. Jonah's message was addressed to an ignorant people who lived in darkness. Yet the Ninevites repented and most of the Israelites did not. All they can do is demand a sign form the Savior. Not only does Jesus declare such people wicked he says those who have believed with less knowledge will stand against them in the judgement.

(Luke 11:31-32 NASB) "The Queen of the South shall rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. {32} "The men of Nineveh shall stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

This "Queen of the South" is the person we know as the Queen of Sheba. She heard of the wisdom of Solomon and, having been made hungry for truth, set out to find it. She spared no amount of effort or expense so she could sit and learn at Solomon's feet. You have only to read Ecclesiastes and Proverbs to see what he had to say to her. The Gospel was in Solomon's wisdom. Consider the contrast between her and those who refused Jesus in His day.

For the Jews the truth was near and easy to get to. Jesus was actually among them, yet they rejected and crucified Him. The Queen was dealing with one infinitely weaker and more ignorant than Jesus but endured extreme difficulty to get to him. The Jews had the prophecies that described Christ in detail. The Queen knew nothing of Jesus. The Jews had been invited, commanded and warned to accept Jesus for what and who He was. The Queen was persuaded by no man yet, she sought and found the truth.

Jesus declares that the Queen of the South and the Men of Nineveh will be raised from the dead to participate in the judgement and condemnation of the Jews and everyone else who has rejected Jesus. Something greater than Solomon or Jonah stood before them and He stands before you and I. Great will be the judgement on those who reject Jesus. Especially those who are surrounded by light and opportunity like the Jews of old and like the people of our day.

So many today say they just need more information. They need time to decide if the claims of Christ are true. They need something more than they have been given before they can believe in Jesus and leave their sins behind. Friend, there is nothing more to see. There is nothing more to know than this: Jesus became sin for the lost Sheep of God, He died for them. His death paid the price demanded by God's Law for all sinners. The proof that God accepted Christ's death as payment for our sins is in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The proof that Jesus saves is in the sign of Jonah.

(Romans 4:25 NASB) He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was RAISED BECAUSE OF OUR JUSTIFICATION.

Jesus became sin on our behalf that we might come to possess the righteousness of God. The scripture says, "That we might &lsquobecome' the righteousness of God! Jesus took our corruption to Himself and He gives His righteousness to all who belive. By His death He paid the debt we owed and rose from the dead to prove that God had accepted the payment. That is why the verse says "He was "Raised BECAUSE of our Justification." Had Jesus failed to rise from the dead it would have proven that His sacrifice was not acceptable to God. His death would not have atoned for sins and no man could ever be saved. For there is no other name under heaven by which men must be saved but the name Christ Jesus.

(Romans 5:1-11 NASB) Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, {2} through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. . . . {6} For while we were STILL HELPLESS, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. . . . {8} But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we WERE YET SINNERS, Christ died for us. {9} Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. {10} For if while we were ENEMIES, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. {11} And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now RECEIVED THE RECONCILIATION.

By the grace of Almighty God I saw the sign of Jonah and believed. By faith I have seen the Savior take my sins upon Himself. By faith I saw Him crucified for me and I have witnessed His death. I saw the people take Him off the cross a dead man. I saw them lay him in the tomb. Three days later I saw my Savior rise bodily from the grave. He rose from the dead BECAUSE God accepted his death as payment for my sin. This is the sign of Jonah. This is all there is. If this is not enough for you, wickedness fills your heart and Jesus is not your Savior. But if you see Him as I have with eyes of faith. If the Spirit has caused you to understand that Christ is all you need I call upon you to trust Him now, right now, and be saved from the wrath to come.

"This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah. {30} "For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so shall the Son of Man be to this generation.

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