INTRO
Have you ever wanted proof – a sign, something tangible that you could see, touch, taste, feel with your senses that God really exists, something beyond the extraordinary?
People everywhere are always looking for a sign that God exists, that God is moving in and through their lives…. Like millions today, most of the folks in Jesus’ times were looking for a sign – they were looking for signs that God was moving in their lives – that God was still concerned about their welfare, and upon hearing and seeing of this one man, Jesus, who’s creating quite a stir because of what he’s doing and saying, many want him to PROVE to them with signs and wonders that He truly was the Promised Messiah – the Promised Son of God.
TRANSITION
Read and reference John 4:48.
Like the official who needed to actually SEE Jesus heal his son from the brink of death (in order to believe that God could heal him), so too the Pharisees wanted a sign that Jesus truly was who said he was. They wanted proof.
Turn back to Matthew 12. Just before our Gospel story, Jesus withdrawals to a quite place, but the crowds follow him…. and in their following, they bring to him a demon possessed man, and Jesus delivers the man…. The crowds are astonished, they’re wondering who this miracle worker is – how this man – this person can perform all these miracles. They ask aloud – “could this be the son of David?” Meaning, could this be the prophesied Messiah.
But the Pharisees don’t believe what has happened – they accuse Jesus of being in league with the devil. But in fact, it goes a bit further than this. The tried to outsmart Jesus; they tried to demonstrate their human intellect; they tried to show Jesus their wisdom – only to their own folly!
Jesus rebukes them, and the only way they can respond is by saying, well, then, prove to us you are who you say you are – prove to us you are the Son of God – give us a sign then Jesus!
That’s where the Gospel picks up —in this continuing exchange between folly and wisdom, in this continuing confrontation of living for religion vs. living for God’s Kingdom. IN short, the Gospel for this morning picks up in this continuing confrontation of Jesus (like John the Baptist before him) proclaiming – in a manner of words – repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is upon you!
THE SIGN OF JONAH
I can only imagine Jesus at this point is only a little annoyed with the Pharisees, and in this ongoing battle of wisdom vs. folly, Jesus again rebukes, and then proclaims to the Pharisees a riddle of sorts.
Jesus prophetically speaks to what will happen to him. As Jonah was led to the depths of the earth in the belly of t great fish, so to Christ will be led to the depths of the earth for three days And, as Jonah went came out of the fish, and completed his mission. So as well Jesus’ ministry could only be completed through his death and resurrection. For people of the world (like those in Nineveh) would be able to hear the gospel and believe, in faith. But for many, faith just isn’t enough to believe – some need to see signs in order to believe.
St. Thomas was looking for a sign –a sign as to the prove Jesus truly had died and been resurrected. Listen to the Gospel of John, to Chapter 20 vv 24-30. Like Thomas, neither the official nor the Pharisees were willing to believe with their ears (and heart) the truth Jesus was proclaiming…. For the sign they wanted was not a sign of the heart. But a sign of the heart – a sign of wisdom and not folly is what Jesus is looking for in all us of.
Notice Jesus twice mentions in our Gospel story, “One Greater than these.” Jonah was a prophet sent to the most hideous people of the time. But notice Jesus says to the Pharisees that he is one greater than Jonah.
ONE GREATER THAN THESE
In other words, Jesus is saying to the Pharisees – I am the one greater, and I am calling upon all people of the world to repent – for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus very well might have said to the Pharisees, “I was with Jonah, and I gave him the words to call upon the people of Nineveh to repent. I am the Spirit of God, and I am the one who spoke through the prophets. Jesus is saying, I am the Spirit of Wisdom, and I am calling upon you to be wise, and repent.
But Jesus doesn’t just end with that. He speaks of Solomon. Solomon was declared by God the wisest of men that was to ever live; he certainly one of the most influential men and kings to have ever lived. About Solomon, Jesus is saying: My wisdom exceeds Solomon’s. Jesus proclaimed to the Pharisees “if the Queen of the South came all that way to hear and listen to my wisdom at the feet of Solomon – then maybe you should listen to the wisdom of one who is greater than Solomon.”
Again, Christ is saying again to the Pharisees, for I am the wisdom that was given to Solomon, and through my wisdom, you, the men of the law should know me and seek refuge in me – for in me lies the salvation that you seek.
But Jesus knows their heart. He knows they will continue to seek proof; and because of their folly he rebukes them. He calls them a wicked generation that will be judged by those who have truly been wise and repented of their worldly folly. And yet, people today – even many within the church – are always seeking God and asking Him for sign – for proof that he exists. And all he ask for in us a sign of faith of faith.
It is so ironic that all the while we’re seeking for signs of God’s existence and movement in this world, God is looking for signs of faith in our hearts – signs that we’re ready to turn to him and repent of our ways.
And Isn’t, my friends, that what this Lenten season –for us to repent of our ways, to seek God – to look for, in faith, the Road-signs leading us to God, so that we – like Nineveh can be a wise generation and turn our faces to God in humility?
So, what are these road signs we seek? God is saying, my wisdom is all around you – look here, and look there, and you will see me moving amongst you. God’s signs all around us. Let us turn back to today’s Psalm. We can see God in the seas. We can see him in the rain, in the lightening, in the clouds, and in the wind.
SIGNS ALL AROUND
If you’re here, if you tuning in today on the radio or internet, and you’re looking for a sign that God exists – then let me urge you – look to the small things of life – the tiny small miracles that display the wonders and glories of God’s existence:
• The miraculous wonders of each child, of childbirth, and the beauty of life all around us
• The sun, the moon, and the stars… are they really random – or something wholly other
• The rain that waters our crops, that gives us water, and the rain that sustains life.
God is all around us – moving in and through us – seek Him in wisdom, by looking at the Road-signs of life…. In Faith!
