Our paragraph topic is: (The sign of Jonas) Part 1.
The Pharisees have heard the words of Christ. They have considered the consequences of their actions and have hesitated in their speech. They have considered the judgment that they may bring upon themselves through their words. So they speak with caution. They speak with consideration. They speak with understanding of their actions. And the demons that possess them, counsel them to ask a question. The demons counsel them to seek to reach within Christ to prove their designs. So they ask a question. And St Matthew tells us, Then certain of the Scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Master, we would see a sign from thee."
So out of deception they asked for a sign to prove that he was the Messiah. They asked for a sign to show that Christ had the authority to speak over them. They asked for a sign to demonstrate that Christ was the anointed one and all that he had spoken to them is indeed of truth. It was of no concern to them who Christ was. It was only their concern that he had spoken against their authority. He had spoken against their power. It was of concern to them that the people were following Christ and turning away from their rule. But they did not know. They did not understand. They refused to accept that the kingdom of God had come upon them without their knowledge. They did not believe.
So Christ answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, and no sign shall be given it but the sign of Jonas the prophet." They were counseled by evil. They were possessed of evil. They had become the solders of Satan. They were filled with darkness and Christ spoke to the darkness within them. He called them by their fruit, evil and adulterous. He spoke of their designs, the need for a sign when the sign was already known. He spoke to their future, when the time wold come for them to know. And the Pharisees did not understand. They did not know. They knew about the parable of Jonas and the whale. They knew about the three days in the belly. But they did not understand the meaning of the message. For Christ had foretold that they would only know of who he was when the sign was revealed, the sign of being three days in the earth and rising again from the dead.
We have many today who do not know. We have many today who do not believe. We have many wise and scholarly men who look for signs, who need knowledge to believe. Yet knowledge was given them by God and originates from God but they still do not believe. And the scholars influence the masses of people who want to be just like them. But God gives no sign. For the sign has been given. The sign has been foretold. The sign has been written for all to see and believe. Do you believe in the sign? Do you believe in the words that have been spoken or are you just a partial believer who does just enough to get by? Christ has given the signs. Christ has given the wonders. Do you seek to know? Do you seek to have the knowledge? Come, receive the sign and he will reveal all!
The Pharisees have heard the words of Christ. They have considered the consequences of their actions and have hesitated in their speech. They have considered the judgment that they may bring upon themselves through their words. So they speak with caution. They speak with consideration. They speak with understanding of their actions. And the demons that possess them, counsel them to ask a question. The demons counsel them to seek to reach within Christ to prove their designs. So they ask a question. And St Matthew tells us, Then certain of the Scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Master, we would see a sign from thee."
So out of deception they asked for a sign to prove that he was the Messiah. They asked for a sign to show that Christ had the authority to speak over them. They asked for a sign to demonstrate that Christ was the anointed one and all that he had spoken to them is indeed of truth. It was of no concern to them who Christ was. It was only their concern that he had spoken against their authority. He had spoken against their power. It was of concern to them that the people were following Christ and turning away from their rule. But they did not know. They did not understand. They refused to accept that the kingdom of God had come upon them without their knowledge. They did not believe.
So Christ answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, and no sign shall be given it but the sign of Jonas the prophet." They were counseled by evil. They were possessed of evil. They had become the solders of Satan. They were filled with darkness and Christ spoke to the darkness within them. He called them by their fruit, evil and adulterous. He spoke of their designs, the need for a sign when the sign was already known. He spoke to their future, when the time wold come for them to know. And the Pharisees did not understand. They did not know. They knew about the parable of Jonas and the whale. They knew about the three days in the belly. But they did not understand the meaning of the message. For Christ had foretold that they would only know of who he was when the sign was revealed, the sign of being three days in the earth and rising again from the dead.
We have many today who do not know. We have many today who do not believe. We have many wise and scholarly men who look for signs, who need knowledge to believe. Yet knowledge was given them by God and originates from God but they still do not believe. And the scholars influence the masses of people who want to be just like them. But God gives no sign. For the sign has been given. The sign has been foretold. The sign has been written for all to see and believe. Do you believe in the sign? Do you believe in the words that have been spoken or are you just a partial believer who does just enough to get by? Christ has given the signs. Christ has given the wonders. Do you seek to know? Do you seek to have the knowledge? Come, receive the sign and he will reveal all!
