ST Matthew, Chapter 12, verses: 41 - 42, The Prophecy: The witnesses against them.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The sign of Jonas) Part 3. 

Christ is merciful.  Christ is loving.  Christ is patient.  The Pharisees continue to plot and plan against Christ and he continues to offer opportunities for them to hear the message, to understand the judgment, to repent from their position with Satan.  But the Pharisees are blind.  They cannot hear.  They do not understand the door of opportunity opened by Christ. 

Christ has spoken to them about their hearts.  He has shown them that their hearts are filled with evil.  He has told them of their treasure and has called them vipers that they may understand the harshness of his words.  Ye they persist.  They continue down the road of destruction, unaware that they condemn themselves.  Christ tells them who will witness against them.  He says: "The men of Nineve will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonas, and behold, a greater than Jonas is here."

They asked for a sign.  Christ told them a sign that would take place in the future.  He did not comply with their request now.  For the demons that possessed the Pharisees did not need a sign.  They knew Christ.  They knew of his authority.  They knew that he was of the Father.  Yet they could not work their evil of their own.  They had to possess men and persuade them to do their evil.  They had to suggest to the mind of men, the evil that was to be done.  They had to possess the heart with darkness to move the passions to create evil. 

And Christ knew of their plans.  He knew of their designs.  He knew that they possessed the Pharisees to do their evil.  Yet he was patient.  He was loving.  He was merciful to offer opportunity to repent.  He reached down into the darkness of their hearts and sought to help them understand.  But they would not.  He spoke again of their witnesses.  He told them,  "The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, a greater than Solomon is here."

How often does God call to us to repent?  How many times does he reach out his hand to help us in times of need?  Yet do we repent, do we accept his hand?  Our God is a loving God.  Our God is a merciful God.  Our God is a patient God.  He will wait until the end of time and still offer salvation.  But do not hesitate to accept, for death is at the door and judgment weighs in the balance.  Judgment at death is final.  There is no reprieve.  Mothers will witness against their sons and daughters.  Fathers will witness against their children.  Grandmothers spoke of the opportunity offered and yet not accepted.  For they themselves spoke the message to you and you did not accept.  Do not throw away this precious gift given by Christ.  For if you only knew what was being offered you would rejoice at the gift.  But Satan blinds.  Satan destroys.  Satan steals and will stand in the way to prevent you from receiving your gift.  Come, become a child of God and receive the gift of life!  Christ awaits you with his outstretched hand.  Receive him and get your reward!

ST Matthew, Chapter 12, verse: 40, The Pharisees request for a sign: The sign of Jonas.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The sign of Jonas) Part 2.  

And he told them a mystery.  He told them a wonder.  He told them things that they did not comprehend.  For the Pharisees sought to prevail over Christ by asking him to provide another miracle, a sign, that they might believe that he was the Messiah.  Christ refused their request.  He refused their demand.  He refused to allow them to continue down this path of unbelief based upon their desire to have a sign.  For they wanted a sign.  They wanted to see another wonder.  They wanted to see his power so that they could attempt to understand who he was.  But the demons that possessed them only wanted another opportunity to try to trick him.  They wanted another opportunity to persuade the people to turn away from Christ.  Christ refused them.

Instead Christ gave them a mystery.  He gave them a prophecy that they would ponder, that they would wonder about.  He told them that the only sign they would receive is the sign of Jonas in the belly of the whale.  The Pharisees knew of the story of Jonas but they did not understand how this applied to Christ.  He told them,  "For even as Jonas was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."  

And they did not understand.  They did not know his words nor could they figure out the meaning of this mystery he spoke.  For he spoke of being in the earth for three days and three nights.  He compared this to Jonas being in the belly of the whale.  Yet Jonas was disobedient to God who sent him to Nineve to give a message to the people.  Jonas was swallowed up by a whale because he refused to go.  Jonas ran from the assignment that God gave him and was thrown overboard and swallowed by a whale.  The Pharisees wondered how could this story relate to Christ.  They wondered how could this be a sign or a wonder that would proclaim the his identity.  Christ gave them a sign that would fulfill itself in the future so that when it happened they would know that he was the Messiah, they would know that he spoke the truth, they would know that he was of the Father.

What do we see of this same situation, today?  Many would have a sign that Christ is Lord.  Many would have a miracle that there is a God in order to believe.  For they do not believe otherwise, even if a miracle were performed before their very eyes.  They still would find some reason not to believe.  They still would attempt to rationalize, within their minds, the power and authority of God.  Do you need a sign?  Do you seek to understand the power and authority of God, today? 

Do you give him praise and glory no matter what the situation?  If death comes, if destruction comes, if disasters comes, if moves of nature come, if senseless killings come, if whatever comes, do you still give him the praise and the glory?  For he is the Lord almighty and his ways are higher than our ways.  Not giving praise means that you do not accept God as all powerful and having all authority.

We question the actions.  We doubt the need.  We seek to understand the meaning within ourselves.  We give way to pain.  We give way to sorrow.  We give way to despair and anger.  We give way to the isolation and the loss which the devil brings after the storm.  But the loss should be joy.  The loss should be jubilation.  The loss should be exultation.  For the loved one has gone to Christ who has prepared a place for you and for your loved one in heaven and there they await your arrival.  Christ is still King of King and Lord of Lords and he moves with a mighty hand.  And we should always and at all times give him the praise and the glory that he is on the thrown and rules the world.  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah, praise his holy name!

ST Matthew, Chapter 12, verses: 38 - 39, The Pharisees request for a sign.

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!