January 15, 2013
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 12:38-42
OBSERVATIONS
People want proof before they believe something, yet often even proof will not convince them. In order to accept something as proof, there needs to be an openness to the evidence. Jesus had performed countless miracles, yet here the religious leaders demand proof. Jesus is not reluctant to give proof, but He realizes these guys really don’t want to believe.
This is why He calls them a “wicked and adulterous generation”, He knows their hearts, He knows they are plotting to kill Him, He knows that they do not believe Him. He reinforces His point by comparing them to the Ninevites in Jonah’s day, or the Queen of Sheba in Solomon’s day, who responded with faith on even less evidence that these religious leaders had. On Judgment Day those people will look at the religious leaders and say, what were you thinking, how much more proof did you need?
Just a comment on “three days and three nights”. This was a Jewish colloquialism (a figure of speech familiar in a specific time or culture) for expressing three days, not literally 72hrs (see also Genesis 7:4, Exodus 24:18, Jonah 1:17, Job 2:13, 1 Samuel 30:12, 1 Kings 19:8, Matthew 4:2). From Friday to Sunday fits within this non-literal meaning. A modern day example of a non-literal saying relating to time is to say that something happens once in a blue moon; can you imagine future generations studying the concept of a blue moon (a second full moon in a single calendar month, which happens every two to three years) and arguing that a statement from today meant it literally. The actual meaning of the expression is ‘rarely’ or ‘infrequently’.
What do you notice in this passage?

APPLICATION
People get all worked up about “three days and three nights” or about how Jonah could possibly survive in the belly of a whale, yet they ignore the point. If you are closed to something, you will not believe it no matter how much proof is given. I have known situations like this: someone was wronged, and the person who committed the offense was genuinely sorry, but the wronged person was so upset and bitter that they refused to believe the person’s attempts at apologizing.
I personally have a hard time imagining or believing that a person could survive in a whale for three days, let alone 3 hours; or that someone can be raised from the dead, or walk on water, or heal the blind with spit and mud. Humanly speaking, these are not logical, not possible. But I am open to the possibility of a God that could do these things.
To me, Jesus’ message speaks for itself, all the other stuff is like icing, decoration. How He lived, how He died, what He said, what He did, this is enough for me to say like Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
There is more than enough proof (God is revealed in creation, Jesus’ message and life speak loud and clear, and the Spirit is working within us urging us to repent and believe), but if we refuse to respond, then we too will hear the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba say, what were you thinking, how much more proof did you need?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?

PRAYER
Lord, I have many questions, and even doubts at times. But what You say speaks to (and cuts to) my heart. I know my desperate condition and my need for You. I believe, help me in my unbelief!