Jesus is pretty clear here: “For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.” Those who heard Jesus speak these words were quite familiar with the story of Jonah and knew the depravity of Ninevah. I wonder what it was like for them to hear for the first time, “and now something greater than Jonah is here.”
Matthew 12:38-42, Luke 11:29-32Thoughts about serving others
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Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.
To relate to this text we must understand the story of Jonah, the reality he faced as a preacher sent on a journey he simply didn’t want to make. Jonah was called to preach repentance to a people who were vile, “because its wickedness has come up before me.” Jonah 1:2 Jonah fled in the direction of Tarshish, as far away as possible. Such a short story, yet so powerful. How many times have we wanted to see God avenge those who are truly evil, so far from God, those who don’t know Jesus at all? Yet God is God and His ways are beyond ours.
Do we want to see a sign? Have we bought into the skepticism to the point of demanding God explain himself to us? Are we so wise as to question God? It’s painful to see the words, “this is a wicked generation” and imagine how much worse our present generation has become.
As I read these words over and over again I just want to figure out how to be part of the movement that draws people to Christ, that turns skeptics into saints, lost into found, seekers into devoted followers of Jesus. The more I understand the story of Jesus, the more I am convinced of its truth and the more I want to equip all believers with compelling arguments for Christ.
Lord show us how to disciple disciples, to train others to become trainers, to live out your love in our jobs, our lives, our relationships.