JP51: Signs, Signs - Everywhere Signs; Do You Need a Sign?: Finding Faith in a World of Options

When the Five Man Electrical Band’s songwriter, Les Emerson, traveled along Route 66, he noticed how the large billboards blocked his view of the beautiful landscape.   His road-trip experience led to the band’s hit, “Signs,” which echoes familiar social and cultural tensions people experience when finding their way in life.  

Some signs give us direction and hope, like road signs before GPS, and some signs distract and divert, like a Buc-ee’s freeway sign to a Texan (no offense, Texans).  Jesus performed signs to show that He was the promised Messiah, and many believed.  But some weren’t satisfied and wanted more.

Jesus alerts us that finding faith in a world of options begins by deflecting distractions and shifting toward what we can see and know.

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”  He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.  “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”  (NIV, Mt 12:38–45)

Avoid Prideful and Passive Faith

Jesus cast out demons and healed the blind, mute, and lame everywhere He went.  So why does Jesus call the Pharisees a wicked and adulterous generation for wanting to see a sign?  They had already witnessed enough signs to believe in Jesus as their Messiah but wanted something more significant.

Pointing to His future death and resurrection, He teaches that the sign of Jonah (who spent three days in the belly of the fish before being released) should be enough for those privileged with the heritage and Old Testament prophecies of His coming.    Instead, their pride anchored them to a passive faith that demanded an experience that would remove the need for faith.

Observe the Faith of Outsiders Who Became Insiders

By contrast, Jesus recalls the Ninevites (Jonah 3:6-10) and the Queen of Sheba (2 Chronicles 9:1)- both outsiders who demonstrated a believing faith.  

These outsiders became Kingdom insiders because they believed in the prophet Jonah and the work of God through Solomon and the nation of Israel respectively.  

Because of their faith, both have the right to condemn Jesus' generation for not exercising faith when they have the Messiah standing in their presence.

Guard Against The Hardened Heart

Because the Pharisees continued to reject Jesus, their hearts became increasingly hardened to a faith that saves. Indeed their spiritual condition at their last meeting with Jesus is worse than the first because their initial disbelief set the stage for cascading layers of hardening as they doubled down on their disbelief, allowing the spirit of darkness to take over.

Do You Need a Sign?

Has your experience with brokenness diverted you from Jesus? Is now the time to ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you through all distractions? When he does, follow the example of the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba and be quick to believe and follow Jesus. Like them, you can have solid faith in a world of options, regardless of your story.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love you.  Thank you for leaving heaven and making your way humbly into our world to show us your love and power over brokenness.  I need the power of your resurrection to strengthen me for faithful following.  I place my hope in you, believing by faith in your word that you are the way, the truth, and the life.  Keep me, Lord, from the distractions of all substitutes.

Questions for Application:

1. In what ways does the pride of life keep you from following Jesus by faith?

2. What signs do you believe in that may serve to divert or distract you from Jesus?

3. How can you guard against the hardening of your heart toward Jesus and avoid moving farther away from Him?

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JP51: Signs, Signs - Everywhere A Sign; Do You Need a Sign: Finding Faith in a World of Options

1. Avoid Prideful and Passive Faith

“Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”  He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! (NIV, Matthew 12:38-39)

2. Observe the Faith of Outsiders Who Became Insiders

“The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.” (NIV, Matthew 12: 41-42)

3. Guard Against The Hardened Heart

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” (NIV, Matthew 12:43-45)

4. Do You Need a Sign?

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (NIV, Ro 1:18–20)

Photo by Dmitry Vechorko on Unsplash