NO SIGN WILL BE GIVEN EXCEPT THE SIGN OF JONAH

Matthew 12:38-42

            Today’s Gospel presents to us another discussion between Jesus and the religious authority of the time. The Pharisees had just condemned Jesus’ miracles as having been done by satanic power and on the Sabbath day. This time, they are those who ask Jesus for a sign, for a miracle. They address Christ as “Teacher”. Their hypocrisy led them to pretend respect.

Jesus had made many signs. But the doctors and the Pharisees were not capable to perceive the significance of so many signs which Jesus had made. They wanted something different that they may be able to verify and examine if Jesus is or not the one who is sent by God according to what they imagined and expected. They wanted to submit Jesus to their own criteria, in such a way as to be able to place him into their own Messianic frame.

Jesus does not submit himself to their request, because it is not sincere. He says: “An evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign that will be given them is the sign of the prophet Jonah”, because, if these evil Gentiles of Nineveh “repented” when they heard that God would judge them for their sins. If a stubborn, unwilling prophet like Jonah was used by God to turn such sinners to repentant faith, why would the Pharisees not repent? After all, “a greater than Jonah” was in their presence (cf. 12:6). Jesus was more than a prophet. He was the God for whom, and of whom, the prophets spoke.

There is something greater than Jonah here. Jesus looks toward the future: “For as Jonah remained in the belly of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will the son of man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights”. Although not what the Jews were looking for, the sign of Jesus’ resurrection was the ultimate miracle that proved He was the Son of God (e.g. Matt. 28:1-15; Mk. 16:1-20; Lk. 24:1-53; Jn. 20:1-24:25). Not only was it irrefutable evidence of His authority to pronounce judgment on the Pharisees, but it testified to the Father’s acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice on behalf of all who believe in Him. Jesus would perform more miracles in His ministry, but the final sign -- the greatest miracle -- would be His resurrection from the dead.

There is no evidence that the queen repented and became a believer in the Lord, but she was legitimately in awe of all that God had done in Solomon’s life and kingdom. In fact, she said to Solomon, “I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard…Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel” (1 Kings 10:7, 9)!

Even an unbelieving, Gentile ruler like the queen of Sheba could see that God was behind the glory of Solomon. But the Pharisees, who claimed to know the Word of God, refused to acknowledge the obvious glory of God in Jesus Christ who was “indeed…greater than Solomon.”

Human pride is a peculiar thing. Even when we know we are wrong, our tendency is to deny reality despite the fact that we may be facing dire consequences. As rebellious sinners, we naturally despise the idea of being at fault. We do not want anyone pointing out our failures because we truly cannot stand the thoughts of having to meet anyone’s standards except our own. But, even then, we are more than willing to overlook our own sin.

What should we learn from Jesus teaching in these verses? First: why do we believe? Why do we come to Church? To believe in Jesus only for the sake of the miracles is to reduce the word and will of God to some kind of magic act. Then like the Pharisees, we miss the meaning of the Word of Life completely. 

Second: Asking for a proof or a sign is a very normal thing. We all want God to work miracles and wonders in our lives. But the world is full of signs and miracles which our Lord Jesus performs every moment and we fail to take notice of it look at our life and all what we have. If something bad happens we blame it on God and if something good happens we think, it is by chance or by our own effort. Is it not a miracle of being here this morning? It is good to look for the miracles of God. But the best thing is to look for the God of the miracles. With him we have every thing we need.

            Micah 6:8 in the first reading tells us what the Lord asks of us—"to live justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with our God." All these can be translated into our everyday lives. Just few questions: Do we treat people fairly, especially those whom we employ or our subordinates? Are we kind and gracious to others, especially those we do not know? Do we acknowledge with gratitude that everything we have is God's gift to us?