Slices
Prepare
What is the greatest, the most impressive building you’ve ever seen? Perhaps the biggest, the tallest, the most beautiful?
Bible passage
The sign of Jonah
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.’
39 He answered, ‘A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 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. 41 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. 42 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.
43 ‘When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 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. 45 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.’
Jesus’ mother and brothers
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’
48 He replied to him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’
Explore
It seems strange that some Pharisees demanded a sign from Jesus (v 38) when they’d been arguing with him about the power he was using to cast out demons (v 24)! Perhaps they were asking for a dramatic miracle (like the one in 1 Kings 18), or a healing on demand, so they could be sure all the others weren’t a ‘coincidence’. Whatever it was, their motives were not pure (v 39).
What do you think the ‘sign of Jonah’ is? Something to do with the three days and three nights (v 40)? Or the fact that the people of Nineveh repented (v 41) and the Pharisees have not?
I think the main point isn’t about Jonah but what Jesus repeated: ‘now something greater … is here’ (vs 41,42). The great things the Pharisees looked to – David, the Temple, the prophets, Solomon – were all signs pointing forward to Jesus, who fulfils all God’s people were hoping for. In Jesus we have something greater. The question is, how will we respond? Will we misunderstand him, oppose him or reject him? Or will we show ourselves to be his brothers and sisters (v 50)?
Respond
Reread verse 15. The truth about Jesus and his kingdom is not in doubt, but it is hard to grasp, especially if we don’t listen to Jesus. When you pray ‘your kingdom come’, do you have in mind what Jesus meant or what John might have expected?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Kings 6,7; 2 Corinthians 4
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for God to raise up Faith Guides in many more rural churches, so that children and young people in those areas don’t miss out on learning about Jesus.
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