Matthew 12:38 – One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”

39 But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish 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.

41 “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent. 42 The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.” (NLT)

What kind of Jesus would you like to have? That’s the question that comes to my mind when I read this passage.  By the time that the teachers and Pharisees came to Jesus asking for a sign, he had already performed many healings and miracles, but they came asking for yet another.  Jesus did heal and perform miracles when he had the opportunity, but his purpose for coming to earth was to live out the greatest of miracles. That greatest of miracles was to die for our sins, and then raise up from the grave for the purpose of securing our place with God for all eternity.

Yet, I still think many people would like Jesus to perform even more signs and wonders.  Jesus asked the religious leaders then, and he asks us today, what more could he do to make us change anything about ourselves?  Many people did not believe that Jesus was who he claimed to be when he walked the earth.  We know that many still do not believe, but again, I am left wondering how many truly believe even now?  If one were to truly believe Jesus at his word, then one would seek to change what they can change about themselves.  This is what Jesus is speaking about when he says: “Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.”

Repenting is not merely saying that you are sorry, repenting is turning around – it is changing things about ourselves. I pray that each of us will seek to change what we can change.  We must love all people.  We must let go of prejudices.  We must forgive.  We must care for the needy, and we must seek peace in all things.  The best way that we can worship God is to change our very lives.  In the Old Testament, the Jews would offer up a sacrifice for their worship.  In the New Testament the Apostle Paul says: “I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” (Romans 12:1)

Today, let us truly worship God! 

Posted by Ramón Torres