12/8 Matthew 16:4

⁴ An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. "So he left them and departed.

God had given Moses several signs to prove to the elders of Israel that he was sent by God. The religious leaders thought Jesus should show some miraculous signs to prove that He was the Messiah. Jesus refused to do so. He had already fed a group of 5000 and another of 4000. He had healed all who came to Him with demon possession or illness or injury, which fulfilled the prophecies in Scripture regarding the Messiah. To have given another sign at their demand would have been to encourage their hopes for a military deliverance from Rome.

Jesus told them it was an evil and adulterous generation that sought a sign. Man wants to see the miraculous instead of believing the Word by faith. That is evil because it puts our senses above the Word of God. You will know the godly by the fruit of their life (Matthew 7:20). In the end time, even the Antichrist will perform signs and miracles (Matthew 24:24).

There was one sign that would be given, the sign of Jonah. After they killed Jesus, He would rise. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish, Jesus would be entombed and rise from death. It is an irrefutable sign. Others have been raised from death, but He alone has conquered it. It is the one sign we all need, to know there is hope beyond the grave. It is a sign that says His sacrifice of Himself on our behalf was accepted by God. We need not fear death or judgment if our faith is placed in the victorious One.

Prayer: Thank You Lord Jesus for doing for us what we could not do! Thank You for the hope and assurance that Your resurrection gives us. Help us to live by faith in Your Word.