29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 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. (Luke 11:29-32)
Earlier, we saw that Lord Jesus performed many miracles, healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead. The Pharisees and scribes said that he cast out demons by the prince of demons. They saw Jesus performing many miracles but did not believe, asking Him for a sign from heaven. Jesus said, “This is an evil generation. They ask for a sign, but no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus performed many miracles; but people still didn’t believe, still asked for a sign from heaven. What was the sign of Jonah that Jesus spoke of? Jonah was a prophet in the Old Testament. At that time, the city of Nineveh was very sinful, and God gave Jonah a message, telling him to warn the people of Nineveh. But Jonah disobeyed God; he hid from God and went to a boat. God caused a great storm on the sea, and the boat almost wrecked. He asked the people to throw him into the sea, and the waves calmed down. God arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he remained in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. He repented, and Jonah went to Nineveh and proclaimed, ‘Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown’ (Jonah 3:4) The people of Nineveh believed in God and declared a fast. They, from the greatest to the least, wore sackcloth and repented. God forgave them and did not destroy the city. Jonah was displeased that God did not destroy the city; he wanted God to destroy it. But God had mercy and did not destroy it. The Lord Jesus said, “For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.” The parallel passage in Matthew states: “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.” (Matthew 12:40) Here, the Lord Jesus prophesied that after his death, he would be in the earth for three days and three nights and then rose again. This is a sign He gave to this generation. In the Old Testament, the Queen of the South wanted to hear Solomon’s wisdom. Solomon received wisdom from God, but the Lord Jesus is the wisdom of God; He is greater than Solomon. Jonah was a prophet in the Old Testament, but the Lord Jesus is the Son of God, He is also greater than Jonah. We should listen to him more. Hope that more people will believe in the Lord, be baptized, be born again, be saved, and receive eternal life.
May God bless you and your family!
