Signs!

Signs! They are everywhere. There are stop signs, yield signs, regulatory signs, and warning signs. Some people observe and obey them. Others drive on through or by in indifference. There is a “No Left Turn” sign in our community which I have seen people either not see or decide to ignore. There is also a “Do Not Enter” sign near our high school which I have observed people stop, look at, but proceed through anyway. My assumption is that they apparently think it applies to others, but not to them. As this is sometimes true on our roads, so it is also the reality with regard to life’s spiritual journey.

In Matthew 12 we read of Jesus healing a man with a withered hand. (vss.9-13) Then He restored sight and hearing to a demon possessed man. (vs.22) The fact Jesus had power to do such was not denied. However, rather than acknowledging Jesus’ power as coming from God there was an attempt to align Jesus with Beelzebul (or Beelzebub) the prince of demons. (vs.24) In spite of the proofs presented, the Jewish leaders would ask for more.

We read…
“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him saying, ‘Teacher, WE WISH TO SEE A SIGN FROM YOU.’” ( Matthew 12:38 ESV)

Though they had seen signs their attitude appears to have been, “No, not that one, we want to see another one.” However, would any sign have been enough to convince these hard hearted leaders? Jesus refused to reduce His ministry to a “side show” to entertain the curious. When we look at most of His miracles -- though they were a display of Divine power and a proof of His Messiahship -- we see how they were most often a result of His compassion for the suffering.

Perhaps the sign these leaders needed most was one of those old railroad crossing signs which read “STOP, LOOK, & LISTEN!” They needed to STOP a moment to do some soul-searching about their own attitude and focus and set their own preconceived ideas aside. Then they needed to take another closer LOOK down the “track” of the prophetic record concerning the awaited Messiah and note how much of what Jesus was doing fit the picture. (i.e compare Matthew 11:4-5 and Luke 4:17-21 with Isaiah 29:18-19; 61:1-2) And then they needed to LISTEN more intently to the words Jesus was speaking, recognizing the Divine wisdom and authority behind them.

Jesus went on to mention the only sign THEY would be given; the sign of Jonah (vss.39-40), the same thing He would later state again when asked for a sign. ( Matthew 16:1-4) What greater sign could there be than that of our Lord’s resurrection from the dead?

Paul pointed out that such a sign was clear proof of Jesus’ identity.
“AND WAS DECLARED TO BE THE SON OF GOD in power according to the Spirit of holiness BY HIS RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD,” ( Romans 1:4)

Some people, oblivious to signs, end up going the wrong way and their journey will bring them to the wrong conclusion. If we are not open to what God has revealed through His creation and His Word, what else could possibly convince us? What has been recorded is so that we can believe. ( John 20:31) Instead of looking for other things we need to accept what God has revealed. Each time we read through the pages of Scripture, let us STOP, LOOK, & LISTEN closely so that our life will remain on the right “track” with the Will of God.

Have a great day ACCEPTING GOD’S REVELATION OF THE SON!
Carl

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