Scripture to Read: Luke 11:29–32
Jesus continued teaching, and what He said next probably shocked most of those there. God had Luke record in Luke 11:29–32, “As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, ‘This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.’” Remember what Luke had recorded in Luke 11:16, “Others, to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven.” Jesus answered their demand for a sign. He told them that the only sign they would receive was the sign of Jonah. Jonah’s three days in the fish (Jonah 1:17) is understood as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection after three days. Jesus linked the “sign of Jonah” to His resurrection in Matthew 12:39–40. Jesus wanted those people to understand that the repentant response of the Ninevites and of the Queen of the South would condemn them because they refused to believe that Jesus was God in the flesh.
Challenge & Application
What hinders many people today from repenting and fully believing in Christ as Lord?
Even when people choose to reject Christ, why should we never stop sharing the truth of the gospel with this lost world?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!