The Sign of Jonah
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
Matthew 12:38–42
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The Sign of Jonah
Evil men seek signs. The Lord Jesus will not give in to the demands of his enemies. The Christ must suffer and die for the sins of the world and then on the third day rise again. This is what it means to be the Christ. Just as the Word was performative as it was preached to the city of Nineveh in the days of Jonah, so it is also performative and authoritative in our day. Jonah knew of this Christ. The queen of the south came to see impressive Solomon and now the one that Solomon pointed to has come. This is the joy of the Church and the joy of each Christian: Jesus has come for you. He died and rose again. He ascended to the throne of heaven and rules to all eternity for you. The righteous rejoice in the Word preached. The signs for the Christian are the Means of Grace. The preaching of this Jesus forgives your sins.
Matthew 12:38–42
+
The Sign of Jonah
Evil men seek signs. The Lord Jesus will not give in to the demands of his enemies. The Christ must suffer and die for the sins of the world and then on the third day rise again. This is what it means to be the Christ. Just as the Word was performative as it was preached to the city of Nineveh in the days of Jonah, so it is also performative and authoritative in our day. Jonah knew of this Christ. The queen of the south came to see impressive Solomon and now the one that Solomon pointed to has come. This is the joy of the Church and the joy of each Christian: Jesus has come for you. He died and rose again. He ascended to the throne of heaven and rules to all eternity for you. The righteous rejoice in the Word preached. The signs for the Christian are the Means of Grace. The preaching of this Jesus forgives your sins.
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2026
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February
The Testimony That Is EnoughBefore Kings, Before the CrossBefore You Were Born, the Word Was GivenSet Like FlintRemembering First LoveForsaking the FountainBroken Cisterns and the Living CrossAshamed of Our False RescuesForgottenWe Have SinnedLift Up Your EyesLike SisterReturn to the LordThe Gift of ShepherdsOur Only HopeShame That Leads to SalvationCircumcised HeartsBlow the Trumpet in the LandWhen Wisdom FailsThe Storm We Have SummonedThe Sound of the TrumpetWhen Wisdom Becomes FollyThe Earth Shall MournCan You Find One?There Is No DifferenceThe Lord Must InterveneSpeak TruthEnduring Nation
March
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