Have you ever been sitting in a classroom when the teacher is teaching a concept and it seems like everyone understands what’s going on…except you? It’s possible this short story could feel like that.
What signs, Jesus?
Does he just mean that he is the anticipated king, the Messiah?
Or is it more about the signs he’s providing of the nature of the kingdom? That the poor are given good news and the sick are healed?
Let’s suppose it’s these last things. Then what Jesus is telling the Pharisees and Sadducees has much to say to us today.
What are the signs of the kingdom today?
…are we even able to see them or is our eyesight clouded by other things?
Christians of all sorts point to different things in society to say what is or what isn’t. And the focal points are quite disparate. And this is why it’s so important to both listen closely to Jesus and stay close to Jesus.
Matthew 16:1-4
The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus. In order to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
But he replied, “At evening you say, ‘It will be nice weather because the sky is bright red.’ And in the morning you say, ‘There will be bad weather today because the sky is cloudy.’ You know how to make sense of the sky’s appearance. But you are unable to recognize the signs that point to what the time is. An evil and unfaithful generation searches for a sign. But it won’t receive any sign except Jonah’s sign.” Then he left them and went away.
Prayer
God,
Give me kingdom eyes and vision. Don’t let me get lost in signs chosen by anxiety and presumption. What I mean to say is, don’t let fear rule my heart, God.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.