Scripture - Matt. 16: 1The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. 2He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
Observation - (Bible Knowledge Commentary) The religious leaders by their request were saying, yet again, they rejected all the signs Jesus had performed before their eyes. They were in effect asking Jesus to give them a sign more spectacular than healings, so they could believe.They were careful observers of weather signs and could fairly well forecast whether the weather would be good or threatening. Yet they had been surrounded by spiritual signs relating to the person of Jesus Christ and had missed them all. Jesus was not a sign-worker simply for the sake of working signs. He was not a puppet on strings to perform at their command. The only sign they would receive was the sign of Jonah, which He had previously given them (12:38-42), but they would not recognize that sign until it was too late.
Application - I was recently listening the argument of someone who did not believe God exist, or that Jesus was God, or that Christian arguments were worth listening to. He made the comment, "If Jesus really was God, why didn't he do a real miracle like move a mountain from one place to another... then everyone then and now would know that he really was God." I sat there thinking, "He made the mountain, which is a bigger miracle than moving it!" Besides, if Jesus moved the mountain, over time, people would forget where it originally was, or argue if it had actually been moved or if it was just folklore.
Miracles are a powerful thing, but they are almost always for the purpose of meeting needs, God revealing himself to people, and drawing them into a deeper relationship with him. It is unnecessary for God to prove Himself to anyone. Their hardened hearts won't be convinced. Pharaoh is proof! A heart hardened against God will not be changed be changed by a mere miracle if it is unresponsive to the very person of God!
Prayer - Lord, give me a believing heart. Also, I continue to pray for the miraculous in peoples lives!
