URC Daily Devotion Tuesday 4 February 2025
When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgement with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!
Reflection
Jesus calling a generation evil sounds harsh. Is it because they ask for signs? Or maybe Jesus is saying, can you really not sense the signs all around?
You’re looking for, waiting for, longing for a Messiah. How do you not realise that your Messiah is standing in your midst?
The parallel to Jonah seems to suggest that those who feel less worthy and in need of forgiveness will recognise the hope of salvation.
Maybe there’s also a frustration from Jesus with his own people, in effect his own extended family – why can’t they see the obvious signs that already exist?
What more do they need?
The people of Nineveh saw that they needed to change, and they wholeheartedly embraced a turnaround in how they lived.
Jesus sees the half-hearted attitudes and stubbornness of some of the people he met. How was his message of hope going to spread and bring the Kingdom of God closer to the world if God’s own people couldn’t understand that prophecy was being fulfilled before their eyes?
Move forward to here and now, and what does this message say to us? Are we like the people of Nineveh, prepared to examine ourselves and make the changes that God requires? Or are we like that generation that Jesus despaired of, comfortable in thinking we are God’s people and we are doing what God asks/needs from us?
I wonder, what would Jesus do?…
Prayer
Challenging God
remind us that following you is about actions not just words
when we ask for signs show us the wonder of your world
and the example of Jesus, Amen