While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no
sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” Luke 11:29
The crowd seemed to be a mixed bunch. First, there were those who
wholeheartedly believed in Jesus. The Twelve, for example, left
everything behind to follow Him. His mother and various other holy
women believed in Him and were His faithful followers. But within
the growing crowd, it appeared that there were many who questioned
Jesus and wanted some form of proof of Who He was. Thus, they
wanted a sign from Heaven.
A sign from Heaven would have been some externally manifest proof
of Who Jesus was. Granted, Jesus had already performed numerous
miracles. But it seems that this was not enough. They wanted
more—and that desire is a clear indication of a stubbornness of
heart and a lack of faith. So Jesus could not and would not give
them the sign they wanted.
Instead, Jesus says that the only sign they will receive is the
sign of Jonah. Recall that the sign of Jonah was not very
appealing. He was thrown over the side of a boat and swallowed by a
whale, where he remained for three days before being spit up on the
shores of Nineveh.
Jesus’ sign would be similar. He would suffer at the hands of the
religious leaders and civil authorities, be killed and be placed in
a tomb. And then, three days later, He would rise. But His
Resurrection was not one in which He came forth with rays of light
for all to see; rather, His post-Resurrection appearances were to
those who already manifested faith and already believed.
The lesson for us is that God will not convince us of the matters
of faith through powerful and Hollywood-like public manifestations
of God’s greatness. Instead, the “sign” we are offered is an
invitation to die with Christ so that we can personally begin to
experience the new life of the Resurrection. This gift of faith is
interior, not publicly exterior. Our death to sin is something we
personally and interiorly do, and the new life we receive can only
be seen by others by the witness of our lives that are
changed.
Reflect, today, upon the true sign God has given you. If you are
one who seems to be waiting for some manifest sign from our Lord,
wait no longer. Look at the crucifix, see Jesus’ suffering and
death, and choose to follow Him in a death to all sin and
selfishness. Die with Him, enter the tomb with Him and allow Him to
bring you forth interiorly renewed this Lent, so that you can be
transformed by this one and only sign from Heaven.
My crucified Lord, I gaze upon the crucifix and see in Your
death the greatest act of love ever known. Give me the grace I need
to follow You to the tomb so that Your death will triumph over my
sins. Free me, dear Lord, during the Lenten journey so that I will
be able to fully share in Your new life of the Resurrection. Jesus,
I trust in You.
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