Word@Work Luke188 - Luke 11:29-32
Published: Fri, 09/10/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
THE JONAH CONNECTION
Luke 11:29-32 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, "This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. (NIV)
Jonah has a special place in Jesus' teaching ministry. He is mentioned in eight verses of the Gospels in connection with his miraculous deliverance from the belly of the great fish after three days (the 'sign' of Jonah which prophesied the resurrection) and his preaching (which stimulated the repentance of the whole city). Here, Jesus is focussing on the people who heard and believed Jonah's preaching that God was angry with their sin: they realised that God was fully just in bringing ruin upon them, but that He might be merciful if they stopped their wicked ways and were genuinely sorry (Jonah 3:5-10). And of course, God was merciful to the repentant sinners.
Jesus was drawing a contrast between the pagans who believed God's Word and His hearers, Jews who should have believed that what He said was from God, but did not. The religious people could not make Him out: they asked for miraculous signs but were not willing to accept who Jesus was - the Son of God. So Jesus commented that the pagans of Nineveh, and the gentile Queen of Sheba, would stand with God at the judgement; and their example would shame those who claimed to be the people of God, but who would be condemned because of their wickedness and lack of faith in God's Saviour.
Repentance is a critical factor in receiving God's mercy. It is the only God-approved response to being aware that we are in the wrong. It may be that we already know what is right and wrong, and our conscience is fired by our sinfulness. But often we have seared our consciences by repeated sin. It is not until we hear God's Word proclaimed (in our Bible reading, church sermons, or counsel from another believer) that we realise how bad our sinfulness is, and how much it spoils our relationship with God. When we wake up to the problem, we need to repent, immediately and wholeheartedly. If the Ninevites could do it, so can we. Indeed, we must!
Prayer: Gracious and merciful God. Thank You for being kind and loving towards sinners; and for enabling me to be aware of how bad my sin is so that I might repent and receive Your mercy and forgiveness. But I am sorry when I have treated sin lightly or not settled the matter quickly with You. Please give me a refreshed view of Your generosity towards sinners because Jesus has died for me. Please alert me to those areas of sin which I have hidden from myself and enable me to walk in repentance and faith each day. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Subscribe | View Archive | Donate | W@W Facebook Group
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Jonah has a special place in Jesus' teaching ministry. He is mentioned in eight verses of the Gospels in connection with his miraculous deliverance from the belly of the great fish after three days (the 'sign' of Jonah which prophesied the resurrection) and his preaching (which stimulated the repentance of the whole city). Here, Jesus is focussing on the people who heard and believed Jonah's preaching that God was angry with their sin: they realised that God was fully just in bringing ruin upon them, but that He might be merciful if they stopped their wicked ways and were genuinely sorry (Jonah 3:5-10). And of course, God was merciful to the repentant sinners.
Jesus was drawing a contrast between the pagans who believed God's Word and His hearers, Jews who should have believed that what He said was from God, but did not. The religious people could not make Him out: they asked for miraculous signs but were not willing to accept who Jesus was - the Son of God. So Jesus commented that the pagans of Nineveh, and the gentile Queen of Sheba, would stand with God at the judgement; and their example would shame those who claimed to be the people of God, but who would be condemned because of their wickedness and lack of faith in God's Saviour.
Repentance is a critical factor in receiving God's mercy. It is the only God-approved response to being aware that we are in the wrong. It may be that we already know what is right and wrong, and our conscience is fired by our sinfulness. But often we have seared our consciences by repeated sin. It is not until we hear God's Word proclaimed (in our Bible reading, church sermons, or counsel from another believer) that we realise how bad our sinfulness is, and how much it spoils our relationship with God. When we wake up to the problem, we need to repent, immediately and wholeheartedly. If the Ninevites could do it, so can we. Indeed, we must!
Prayer: Gracious and merciful God. Thank You for being kind and loving towards sinners; and for enabling me to be aware of how bad my sin is so that I might repent and receive Your mercy and forgiveness. But I am sorry when I have treated sin lightly or not settled the matter quickly with You. Please give me a refreshed view of Your generosity towards sinners because Jesus has died for me. Please alert me to those areas of sin which I have hidden from myself and enable me to walk in repentance and faith each day. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Your next Word@Work will be sent on
W@WLuke188 | Word@Work © Dr Paul Adams 2010 | Provided by BeaconLight | Contact us at wordatwork@beaconlight.co.uk
Subscribe | View Archive | Donate | W@W Facebook Group