Wednesday 28 February -1st Week in Lent
Bible Reading Luke 11:29 - 32
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. 30For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31The 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! 32The 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 reference to the story of Jonah in the whale for three days and three nights is a precursor to Jesus death and resurrection over the same period of time. The difference is that the people of Nineveh believed the sign from God and repented. The people of Jesus time don?t believe - they seek signs of great wonder, magic, even perhaps slight of hand to prove that God has sent him as God?s own Son. Indeed it was characteristic of the Jews that they demanded "signs" from God's messengers to authenticate their claims ? a kind of ?non-believers? verification test.
But Jesus response is far removed from what the seek - when the religious leaders press Jesus to give proof he quickly rejoins that he is God's sign and that they need no further evidence from heaven than his own person.
No magic but certainly a very severe warning with dire consequences.
That of course wasn?t what they (the religious leaders of Jesus time), wanted to hear. God offering up his Son as the sign they were looking for? ? It was never going to be enough!
Thought for the Day
?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.?
What would Jesus say about our generation?
Prayer
Lord,
look upon us and hear our prayer.
help us as we seek to be disciplined,
obedient to your will and renewed in spirit.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
whom you sent as a sign for all generations of your
unconditional love for all. Amen.
Bible Reading Luke 11:29 - 32
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. 30For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31The 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! 32The 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 reference to the story of Jonah in the whale for three days and three nights is a precursor to Jesus death and resurrection over the same period of time. The difference is that the people of Nineveh believed the sign from God and repented. The people of Jesus time don?t believe - they seek signs of great wonder, magic, even perhaps slight of hand to prove that God has sent him as God?s own Son. Indeed it was characteristic of the Jews that they demanded "signs" from God's messengers to authenticate their claims ? a kind of ?non-believers? verification test.
But Jesus response is far removed from what the seek - when the religious leaders press Jesus to give proof he quickly rejoins that he is God's sign and that they need no further evidence from heaven than his own person.
No magic but certainly a very severe warning with dire consequences.
That of course wasn?t what they (the religious leaders of Jesus time), wanted to hear. God offering up his Son as the sign they were looking for? ? It was never going to be enough!
Thought for the Day
?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.?
What would Jesus say about our generation?
Prayer
Lord,
look upon us and hear our prayer.
help us as we seek to be disciplined,
obedient to your will and renewed in spirit.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
whom you sent as a sign for all generations of your
unconditional love for all. Amen.
eace:
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