Key Passage
Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law answered Jesus. They said, "Teacher, we want to see you do a miracle as a sign (proof)." Jesus answered, "Evil and sinful people are the ones that want to see a miracle for a sign (proof). But no miracle will be given as a sign to those people. The only sign will be the miracle that happened to the prophet Jonah. Jonah was in the stomach of the big fish for three days and three nights. In the same way, the Son of Man will be in the grave three days and three nights."
— Matthew 12:38-40 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
Jesus is not a performer. He will not allow his ministry to be reduced to a sideshow. He ministers out of compassion and concern for people. He will not work a miracle to prove who he is. His previous miracles are testimony enough to his legitimacy. If they won't believe those miracles, if they can assign those mighty works to the power of Satan, then they will not believe a new one. Jesus will give no miracle on demand. Faith is about trusting in what he has done. Faith is the bottom line. Faith will always have mystery and be susceptible to doubt. More proof, more miracles, will not remove that doubt if the basic issue is faith. If hearts are hardened to him, if hearts are not looking to believe, if hearts are wanting to condemn and ridicule, then faith is lost. It's not an issue of facts, truth, or reason; it's a matter of an "evil and unbelieving heart."
Prayer
Holy God, give me an honest heart of faith. Help me see Jesus for who he truly is. Take my faith and make it stronger and richer. Use my life to serve you and bring others to know your Son. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures
Faith means being sure of the things we hope for. And faith means knowing that something is real even if we don't see it.
— Hebrews 11:1 & 6
We live by what we believe, not by what we can see. So I say that we have confidence. And we really want to be away from this body and be at home with the Lord. Our only goal is to please God. We want to please him when we are living here {in our body} or there {with the Lord}. We must all stand before Christ to be judged. Each person will get what he should. Each person will be paid for the things he did—good or bad—when he lived in the earthly body.
— 2 Corinthians 5:7-10
Jesus answered, "The things I teach are not my own. My teaching comes from him (God) who sent me. If a person wants to do what God wants, then that person will know that my teaching comes from God. That person will know that this teaching is not my own.
— John 7:16-17
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2017. All rights reserved.
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Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law answered Jesus. They said, "Teacher, we want to see you do a miracle as a sign (proof)." Jesus answered, "Evil and sinful people are the ones that want to see a miracle for a sign (proof). But no miracle will be given as a sign to those people. The only sign will be the miracle that happened to the prophet Jonah. Jonah was in the stomach of the big fish for three days and three nights. In the same way, the Son of Man will be in the grave three days and three nights."
— Matthew 12:38-40 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
Jesus is not a performer. He will not allow his ministry to be reduced to a sideshow. He ministers out of compassion and concern for people. He will not work a miracle to prove who he is. His previous miracles are testimony enough to his legitimacy. If they won't believe those miracles, if they can assign those mighty works to the power of Satan, then they will not believe a new one. Jesus will give no miracle on demand. Faith is about trusting in what he has done. Faith is the bottom line. Faith will always have mystery and be susceptible to doubt. More proof, more miracles, will not remove that doubt if the basic issue is faith. If hearts are hardened to him, if hearts are not looking to believe, if hearts are wanting to condemn and ridicule, then faith is lost. It's not an issue of facts, truth, or reason; it's a matter of an "evil and unbelieving heart."
Prayer
Holy God, give me an honest heart of faith. Help me see Jesus for who he truly is. Take my faith and make it stronger and richer. Use my life to serve you and bring others to know your Son. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures
Faith means being sure of the things we hope for. And faith means knowing that something is real even if we don't see it.
— Hebrews 11:1 & 6
We live by what we believe, not by what we can see. So I say that we have confidence. And we really want to be away from this body and be at home with the Lord. Our only goal is to please God. We want to please him when we are living here {in our body} or there {with the Lord}. We must all stand before Christ to be judged. Each person will get what he should. Each person will be paid for the things he did—good or bad—when he lived in the earthly body.
— 2 Corinthians 5:7-10
Jesus answered, "The things I teach are not my own. My teaching comes from him (God) who sent me. If a person wants to do what God wants, then that person will know that my teaching comes from God. That person will know that this teaching is not my own.
— John 7:16-17
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2017. All rights reserved.
