Gotta See a Sign John 4:45-54 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
This broadcast shows you the fallacy of requiring signs in order to believe the Lord. Signs are a problem for people today because:
People only want his miraculous provision – The Galileans received Jesus because they saw his miracles in Jerusalem. In John 6 Jesus said that the crowd was following him because he gave them bread.
People are motivated by selfish reasons – Matthew 12:38 “Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.” The Pharisees constantly challenged Jesus. They wanted a sign for selfish reasons. Mark 8:11 “And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.” Jesus knew their motive and refused.
Luke 11:15-16 “But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. 16. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
Luke 11:29“And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.” Our generation is no different than theirs. There are many television preachers and false prophets that are willing to give a sign. Their motive is fame and riches.
People want proof but the proof rarely satisfies them – John 2:18 “Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?” They had been selling merchandise in the temple, and Jesus drove them out. They wanted an explanation for subverting their authority. He gave them one, but it was on the Sabbath and that wasn’t acceptable to them. They wanted to destroy him because he was a threat.
People are curious onlookers and spectators – Luke 23:7-8 “And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was atJerusalem at that time. 8. And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.”
You just need to believe what he said and forget the “show” – People who look for signs get distracted by the miracles, instead of what God wants them to learn about Jesus. God still heals people miraculously today, but that is not the reason to believe. The man in Luke 23 believed before he saw the result. He believed Jesus because of what Jesus said.
Matthew 12:39“He answered and said unto them an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign, and there shall no sign be given but the sign of the prophet Jonas.” The sign of the prophet Jonas was that Christ would be buried 3 days and 3 nights and be resurrected. Only by Christ’s death, burial and resurrection can people be saved; not by the signs and wonders.