The sign of Jonah
Second Sunday in Lent - Luke 11:29-32
29 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. 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise at the judgment 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! 32 The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!”
In this passage Jesus returns to the group in the crowds who had come as spectators looking for the spectacular (see Luke 11:16). Jesus here does offer them a spectacular sign – but framed in such a way that they most likely did not recognize it.
Jonah is the sign. Being swallowed by a great fish and being in its belly for 3 days and then being vomited up on a beach – that is pretty spectacular. The 3 days in the “grave” of the fish foreshadows the most spectacular of all signs – Jesus’ resurrection. While that is the sub-text underneath what Jesus is saying, there is a starker point being made up front.
Jonah went to a gentile city, Nineveh, and preached the message God gave, and the whole city repented. The queen of the South (the Queen of Sheba) came to Israel to listen to Solomon’s wisdom. She was a gentile. In both cases outsiders – the people of Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba – heard God’s message from human voices and they responded. Jesus says, “One greater than Jonah and greater than Solomon has come and the insiders will not respond to the message of God spoken by Jesus, the Son of God.”
This text challenges us to reflect on how we as insiders recognize the good news of Jesus. What does it take for us to notice that the Word of God is speaking to us? Is the word enough, or do we need something more for us to be convinced that this is God speaking? Jonah simply preached, Solomon simply spoke – and they were heard as speaking God’s truth.
PRAYER:
Lord God, you have spoken and you continue to speak, help us to hear your Word, clear out our ears and soften our hearts that we might be quick to recognize when you are speaking, and to accept with joy the words you speak. In Jesus’ name. Amen.