I. The Sign of Jonah
- Matthew 12:38-50; as you all remember on the previous study, Jesus healed a demon-possessed, blind, mute man. And after doing this and all other miracles, the Pharisees and scribes asked for one more miracle or "sign" to show that Jesus is really the son of God. Jesus replied to them by saying that "only an evil and adulterous generation would demand another miracle". He shared the story of Jonah, and how he was in the belly of a whale for three days and three nights, survived, came to Ninevah, preached the Word of God, and people repented of their sins. Jesus tried to imply that He had done a lot of miracles already and also there are many signs in the Old Scriptures that points to His coming and even though He is greater than Jonah, they did not want to repent.
- There are times in our lives that we go to God and ask Him for signs or miracles so we may continue our faith in Him. Sometimes, we actually demand God to prove that He is real. The only sign we need is in the Bible, where it is written that Jesus died and resurrected after three days. This is the corner stone of our faith, the hope that we will have eternal life.
- In verses 46-50, with a crowd getting bigger, Mary and her sons came to see Jesus. (I know there are religions that speak against Mary having other sons with Joseph to keep his "virginity" intact even-though there are numerous verses in the Bible that talks about Jesus' siblings such as Matthew 13:55 who even named four of his brothers: James, Joses, Simon, and Judas. Other verses are Matthew 13:56, John 7:1-10, Acts 1:14, and Galatians 1:19). Many commentators have argued that they came to Jesus to ask Him to stop whatever He is doing because He is upsetting a lot of people especially the Pharisees. As you all did not know, Jesus' own family doubted Him and His divinity. This is written in John 7:5, "5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him". So when Jesus heard that they were looking for Him, He told a disciple that "His mother and brothers are the ones who does the will of God". This shows that our blood relationship does not count in our salvation. It is our spiritual relationship with God that matters most.
- Even Mary became an apostle of Christ after His death and had to build a relationship with the Father to receive grace and eternal life. Contrary to other religious belief, Mary has NO ROLE at all in our salvation. She is not divine or Holy. "5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, "(1 Timothy 2:5). At the same time, we are not forgiven of our "original sin" just by being baptized when we are babies. To be born in the family of God, we need to know God and accept Him ourselves. And all that can not be done when we are babies. Being a true Christian happens when we are old enough to decide that we want to follow Jesus and fully devote ourselves to God.
II. Preaching the Good News
- Romans 10:14-21; when I was a young Christian, I always wonder what will happen to people who were born in a family of another religion. Would they be saved? I always think that it is unfair for them not to receive salvation for it is not their fault to be born from their parents. But what I learned in recent years is that the gospel is everywhere and once we hear about God, we have a choice to accept or reject the "Word". In these passage, Paul explains that the gospel is for everyone to hear and it is our job, as Christians, to share the it to everyone. There are hundreds if not thousands of missionaries that go to the ends of the earth to share the gospel to non-believers. The internet has provided a medium for every person in this planet to access the Bible. This is the reason why we would not have an excuse at judgment day that we never heard the gospel. Now, we need to do our part to help everybody get a chance to know God. I know that you've been thinking of sharing the gospel to your spouse, parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, co-workers, or even strangers. Is God calling you to spread the good news to them? What are you waiting for? God's message of salvation must be taken to everyone so they can have the chance to accept Him and enter the Kingdom of God or reject Him and receive eternal condemnation and damnation.
III. Proverbs for Today/6:6-11 (The Folly of Indolence)
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no captain,
Overseer or ruler,
8 Provides her supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.
IV. Additional Old Testament Reading:
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