“A wicked and faithless generation are eager for a sign; but none shall be given to them except the sign of Jonah.” and He left them and went away.” (Matthew 16:4 WNT)
After the Lord Jesus Christ miraculously fed four thousand hungry men, besides women and children, with seven loaves and fish, the Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus, asking Him to show them a sign from heaven that He was indeed the Messiah. But Jesus would not gratify their desire for signs.
Jesus spoke bluntly to them, saying, “A wicked and faithless generation are eager for a sign; but none shall be given to them except the sign of Jonah.” and He left them and went away.” (Matt. 16:4 WNT).
The Lord Jesus undoubtedly always had the power to perform great signs and wonders as He wills. The Scripture is replete with miracles, healings, signs, and wonders Jesus performs. Not all the mighty works Jesus did were recorded in the Bible (John 20:30, 21:25).
The miraculous works of Jesus recorded in the Bible confirm and testify that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Son of God. They are undoubtedly enough evidence for anyone to believe in the Lord Jesus and, through believing, receive everlasting life in His name (John 20:31).
Many prophets of old had to perform great signs and wonders before the people to authenticate their calling, ministry, or message. They had to prove that God sent them to the unbelieving people.
Moses and Aaron had to perform signs before the children of Israel to believe and receive them as God’s servants sent for their deliverance (Exo. 4:30-31).
Elijah had to call down fire from heaven to consume the water-soaked sacrifice on Mount Carmel before the people to demonstrate to the backsliding nation of Israel that he was indeed God’s servant and was acting on God’s instructions (1 Kings 18:36).
Samuel also had to call down rain and thunder during the wheat harvest so that the children of Israel would know that they had sinned against God by asking for a king (1 Sam. 12:18-20).
Why would the Lord Jesus not perform any sign or wonder to authenticate His person and ministry when the religious leaders requested a sign from Him so they may believe in Him?
It is wisdom for us to find out!
First, the Lord Jesus refused to perform any new sign for His skeptics to believe or receive Him as their Messiah because they already had ample signs to believe that He was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, yet they chose not to accept or receive Him.
Before the birth of Jesus, God had sent many prophets or messengers to the Jews who gave many prophecies about Jesus Christ and performed ample signs and wonders before the people to authenticate their messages and ministries (Isa. 7:10-14, Heb. 2:1-4).
The last prophet God sent to Israel was John the Baptist. He unmistakably bore witness to the person and purpose of Jesus Christ. Before the entire nation, John the Baptist pointed Jesus out as “the Lamb of God” sent to carry away the whole world’s sin.
John 1:29-32 – NKJV
29 The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
30 “This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’
31 “I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”
32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
Besides the prophecies and miraculous signs given by the prophets of old to prove to the people that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God, God the Father also spoke clearly from the heavens to confirm that Jesus Christ was indeed His Beloved Son.
Matthew 3:16-17 – NKJV
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Nevertheless, the Jews would not believe or receive Jesus Christ as the Son of God and their Messiah. Therefore, Jesus refused when faithless Jewish leaders asked Him for another sign to prove that He was indeed the Son of God. Why?
Because the Lord knew that no new sign or wonder would cure their unbelief or melt the hardness of their hearts!
God has already given ample signs for the world to believe and receive Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Saviour of the whole world.
Second, the Lord Jesus would not grant the request of the wicked and faithless generation for signs because He would not have their faith based on miraculous signs but on God’s Word alone.
The Word of God is the only tried, tested, firm, and sure foundation for a victorious Christian life (Psa. 12:6-7). Signs and wonders offer no solid foundation upon which to build your Christian life, for they don’t endure forever, “but the word of the LORD endures forever” (1 Pet. 1:25 NKJV).
Therefore, if you base your Christian life upon some spiritual experiences, miraculous signs, or wonders and not solely on God’s Word, you will be unstable and immature in the faith.
Lastly, Jesus would not encourage seeking signs and wonders because they could be misleading, for the devil and his agents can also perform great signs and wonders.
The Scripture sternly warns that in the last days, many false “Christs” and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to deceive people eagerly seeking after signs, miracles, and wonders.
The Lord Jesus warns, “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” (Matt. 24:5 NKJV).
“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” (Matt. 24:11 NKJV).
“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matt. 24:24 NKJV).
Beloved, it is unscriptural, unwise, and dangerous to seek miracles, signs, and wonders and conclude that God is present wherever and whenever great miracles, signs, and wonders happen.
Many false apostles and prophets today perform great miracles, signs, and wonders, but not by God’s Spirit (Rev. 16:13-14). There are also many churches today where great miracles, signs, and wonders are happening daily, but not by the power of God.
The end-time is a time of subtle deceptions!
Therefore, if you seek after miracles, signs, and wonders, you may be deceived, defiled, defrauded, manipulated, and dominated by false apostles and prophets transforming themselves into apostles and prophets of Christ (2 Cor. 11:14-15, 1 John 4:1-3).
Don’t be deceived!
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to discern false apostles, pastors, and prophets in this end-time and thus escape their subtle deceptions and manipulations, in Jesus’ name. Amen.