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."

Today's Prayer

Today's Verses in Context

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. On the judgment day, you people that live now will be compared with the people from Nineveh, and they will be witnesses to show that you are wrong (guilty). Why? Because when Jonah preached to those people, they changed their hearts and lives. And you are listening to someone greater than Jonah, {but you refuse to change}! On the judgment day, you people that live now will also be compared with the Queen of the South, and she will be a witness to show that you are wrong (guilty). Why? Because she traveled from far, far away to listen to Solomon's wise teaching. And I tell you that someone greater than Solomon is right here, {but you won't listen to me}! "When an evil spirit {from the devil} comes out of a person, that spirit travels through dry places looking for a place to rest. But that spirit finds no place to rest. So the spirit says, 'I will go back to the home (person) I left.' When the spirit comes back to that person, the spirit finds that home (person) still empty. That home is swept clean and made neat. Then the evil spirit goes out and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself. Then all the spirits go into that person and live there. And that person has even more trouble than he had before. It is the same way with the evil people that live today." While Jesus was talking to the people his mother and brothers stood outside. They wanted to talk to Jesus. A person told Jesus, "Your mother and brothers are waiting for you outside. They wantto talk to you." Jesus answered, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" Then Jesus pointed to his followers and said, "See! These people are my mother and my brothers. My true brother and sister and mother is any person that does the things my Father in heaven wants."

— Matthew 12:38-50 (ERV)

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