"Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah." Then Jesus left them and went away.

Matthew 16:4

When Jesus failed to live up to the messianic expectations of the Jewish leaders, they demanded him to show a miraculous sign (as if he hadn't done plenty already!). Jesus rejected their demand, though adding that he would give "the sign of the prophet Jonah." In Matthew 12:40, Jesus explained that this sign was his resurrection. Even as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days, so Jesus would be in the earth. But then, like Jonah, he would be miraculously brought back into this world.

It's terribly easy for us to think we can set the terms of our relationship with Jesus. We decide the hoops he needs to jump through, and then we tell him to jump in our prayers. If Jesus doesn't come through for us, we can question his goodness, even his existence. Our challenge is to accept Jesus on his terms and to receive the revelation he has given to us.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Have there ever been times in your life when you wanted God to make himself known to you in a miraculous way? What happened? How do you maintain your faith in God when he doesn't respond to your agenda?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I can imagine how readily I would have fallen in with the religious leaders. Believing in you is hard sometimes, and I wouldn't mind an extra sign or two along the way. Of course, you have made your presence and power known to me throughout my life. But, still, I can come to you demanding more.

Help me, Lord, to believe in you on the basis of what you have done in history and in my own life. When I doubt, remind me of all the ways you have revealed yourself, most of all in Jesus, and in his resurrection. May my faith in you be rock solid as I base it upon you.  Amen.