Pastor Nam Park.
Jesus is addressing unbelievers here that should know better.
Group 1 of unbelievers were the blasphemers.
But this morning, we look at Group 2, unbelievers that were the "fence-sitters."
Unbelief isn't always enemies of the cross.
The majority of people are respectful of Christianity but seek a miraculous sign.
Luke 11:29 As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
33 “No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lamp stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness. 36 If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays.”
Story of a young lady that heard the gospel story. They crucified Him.
And the young girl's cry could be heard throughout the auditorium, "Why did they do it?"
- The hardness of heart is natural to the sinful man.
- They believe that they are saved b/c they showed up on Sunday. Mundane pattern.
- We can act the part and be civil. This are the actions of these religious leaders. These men know the scriptures; they are encouraged to think and hope for a Messiah. But instead, they are blaspheming the Son of God.
Luke 11:29 As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah.
- The crowds are increasing.
- We appreciate the Lord's diplomacy.
- Technically all generations everywhere are "wicked"... why did Jesus highlight it here?
- Characteristic of a "wicked generation": they demand a sign from God.
Question: Is there a sign that is sufficient to make faith?
A: We look to the parable of the rich man & Lazarus. There is no "show" good enough to make faith where faith is not there.
- "sign of Jonah": Swallowed by a huge fish and then vomited on land 3 days later.
Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites.
Jesus [future tense] will be a sign.
Matthew 12:40 for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
- If the revelation of God's word is insufficient for hope, there is nothing (no sign that saves).
Luke 11:31 The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
- Two Gentile judges that will judge them (the Jews).
- Judge #1. Queen of the South = Queen of Sheeba = Queen of Yemen. She comes at their judgement before the living God. She will accuse them of sinfulness. She came SEEKING for TRUTH and WISDOM, this Gentile Queen. She may not be a believer; but she recognized Solomon was great, and someone greater than Solomon was here. Jesus is that much greater.
- Judge #2. The Men of Ninevah will also condemn them. These men completely changed the direction of their lives at the preaching of Jonah.
Luke 11:33 “No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lamp stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness.
- Light is meant to illumine an entire place.
- Your eyes takes in light for the body.
- They had closed their eyes from the light; Their eyes were dimming.
Luke 11:36 If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays.”
- A ray of hope, literally. If you could let the light in, your body would become like a lamp.
Story of prisoners that only had a ray of light part of the day. One man would stand on the shoulders of the others and study the scriptures. Then when the light was gone, he would climb down. The others would ask,"Now, tell us what you read when you were in the light."
We are often distracted by other affections of this world.
Our eyes are not illumined by Christ as it should.
Our habits, our affections should become wholly His.
The Lord doesn't offer us fire insurance. The offer is LIFE, and LIFE ABUNDANT!
Confess and contemplate who Jesus is.
Jesus is the light and it's not like He has been hiding.
Story of a young lady that heard the gospel story. They crucified Him.
And the young girl's cry could be heard throughout the auditorium, "Why did they do it?"
- The hardness of heart is natural to the sinful man.
- They believe that they are saved b/c they showed up on Sunday. Mundane pattern.
- We can act the part and be civil. This are the actions of these religious leaders. These men know the scriptures; they are encouraged to think and hope for a Messiah. But instead, they are blaspheming the Son of God.
Luke 11:29 As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah.
- The crowds are increasing.
- We appreciate the Lord's diplomacy.
- Technically all generations everywhere are "wicked"... why did Jesus highlight it here?
- Characteristic of a "wicked generation": they demand a sign from God.
Question: Is there a sign that is sufficient to make faith?
A: We look to the parable of the rich man & Lazarus. There is no "show" good enough to make faith where faith is not there.
- "sign of Jonah": Swallowed by a huge fish and then vomited on land 3 days later.
Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites.
Jesus [future tense] will be a sign.
Matthew 12:40 for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
- If the revelation of God's word is insufficient for hope, there is nothing (no sign that saves).
Luke 11:31 The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
- Two Gentile judges that will judge them (the Jews).
- Judge #1. Queen of the South = Queen of Sheeba = Queen of Yemen. She comes at their judgement before the living God. She will accuse them of sinfulness. She came SEEKING for TRUTH and WISDOM, this Gentile Queen. She may not be a believer; but she recognized Solomon was great, and someone greater than Solomon was here. Jesus is that much greater.
- Judge #2. The Men of Ninevah will also condemn them. These men completely changed the direction of their lives at the preaching of Jonah.
Luke 11:33 “No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lamp stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness.
- Light is meant to illumine an entire place.
- Your eyes takes in light for the body.
- They had closed their eyes from the light; Their eyes were dimming.
Luke 11:36 If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays.”
- A ray of hope, literally. If you could let the light in, your body would become like a lamp.
Story of prisoners that only had a ray of light part of the day. One man would stand on the shoulders of the others and study the scriptures. Then when the light was gone, he would climb down. The others would ask,"Now, tell us what you read when you were in the light."
We are often distracted by other affections of this world.
Our eyes are not illumined by Christ as it should.
Our habits, our affections should become wholly His.
The Lord doesn't offer us fire insurance. The offer is LIFE, and LIFE ABUNDANT!
Confess and contemplate who Jesus is.
Jesus is the light and it's not like He has been hiding.
