"An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign…"(Matthew 12:39)

The Pharisees had just accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons (Matt 12:24). Having quelled that complaint with His sharp teaching, the Pharisees clamor for more: "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you"(Matt 12:38). Regardless of the demons He had just cast out, they wanted another demonstration of Jesus' divine power. If you're the Christ, prove it! Jesus issues a scathing rebuke: "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah"(Matt12:39). Jesus hated the sign-seekers. These were not interested in signs as testimonies of His power, and He had no patience for those simply seeking entertainment.

It is amazing that despite His infinite power, Jesus never allowed His ministry to deteriorate into miracles and gimmicks to entertain the crowd. Jesus never taught in a circus-like atmosphere. Yet intense pressure from the crowds-including this same group again asking for a sign shortly afterward (Matt 16:1)-persisted in seeking after something to amaze and perhaps confirm what they were thinking. A frustrated Jesus exclaimed, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe"(John 4:48). We see, then, that some were not seeking solely to be entertained, but were looking for a reason for faith. Jesus laments that faith for some would only result from seeing signs.

It is sad that the same mentality Jesus fought and spoke against continues today. Even today many are seeking signs-confirmations, assurances, and miracles-in order to make them feel sure. Signs had a purpose-to confirm the word and give divine sanction to the one speaking it (Mark 16:20, John 5:36). However, that purpose has been achieved and the word has been delivered (Jude 3, Heb 1:1-2). We should no longer be seeking signs!

Many today seek signs in the form of "salvation experiences". This term, which is foreign to the New Testament, implies that in order to be saved some supernatural event must take place. We cannot simply obey what God commands and be saved-we must also have the confirmation of some sudden physical sensation which is "better felt than told". Is this how people were saved in the New Testament? In Acts 2, the audience felt a sensation-"when they heard this, they were cut to the heart"(v. 37). They had a "salvation experience"-"those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them"(v. 41). However, there is no record here of three thousand intense experiences God gave to each one. Rather than relying on emotions, they heard Peter's sermon about Jesus, believed it, and obeyed it in baptism. The same happened in Acts 8 when Philip preached to the eunuch. Philip "preached Jesus to him"(v. 35), the eunuch confessed faith in Jesus (v. 37) and was baptized (v. 38), then went on his way rejoicing (v. 39). Certainly his joy was a warm feeling in his heart, yet the feeling did not produce salvation, salvation produced the feeling! He was happy because he believed! Why can we not simply believe what the Bible says, obey it, and know that God has saved us? Why must we seek an emotional experience-a sign-to know that we're saved?

Often Christians begin to doubt their salvation because our denominational friends have taught them to seek confirmation of salvation! As one denominational preacher put it, "I would not want a religion I could not feel," and often we are lured into doubting God because we haven't had the kind of feeling our denominational friends describe. In short, we are seeking a sign! The Bible never teaches us that God will confirm His presence in us by feelings or supernatural experiences! Rather we read "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith"(Eph 3:17, emphasis mine). We must believe He is in us because He says He is, not because He proves it to us! We can look at the fruits of our lives to see if God is dwelling in us (Gal 5:22-23, 2:20), but not at our emotions. Further, God tells us how we can be assured that we know Him. "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments"(1 John 2:3). "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin"(1 John 1:7). Are you doing God's will? Then know that you know Him! Listen to God rather than seeking a sign from Him!

We must also remember that it is possible to test God. Satan quoted a passage to encourage Jesus to jump off the pinnacle of the temple: "He shall give His angels charge over you, and in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone"(Matt 4:6). God had given promises in that passage about His protection over those who are faithful to Him. Yet if Jesus were to jump off and expect God to fulfill His promise, He would be testing God, pressing Him to make good on His promise. This is why Jesus replies that "You shall not tempt the Lord your God"(Matt 4:7). We must not test God in this way either-by pressing Him to fulfill His promises. Jesus promised that "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you"(Matt 6:33). Does that mean I can quit my job to spend my time passing out tracts and expect God to provide for me (2 Thess 3:10-12)? To do so is to test God! Or, closer to home, will I lose faith if God answers my prayer with a "no", despite the fact that He has promised that "the prayer of faith will save the sick"(James 5:15)? Will I test God? Will I seek a sign?

What is the point of all this? We accept and follow Jesus by faith-not signs (2 Cor 5:7, Heb 11:1). We don't follow because we are certain. We follow because we believe. In New Testament times, people had to believe these words, trust God, and then obey what God said. There is no substitute or shortcut for that today! We must be careful that we are not like Thomas-seeking proof before we trust. Today we must be "those who have not seen and yet have believed"(John 20:29).

Jesus criticized those who sought signs and could not simply accept Him by faith. Would He criticize us? Perhaps we need stronger faith. We must remember that faith is not miraculously imparted, but "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God"(Rom 10:17). Let us always be content with simply trusting what God has said and obeying it. ___Jacob Hudgins