Luke 11:29-36
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“Its Lit”
“Its Lit”
welcome
recap
talk about todays passage
we remember one of the most important and critical scriptures in last weeks message its pivotal its found in Luke 11.23
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
we eneded with another important and pivotal scripture found in Luke 11.28
But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
today Jesus continues that message with some more powerful words we find here in our passage = today we are in Luke 11.29-36
When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”
In his characteristic style, Luke once again highlighted the sayings of Jesus that contrasted the unbelief of the Jews with the faith of the Gentiles (another example of Luke’s reversals, compare 4:24–27; 10:13–15).
Jesus commended the pagan Queen of Sheba and the Gentile people of Nineveh for listening to God’s messengers—Solomon and Jonah—while at the same time exhorting his Jewish listeners to follow their example and listen to him.
By flatly refusing to give yet another sign, Jesus was stressing the importance of his message.
It was more important than his miraculous signs, which only pointed to the truth of his message.
That message is clearly laid out in the Bible. J
Just as Jesus confronted those who asked for a sign on that warm day in Galilee, every time you open Scripture, be ready to be confronted by Jesus’ teaching.
Let his words pierce your heart and soul, so that they can transform your life.
lets break down todays passage
When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
right off the bat we are presented with a message that has two possible interpretations = lets look at those
Here Jesus was responding to the request made in 11:16.
The people had asked Jesus for a sign from heaven to prove that he was from God.
Instead of giving a sign (beyond the miracles and healings he had performed), Jesus explained that no miraculous sign would be given except the sign of Jonah.
God had asked Jonah to preach repentance to the Gentiles (non-Jews)—
he had been sent by God to the Assyrian city of Nineveh (see the book of Jonah).
Jonah preached to the city and saw it repent.
With the words “as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation,”
Jesus was affirming Jonah’s message. Salvation is not only for Jews but for all people.
There are two possible meanings for “Jonah as a sign”:
1. This may refer to a sign of judgment. God will not grant the sign the people asked for but will only point to their rejection of the message. In Jonah’s day, Nineveh was capital of the Assyrian Empire, and it was as powerful as it was evil (Jonah 1:2). The wicked city repented at Jonah’s preaching; by contrast, when Jesus came to his people, the Jews, they refused to accept him even though they had been looking for and expecting him.
2. The “sign” granted to them may refer to the Resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection would prove that he was the Messiah. Three days after his death Jesus would come back to life, just as Jonah had been “brought back” to life after spending three days in the fish. Both had been delivered from death. Jonah’s presence was a sign to the people of Nineveh; they repented at his teaching. Jesus’ return to his people after his death would also be a sign to the people of his generation. Some would repent; many would not. This is the preferable meaning of the Son of Man being a sign to his generation.
When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
The Ninevites and the Queen of the South had turned to God with far less evidence than Jesus was giving his listeners
—and far less than people have today, with eyewitness reports of the risen Jesus, the continuing power of the Holy Spirit unleashed at Pentecost, easy access to the Bible, and knowledge of two thousand years of Christ’s acts through his church.
With all this available knowledge and insight, people today ought to respond completely and wholeheartedly to Christ.
Jesus stands alone in his ultimate authority. Give him his proper place. Listen and respond to him.
The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
Continue to speak on the importance of being transformed by the word of God as evidence in this story of the queen
sheba (modern day yemen) in Arabia is 1,200 miles from Jerusalem
not only that but if we were to turn to 1 Kings chapter 4 we would see she brought with her a huge caravan
talk of this caravan
again the importance here is she heard what Solomon was teaching and speaking and how he was living that even though probably a pagan acknowledged God and gave him credit for Solomons wealth…
his words…
preach on the meanings and how they go hand in hand
Jonah and his physical appearance and the queen and her being transformed by the words of Solomon
how are receiving the word of God
“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.
Preach on eyes and the importance of scripture transforming us
conclude with this
Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”
End with the story of Professor and cups of Coffee
Jesus is the light and we need his guidance.
If your life seems pointless and without direction,
empty and without love,
boring and without purpose,
common and without creativity,
dull and without challenge, or transient and without hope …
Then switch on the light, God’s Word.
It will direct you toward a wonderful goal, it is full of love for you,
it suggests lots of important work to challenge your gifts and talents,
and it points to eternal life—God’s generous promise to you.
Preach
HOLY SPIRIT TAKE OVER…
