Lesson 7
Even though Jesus had gone above and beyond in completing the messianic miracles, they didn’t like him and still rejected him personally. Ignoring the miracles Jesus was doing, they kept asking him for a sign to prove he was their messiah. Jesus gives them a proof truly worthy of the messiah. Giving the Jews a proof far beyond what they had ever imagined, Jesus gives them the sign of Jonah. Knowing the Jewish leaders wanted to kill him, Jesus said they could kill him, then he would rise back to life after three days and nights in the grave had been completed. Once resurrected Jesus showed himself publicly, proving he is their messiah.
Matthew 12:38-40 International Children’s Bible
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law answered Jesus. They said, “Teacher, we want to see you work a miracle as a sign.” 39 Jesus answered, “Evil and sinful people are the ones who want to see a miracle for a sign. But no sign will be given to them. The only sign will be what happened to the prophet Jonah. 40 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.
John 2:18-21 New English Translation
18 So then the Jewish leaders responded, “What sign can you show us, since you are doing these things?” 19 Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again.” 20 Then the Jewish leaders said to him, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and are you going to raise it up in three days?” 21 But Jesus was speaking about the temple of his body.
1 Corinthians 15:5-8 New Life Version
5 Christ was seen by Peter. After that, the twelve followers saw Him. 6 After that, more than 500 of His followers saw Him at one time. Most of them are still here, but some have died. 7 After that, James saw Christ. Then all the missionaries saw Him. 8 Last of all, Christ showed Himself to me as if I had been born too late.
Jesus not only completed all the messianic miracles the Jewish leaders had devised for the messiah to perform, he also completed the Jonah miracle. Wanting his salvation message taught to gentiles, God blinded the Jews so they couldn’t recognise Jesus. This was all part of God’s plan for mankind’s salvation. In order for humans to receive eternal life, Jesus had to die for mankind’s sins. Jesus knew there was no other way and willingly followed the plans the scriptures laid out.
Who blinded the Jews to Jesus? Who’s responsible for them not recognising Jesus? Now that they are dead, when and how can they come to accept Jesus as their saviour? When God stops people from recognising Jesus, has he also kept them from eternal salvation before they even had the chance to know Jesus?