Silly Question - Sign of Jonah

[Strategery]

Why would Jesus say that no sign will be given to this generation except the sign of Jonah, when he repeatedly gave signs?

 

[Waiting]

Why would Jesus say that no sign will be given to this generation except the sign of Jonah, when he repeatedly gave signs?

Jesus gave the greatest sign that could be given to His generation, one that ensures us a life everlasting, when He exited the tomb in three days, as Jonah exited the whale in three days. What other signs do people need?

 

[GEddie]

JONAH disappeared beneath the sea for three days and should have been drowned, except that the whale, a synbol for GOD’s power, prevented him from perishing in this way.

Our LORD went into death for 3 days. Humanly, that would have been the end of HIM. But GOD’s power brought HIM out of it.

ICXC NIKA

 

[NotWorthy]

Why would Jesus say that no sign will be given to this generation except the sign of Jonah, when he repeatedly gave signs?

That one sign, the one that GEddie explained, is the only sign that mattered.

I think that’s what Jesus meant.

Now, let me ask you - What did Jesus mean when he calls Simon “BarJonah” (son of Jonah) when Simon/Peter was the son of John (Johan and John are NOT the same name)?

 

[NeedImprovement]

Why would Jesus say that no sign will be given to this generation except the sign of Jonah, when he repeatedly gave signs?

I don’t think it’s such a silly question … more of a good one actually.

The footnotes on that related passage of sacred scripture Luke11:15-30 ;Matt 12:38-42] (from the NAB), in two separate Gospel accounts read this way :

*9 [29-32] The “sign of Jonah” in Luke is the preaching of the need for repentance by a prophet who comes from afar. Cf Matthew 12:38-42 (and see the notes there) where the “sign of Jonah” is interpreted by Jesus as his death and resurrection." *

Both are necessary . We need to repent as part of being redeemed by our Blessed Lord’s Holy Sacrifice at Calvary .

To concur with NotWorthy’s sentiment that in a sense, Jesus, Son of God and Redeemer “is the only sign that” matters , I believe (and what follows is only my limited personal opinion) our Lord is telling them :“If you wish to look - look here” or, as He was known to say “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Indeed Stratagery, you make an excellent point : Jesus was working signs and wonders most places He went, to the extent that even the Pharisees remarked in John 12:19 that “the whole world is running after him.”

A little further in the same Chapter 12 of the Gospel according to John [37-43], the following is written:

But, even though He had worked many miracles before them, they did not believe on Him. This was in fulfillment of the words of the prophet Isaiah when he said, “Lord, has anyone believed our report? And has the arm of the Lord been revealed to anyone?” (Isaiah 53:1) The reason why they could not believe is stated again by Isaiah in these words: “He has blinded their eyes and has hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their hearts, and lest they should repent and I should heal them” (Isaiah 6:9, 10). Thus spoke Isaiah when he saw His glory, and spoke of Him.

Even among the rulers there were many who believed on Him, but on account of the Pharisees they did not declare their faith lest they be put out of the synagogue. For they valued their reputation among men more than the approval of God.

In the usual sense, a sign as we know it is supposed to point to something else; to indicate something/(Someone) else . The sacraments are perfect examples of this.

But I believe the “sign” they were asking for was more along the lines of “Give us proof, that you are either God or a great Prophet of His.”

Signs can be very helpful in augmenting our faith. Miracles can strengthen our faith. But on most occasions, according to the Gospel accounts, that faith - even a more feeble version of it, had to exist before the miracle could take place.

In Mark 6:5-6 , we are told that Jesus could not work many miracles when the faith is absent. So…when people without faith demand a sign…a miracle, it can only be out of curiosity or perhaps obstinacy . Those peoples’ disposition, would prevent them from being edified in any way by the working of a miracle or sign . So the faith has to come first - a type of prerequisite… even a feeble faith. The correct order, according to Saint Augustine is that, “Faith precedes knowledge”.

Augustine also says (from the Book, *“AUGUSTINE ON PRAYER ,Catholic Book Publishing Co. 1986; pg 39 * ) " But faith is belief in what you do not see, and the reward of that faith is to see what you believe.”

So the bottom line for me, concludes that they who were without faith were asking for proof. In that case, once someone has all the proof they need, there isn’t any room left for faith.

 

[Jimdandy]

The sign of Jonah-As Jonah entered the city of Nineveh, he started preaching repentance and when the King heard he initiated a fast for all-so, the fruits of the listening of the people to the Word of God from Jonah was their repentance and fasting and changing- which led to their reconciliation with God.

also, the method of proof of whether an apparition is real,is referred to as the ‘sign of Jonah’-the visible change of hearts by the behavior of the people.

 

[rcjones]

Excellent! The word often has a dual meaning. One for the flesh and one for the spirit. See how the flesh gravitates to the fish, and the spirit to the heart of the matter. His resurrection was not given to the unbelievers. He showed himself to his followers. But the church is the sign of Jonah since it’s presence in the world was undeniable to those same unbelievers.