John 12:36-41

Verse 37 “Though He did so many signs before them, they still did not believe in Him.”

Luke 16:30-31 “…No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

How often do you hear words of the following nature when witnessing to an unbeliever: ‘If only God would manifest some miraculous sign, then I would believe’? In all probability, after having their request, they would still find some other excuse for not believing. Subconsciously, they never believe and expect such an extraordinary manifestation to occur that would bend the laws of time and physics, so they are ‘safe’ (in their minds) in their ‘daring’ proposition to challenge such a sign to materialise. The truth of the matter is, they do not want to believe knowing that such a confession demands a change of life; they object to change where being lord of their own lives is brought to a sudden termination. “…the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light…” (John 3:19). “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

We know that Jesus performed many signs to confirm His deity and the authority with which He spoke as Son of God, but had not the Spirit of God moved upon the hearts to believe, none would have perceived in order to receive Christ. Many were fascinated by Jesus because He miraculously met their physical need (John 6:1-15). Who wouldn’t be enamoured by someone who supernaturally intervenes in a desperate situation?! But that’s where the fascination climbs to its limits and dissipates into mere sentimentality; a saviour is wrongly sought to suit our wants, but the Messiah transcends our wants to our real needs – “Truly, truly I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you…” (John 6:26-27).

Is this not also witnessed within modern day Christendom, that many are content and elated to have their prayers answered to pay bills, have food on their table, accumulate increasing capital for that vacation, vehicle or a rainy day – and that nothing would ever occur to burst that bubble of comfort and ‘security’? Do we not hear of unbelievers who ‘shoot up’ a prayer of that nature, too (Matthew 6:32)? What differentiates a disciple of Christ from a mere sentimental believer, for one’s own gain, is the kingdom of God and His glory taking preeminence. It is always first and foremost, may Your name be great, Your rule and will be established here in this world and in the hearts of many. Is it not also true that so many say they would believe if Jesus were here in bodily form working His wonders before their eyes? Have not also many Christians often said that their faith would grow ‘leaps and bounds’ if they could but walk with Jesus as the first disciples did? We know so little of ourselves if that is our mentality. I firmly believe that Jesus would have no different a reception as He did over 2000 years ago. As well as the many that believed in Him, there were most likely just as many – if not more – who refused to believe in Him. Much of the crowds that were fascinated with Him soon demanded for His crucifixion. His own people – the Jews – were unable to perceive their own Messiah and so failed to receive Him (John 1:11) but rather despised Him, and we seriously think we would act in a different manner?! With all our sophisticated advancement in psychology, we still fail to adhere to ‘know thyself’ as the ancient philosophers once advocated.

This world has not ‘evolved’ into a better humanity as so many are accustomed to believing. We would still crucify the Lord of Glory, and if we defend to the high hilt that we wouldn’t, then we know nothing of our own hearts and how desperately wicked they are but for the grace of God! What constitutes most of today’s mega churches, the religious rich ‘empires’ and celebrity shepherds would miserably fail to recognise Jesus if He physically made Himself present in their meetings. If He were to speak, while veiling His glory, deity and identity, many would switch off calling for a leader who has charisma that appeals to self and who motivates the hungry hearers to go out into the world to name and claim their way to fame. Many professing Christians want a saviour who will intervene in pursuing their life long dreams, but who are quick to change their ‘Hosanna’ anthem to ‘away with Him’ once He reveals the real conditions and cost of discipleship. As Oswald Chambers noted, “As long as Jesus Christ will remain the ‘meek and mild and gentle Jesus’ I will listen to Him, but immediately He sets His face against my particular sin, my unrighteousness, my self indulgence, I am going to have no more of Him; then the nemesis comes, and I realise that I am siding with the forces which are against Jesus Christ. Immediately God touches me or mine, I realise that I have the disposition of the devil in spite of all my religion and morality.”

A demand for signs, wonders and miracles is a sure sign of unbelief and hardness of heart. The abundance of performed signs and wonders is no guarantee of giving birth to saving faith. Some of the cities where Jesus worked most of His mighty miracles did not repent and believe and therefore were subject to greater judgment than that of Tyre, Sidon, Sodom and Gomorrah (Matthew 11:20-24). Furthermore, we have another account in Matthew 12:38-41 where scribes and Pharisees wished for Jesus to show them a sign. A startling reply was given when Jesus said, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign.” He was in their very midst and they failed to recognise Him as Son of God. No signs were performed in Ninevah, where Jonah preached repentance, but they turned to God, humbled themselves and sought His forgiveness.

“Though He had done so many signs before them, they still not believe in Him” (John 12:37).

In the gospel according to Luke 16:19-31, Abraham was begged that Lazarus be sent back from the dead to the rich man’s brothers and warn them to avoid the same eternal torment, convinced that after having witnessed such a phenomenon they in turn would repent and believe. But Abraham’s reply was to the contrary when he said they have heard Moses and the prophets – who spoke the very oracles of God and of the Christ to come – and if they did not believe then, not even the greatest miracle or sign would convince them otherwise.

No miracle will turn, convince or save any one of us unless God first does a regenerative work in our hearts to see and believe beyond any sign. We have the oracles of God – the Bible, and faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ, the Gospel which is the power of God unto salvation, whereby the greatest of all miracles is witnessed.