March 17, 2025 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Luke - The Sign of Jonah

Luke 11:29  And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. 30  For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. 31  The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. 32  The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Nineve or Nineveh in Genesis 10 was a licentious city full of wickedness. Although it was started by Asshur  who was the son of Shem. One of Shem’s descendants was Arphaxad, Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber. From Eber came Abraham and he was called a Hebrew.

Although Nineveh was started by Asshur it became a terrible city and a licentious city full of atrocities and wickedness and murders. The Ninevite’s were a warring people; they kept the skulls of their victims outside the city’s gates in huge piles to celebrate their victories and bring fear to others.

Jonah was sent to Nineveh to preach repentance and turning to God. (You can read the whole story in the book of Jonah.)

After Jonah’s ordeal with disobedience to God and after being swallowed by a whale, and being vomited up on the shores, he went to Nineveh and preached. The whole city turned to God.

In our text we are told the only sign given to this generation would be the same sign that Jonah was to the Ninevites.

What does that mean to us today? Matthew gives us some more information on that subject.

Matthew 12:39  But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jonah was in the Whale’s belly for three days and three nights. Just as so Jesus was three days and three eight in the heart of the earth. My dear friend, just as Jonah was to Nineveh so Jesus is to this generation. What is this generation doing with Jesus today?

Nineveh repented and turned to the Lord. Is this world repenting and turning to the Lord? I don’t think so. In fact the Lord said that Nineveh would be a witness against this generation because they listened and they repented and they turned to the Lord. This generation is not listening and not turning even though this world has a greater witness, the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary’s cross and burial and resurrection after three days.

No, this generation will believe in the modern day celebrations of Palm Sunday, and Ash Wednesday, and Lent, and Shrove Tuesday, and Good Friday, all of which are not in the bible but are man’s divination to distort the truth and cause people to think if they do these things they will please God and ultimately go the Heaven.

Salvation is not by doing good deeds but by repentance and turning to the Lord God of heaven through Jesus Christ.

Luke 11:32  The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Nineveh heard and repented. Would this generation do the same? Would you do the same?

Th choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook