Luke 11:29-32--The Sign of Jonah

Luke 11:29-32
English Standard Version
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The Sign of Jonah
29 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. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 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. 32 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.

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Remember that the crowds have been testing Him, accusing Him of doing HIs signs and miracles by the power of the devil, and Luke told us already that they were asking for a sign but they had no intention of believing (see verse 16).  Jesus finally calls out this unbelieving crowd for what it is--a wicked and adulterous generation.  Jesus compares them to the people of Nineveh at the time of the prophet Jonah (not the greatest prophet or missionary if you read the book of Jonah in the Old Testament), as Jonah was sent a very wicked Gentile nation.  The Ninevites were so wicked that Jonah didn't want to to preach the gospel to them and didn't want to see any of them saved--he only wanted to speak a message of condemnation and destruction, yet, miraculously, God used his message to bring about repentance in the entire city.  Jesus said that they have someone greater than Jonah with them and they will see a sign even greater than that of Jonah being in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights (referring to how Jesus would be in the belly of the earth for three days and three nights and would be raised from the dead on the third day).  Jesus says they will not even believe this though when they see it because their hearts are so hardened so He will show them no other sign, for if they will not believe this, the greatest of all signs, then there would be nothing else He could show them that would make them believe.

Some people, by God's grace, will understand things once the resurrection takes place.  What has been concealed from the disciples for instance so that they wouldn't try to prevent the crucifixion from happening is not going to be made clear that it was always Plan A.  That's why Jesus came Not simply to be a good teacher or to be an example to follow, but to be The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Jesus then talks about other Gentiles, specifically Cleopatra, "The Queen of the South" that would rise up in judgment against this nation because at least she went to seek wisdom from Solomon (Solomon's wisdom is God's wisdom because God gifted Solomon with that wisdom), but someone greater than Solomon is among them and they do not listen to His words or submit to His authority.

Yes, the men of Nineveh will also rise up in judgment against these people because they, though some of the most vile and wicked people this world has ever known, repented when they heard the preaching of Jonah--their hearts were convicted and the whole city repented in sackcloth--even the animals were forced to wear sackcloth.  Jonah only left his home town of Joppa to go to hostile, pagan nation that was far away, but that's nothing compared to Jesus, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, leaving heaven to come to earth to live among His enemies for years to seek and to save them, knowing that they would eventually kill Him, and yet that was all part of the plan so that by His blood He could make both atonement and reconciliation for all who believe.  Yes, someone greater than Jonah definitely was there because what Jonah did reluctantly, Jesus did willingly.  Where Jonah still hated his "enemies" even at the end of the story, Jesus loved those who were His enemies so much that He died for them.