“He answered them, ‘When it is evening, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.” And in the morning. “And in the morning it will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.”'” Matthew 16:2-3
January 24, 2024
In Jesus’ day, weather forecasts had to be based on reading the skies rather than seeing Doppler radar. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for being astute regarding the weather, but were blind to the really important signs regarding the death and resurrection of the Messiah. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to do something to guarantee the truthfulness of who He was and what He was teaching. Jesus’ miracles were not enough. They wanted a sign that excluded the one essential demand that Jesus required, namely, the sign of the prophet Jonah (Matt. 12:39). How many in our day and time are far more interested in reading the signs of the times politically and end-time signs gleaned from the social media. It’s not wrong to be observant to the shadows being cast by the coming Day of the Lord. But this must not distract us from reading the “spiritual weather.” Jesus has come to make atonement for sin, was raised from the dead, ascended to heaven, and is coming back to earth again in judgment. If we would only give ourselves to discern the signs of the times as eagerly as we devote ourselves to the analysis of ball games and politics.
H
“O Merciful God, how grieved you must be over the raw unbelief that plagues our world. Please open the eyes of those I know who are indifferent to the coming storm of the coming of the Son of Man.”