1. The Life of Christ – Lesson 8
Jesus’ family - Jesus’ rebukes
May 15, 2019

2. The sign of jonah Matthew 12:39-42; Luke 11:29-32
The sign of Jonah: comparison to Jesus
Jonah’s message from God was intended to provoke repentance and accomplished His purpose.
Jesus also preached His Fathers’ will in order to bring about repentance and succeeded in the matter for which His Father sent Him. (Luke 11:32; Luke 5:32; John 17:4; cf. John 4:34)
Isaiah 55:10-11, “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”
In the fulness of time, God sent both Jonah and Jesus.

3. The sign of jonah Matthew 12:39-42; Luke 11:29-32
A contrast between Jonah and Jesus:
Jonah was more concerned about his personal comfort (4:10) than the salvation of “more than 120,000 persons” (souls).
Jesus, on the other hand, was more concerned about the lost souls in the world and chose to leave the right hand of His Father in heaven to take on the form of man and preach His Father’s message. (Philippians 2:5-8)

4. The sign of jonah Matthew 12:39-42; Luke 11:29-32
Ultimately, Jesus urged everyone (including all future generations) to pay heed to a sign to come … His resurrection.
Expectation that they would associate His resurrection with this prophecy.
“Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites …”, how so?
Matthew 12:40, “… just as Jonah… so will the Son of Man …”
Attesting miracle. Romans 1:4, “… declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead.”

5. The sign of jonah Matthew 12:39-42; Luke 11:29-32
Jesus said the Ninevites and the “Queen of the South” would stand in condemnation of the unbelievers of this generation because (1) the Ninevites repented at the preaching of Jonah and (2) the Queen came to hear the wisdom of Solomon … and yet … “Something greater than Jonah is here …” (Matthew 12:41) “Something greater than Solomon is here …” (Matthew 12:42)

6. The sign of jonah Matthew 12:39-42; Luke 11:29-32
Jesus is greater than:
Jonah (12:41)
Solomon (12:42; cf. 1 Kings 10:23)
The temple (Matthew 12:6)
Jacob (John 4:12)
John the Baptist (John 5:36)
Abraham (John 8:52-56)
(Hebrews 1:1-4)
Note that re: Solomon - he was credited by Jews as having reigned at the height of the prosperity of the kingdom and the Queen was amazed by the kingdom Solomon reigned over. She was amazed at Solomon’s wisdom but she will condemn this generation for failing to recognize the wisdom of Jesus.

7. The family of Jesus Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21
Jesus’ fleshly family came to see Him. Unable to enter “they sent to Him and called Him.” Remember, in Mark 3:21, “… His own people (i.e., kinsmen) … went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, ‘He has lost His senses’ …” Mark 6:1, “‘Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at Him.”

8. The family of Jesus Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21
John 6:42, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father* and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’”
* Did they know His Father?
John 7:3-6, “… For not even His brothers were believing in Him …”
Yet, by the time we come to the day of Pentecost:
Acts 1:13-14, “When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying … These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”
References to James, the Lord’s brother: Galatians 1:19 (also Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18, 1 Corinthians 15:7; Galatians 2:9, 12)

9. The family of Jesus Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21
Who is Jesus’ family? Jesus uses this moment to indicate the most important relationships to Him … and should be to us. Matthew 12:48-50, “‘For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.’” New relationships in Christ. John 19:26-27; Romans 8:14-16, 28-29; Hebrews 2:10-11; John 20:17; 1 Timothy 5:1-2; John 13:34