Why is it increasingly difficult to agree on what is true anymore?
When we read the news on COVID-19 these days, it seems that each article will only be followed by news and views that counter it. And while there may be different angles to a situation, it seems increasingly so for most people that there is no absolute truth in anything. Even when evidence is presented, this is only met with skepticism. With this prevailing attitude, believing in Jesus who is “the way, and the truth and the life” (John 14:6) becomes a stumbling block.
In Matthew 12:38-40, the Pharisees who saw Jesus in action refused to be convinced that he was indeed the Son of God. What sort of further proof would convince them that Jesus is truly the Messiah? They were skeptical about Jesus’ claims about himself. Yet, they had just witnessed Jesus heal a demon-possessed man who was both blind and mute. Even such amazing evidence was not met with receptive hearts, but instead, with scorn and derision.
Having stalked Jesus on their fault-finding mission and finding none, the Pharisees still flatly denied everything Jesus had said and done, even though his life fitted the description given of the Messiah in the book of Isaiah:
“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12:18-21, ESV)
Jesus responded to their goading for further evidence of his Sonship by referring to the sign of Jonah. Just like Jonah, who was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17), Jesus’ death and resurrection would be the ultimate evidence. The people of Nineveh received far less evidence from the call of Jonah than the Pharisees had witnessed themselves of the work of God in their midst, yet the Ninevites responded in repentance (Jonah 3:4-10), not so the Pharisees.
Why were the Pharisees unable to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah despite being given indisputable proof? It meant giving up their respectable status and bowing to Jesus’ Lordship. Indeed, anyone confessing Jesus as Saviour and Lord would have to submit themselves to live according to God’s will.
The ultimate evidence of who Jesus is lies in his death and resurrection. The living proof that we are a child of God lies in our inward response to the Father’s will and purpose for us.
