Day 55

11:27–32 (NIV)

²⁷ As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” ²⁸ He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

²⁹ As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. ³⁰ For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. ³¹ The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. ³² The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

Why does Jesus deflect the comment of the woman in verse 27 and change it to something else? What does it say about what our focus should be on?

What makes this generation that Jesus is talking to wicked?

What does it mean that Jesus will be a sign as Jonah was to the Ninevites?

Where is the generation we live in, in comparison to the generation of Jesus?

Notes

The story shows while good intentioned, the crowd still doesn't get the fact they must decide about Jesus. This lady appears to see Jesus as a prophet; not God himself.

vs 27-28- it is true that Mary was blessed (1:28-29, 42, 48) so why does Jesus change the focus? Did a similar thing in 8:19-21. Why? Jesus not saying Mary didn't receive a blessing rather He is pointing to the fact that anyone can receive the blessing of God by listening and doing what God is saying through Him. Note: based on the criteria of Jesus, Mary is blessed

Hearing and obeying is a reoccurring theme in Luke (6:46-49, 10:39-42, 9:35, 9:23-26, 8:11-14)

vs 29-32 Jesus answer to vs 16- about those looking for sign

crowds increase- just because the crowds are growing doesn't mean they get it.

wicked generation- remember what Jesus said to the towns He spoke in the most often. (10:11-15 Sodom would have responded) (also see 9:41) Now Jesus says it in a more general way. The Jews do not accept the proof he has already offered. They always wants more. Jesus saying enough! He then says the Ninevites and the queen of the South (Sheba) will condemn this generation. Note both groups were not Jewish. Nineveh was about to be destroyed because of the evil they were doing. But when Jonah preached they listened and repented. Jonah 3:6-10. Queen of Sheba came to Solomon because of his wisdom and left amazed at God. 2 Chron 9:1-8

Jesus point they had less information and signs than this generation but they accepted God's message. Jesus is vastly greater than Solomon or Jonah yet this generation does not respond! see John 1:10-12

vs 30- Jesus does say they will have one more sign. Just as Jonah was a sign to Nineveh so Jesus will be (future tense) to this generation- What does it mean? Jonah escaped death so will Jesus is one possibility (three days in whale vs 3 days in tomb) Matt 12:39-41 clarifies the meaning

death- 3 days- resurrection- proclamation of repentance being available

Point of this section is they have all the information they need to make a decision, it is time to do so!