The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away. Matthew 16:1-4

Why would the religious leaders feel the need to always test Jesus?

What would they do if they had trapped Him? They were obviously afraid of the people because He was popular with them.

Jesus left the leaders with the mystery of the sign of Jonah. He planted the seed and left. He knew they would be thinking about that story and trying to decipher it. They would invariably be trying to figure out how it applied to them.

We know of course that Jesus was referring to His own death and being in the grave for three days just as Jonah was in the fish for three days.

Jesus was the sign from heaven they were seeking but they couldn’t put the pieces together.

The answer to their question was right in front of them but they didn’t have spiritual eyes to see.

As we approach some murky days ahead in this country, we need to be maintain “situational awareness” about our surroundings. Spiritual forces of evil would like nothing better than this country to descend into chaos and we’re seeing the beginnings of that right now.

Pray against those forces of evil as Ephesians 5 instructs us to.

Pray that God’s will will be done in this land and around the world.

It is my prayer that each of you reading this will go deeper with Christ in the days ahead.