An Atheistic Bible Study Of The Gospels Jesus Asked For A Sign.

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Not unsurprisingly for being a self-professed miracle worker indicating that he is the Son of God, Jesus finds himself asked to prove it by giving some irrefutable sign of his powers and divinity. The challenge is recorded in Matthew (12:38-45) and Luke (11:16-36). In Matthew the questioner are identified as Pharisees and Scribes, experts and authority figures in Galilee. In Luke, the questioner’s identity is unstated. In both Gospels, Jesus is conveniently reluctant to perform miracles on the spot. He refers instead rather cryptically to the sign of Jonah, who supposedly spent three days trapped in belly of a fish, just as Jesus is destined to return after three days buried ‘in the Earth’ (though his tomb is actually to be situated at ground level, not under the soil. He adds that the people of Nineveh, who were reluctant to believe prophetic warnings of their need to repent as delivered by Jonah, will look in judgemental contempt on the people of Galilee for still doubting the signs of his divinity that Jesus considers self-evident around himself without having to be put to the test. Jesus adds that Sheba, the Queen Of The South, who travelled many leagues to challenge the wisdom of Solomon (eventually marrying him) would also find it strange that anyone would be remotely sceptical about Jesus. His stance seems to be that while Jonah and Solomon could generate doubt, he, Jesus should be seen as above doubt and suspicion. The very questioning should serve to prove him wrong in such assumptions. Jesus sees himself arrogantly as greater than both Jonah and Solomon. He adds a curse to anyone who continues to doubt him. He points out that he has freed many from demon possession, leaving lots of hungry demons wandering around, and that once he has led the true believers off to the Kingdom of Heaven that he is preparing, tidying up for the guests, he will let the hungry demon loose on the souls of those left behind. He estimates that those damned to demonic possession will get seven demons each. Coming soon after the Sermon On The Mount this merciless tone of threat run counter to the image of Jesus as loving and forgiving. This suggests that when the faithful leave the Earth will become a Hell. This Is rather a contrast to the prophesies of the later book of Revelation. In Luke’s version of the answer to whether he will present a sign, Jesus is interrupted by a woman offering blessings on his mother for bringing him into the World. Whether or not she knows the Virgin Mary is unstated, but Jesus tells her that all who follow him are holier than his mother, so why don’t all other Christians have statues raised in their name too? Jesus seems rather dismissive of the holiness of his mother here too. As I’m not a believer, I will apparently just get my seven demons. At least I won’t be lonely. Arthur Chappell