We Want The Sign
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees responded to him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But in reply, Jesus said to them, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks a sign, and a sign shall not be given, except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For just as Jonah was in the bowels of the sea monster three days and three nights, so will the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at judgment and will condemn it; because Jonah’s proclamation changed their hearts, and now, something greater than Jonah is here.” (Matthew 12:28-41)
Jesus continued, “The Queen of the South will be raised with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom and look; something greater than Solomon is here. Then, when an unclean spirit comes out of the man, it wanders through dry places, seeking rest, but it does not find it. Then it says, ‘I shall go back into my house, from which I came out.’ Then, returning, it finds the house standing idle, swept clean, and furnished in good order. Then it goes off and brings along with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself and enters and takes up residence there, and the man’s last circumstances turn out worse than the first. So it shall also be for this wicked generation.” (Matthew 12:42-45)
Mother & Brothers
While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers came and stood outside, sending work to him and summoning him because they were unable to come near to him because of the crowd. Then, someone in the crowd seated around him said to Jesus, “Look: Your mother and your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to you.” But in reply, Jesus said to the one who had spoken to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Looking around at those sitting in a circle around him, he stretched out a hand towards his disciples; he said, “Look: my mother and my brothers. For whoever hears the word of God and begins doing the will of my Father in heaven, that one is my brother and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50, Mark 3:31-35, Luke 9:19-21)
Later that same day, Jesus left the house and, again, sat down beside the sea; the largest crowd gathered together around him, so he embarked on a boat to sit down. The whole coming crowd from town after town stood on the shore facing the sea, and Jesus began telling them many things in parables and in the course of his instruction, saying… (Matthew 13:1-3a, Mark 4:1-2, Luke 8:4)
