Missing the Obvious
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say. ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red;’ and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the signs of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed. - Matthew 16:1-4
There’s an old saying sailors have trusted for generations: “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning.” It’s a bit of old weather wisdom - if the sky glows red at sunset, it usually means stable weather is on the way. But a red sky in the morning often means a storm is coming. It’s not a perfect science, but it’s surprisingly accurate because it’s based on observing patterns - signs in the sky. Sailors knew what to look for.
In Matthew 16, Jesus points out something similar to the religious leaders of His day. They could read the weather, but they couldn’t read the moment. They asked Him for a sign from heaven, something spectacular to prove who He was. But Jesus called them out. They didn’t need more signs. The signs were already there. He Himself - the Messiah - was standing right in front of them. And they missed it.
Jesus told them the only sign they would be given was “the sign of the prophet Jonah.” That wasn’t just a clever reference - it was a prophecy. Just as Jonah spent three days in. The belly of the fish, Jesus would spend three days in the grave and rise again. The ultimate sign of who He is wasn’t a flash in the sky - it was an empty tomb. And still many missed it.
Have We Missed the Signs?
It’s easy to look back at the Pharisees and shake our heads. “How could they miss Jesus? The miracles, the teaching, the authority - it was all right there!” But maybe we do something similar. Maybe we ask for sings, too - just in different ways.
“God, show me You’re still working.”
“Lord, give me some kind of confirmation.”
Jesus, if You’re real, then do this one thing…”
But hasn’t He already shown Himself? His Word is alive. His Spirit is at work. Lives are being changed. Prayers have been answered. Provision has come when we needed it. Peace has carried us through what should have crushed us.
Maybe the problem isn’t that God hasn’t moved - but that we weren’t paying attention.
The Pharisees didn’t really want to believe. They weren’t looking for truth - they were looking for a reason not to follow Jesus. Their demand for a sign was more about testing Him than trusting Him.
What about us? Are we coming to Jesus with open hearts, or are we demanding proof while ignoring His presence?
Jesus also rebuked them for not discerning “the signs of the times.” And that’s a word for us today. We’re living in days that the Bible warned us about - times of deception, spiritual apathy, and global shaking. Are we watching? Are we awake? Or are we so distracted that we’re missing what God is doing right now?
We don’t’ need to chase signs - we need to stay in step with the Savior. Look around today. Remember His faithfulness. Pay attention to how He’s working in your life, even in the small things.
Heavenly Father, Thank you for your faithfulness. Help me to stop looking for signs and start remembering Your faithfulness, trusting that You are already at work in my life today. In Jesus name Amen.
