They Went Further For Less: Treasuring Christ in Clarity
When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
Luke 11:29-32
One of my close friends and mentors often said that comparison is toxic. It became a common saying for us and a good reminder to lean upon God’s providence instead of railing against apparent uneven distribution of grace. While I still agree that comparison is often the source of grief and ungodliness, there is also conviction to be found in certain comparisons.
The Jews of Jesus’ day prided themselves on their spirituality and service to God. The Pharisees trusted that obedience to the Law and adherence to tradition made them spiritually great. The crowds proclaimed salvation through ancestry as sons of Abraham. Both thought highly of their relationship with God.
Jesus’ words are all the more biting for how arrogant these Jews had become. He makes a simple comparison. The Queen of Sheba had Solomon. The men of Nineveh had Jonah. The Jews had God Incarnate. In only a few words, Jesus’ critique becomes clear.
The Queen, a gentile not of Abraham, traveled a great distance to merely hear the wisdom of Solomon, a fallen man speaking the wisdom of God. The men of Nineveh, also gentiles and enemies of Israel, repented of their evil works because of the words of half-hearted, bigoted, and stubborn Jonah.
These Gentiles, supposedly pagan idolaters knowing nothing of the Law and little of God made great efforts to see for themselves and to submit to the greatness of Yahweh. The Queen of Sheba came from far away just to catch the hint of truth. The men of Nineveh changed the entire value system of their city (for at least a time) because Jonah told them the minimum truth of God’s justice and mercy.
So in comparison, how should the Jews, men of Abraham who were in a covenant relationship with God, react to the God made flesh. The Son of God sent in all wisdom and truth to proclaim the justice and bring the mercy of God? He is the greater Solomon. He is the greater Jonah. And they hated him.
Comparison can be deadly, but it also can be powerfully convicting. Will the Queen of Sheba rise from the grave to judge how little we love the full wisdom of God in Christ? Will the men of Nineveh rise to ridicule how small an impact mercy made in our lives? How will those who came before judge us who have received the mystery of Christ, who have been unified with Jesus, who have had our hearts regenerated, who have known the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who have watched as the Old Testament sacrifice and covenant be completed in Jesus the Great High Priest?
Christian, comparisons like these may sting. But the foolish idea that conviction is a guilty feeling must give way to truth that conviction is to be powerfully convinced of something. When we compare ourselves to these past seekers, guilt is not the goal. We must be convinced that if they saw worth in such a slight portion of God’s glory, there is an abundance, a treasure trove, of glorious reality for us to delight in, to submit to, to be satisfied by. Allow Jesus’ stinging rebuke to point you to the reality that He is gloriously wonderful and He is here.
The Greater Solomon is here confounding the wisdom of the world. The Greater Jonah is here warning of God’s justice but joyfully making a way for full reconciliation. He is here. Will you worship Him? Or will your half-hearted worship pale in comparison?
