Signs and Wonders?


For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. (Mar 13:22-23)


Jesus warns of appearances of false ‘anointed ones’ and false prophets, those who stand in pulpits and claim that they have the unction from heaven to proclaim the oracles of God. What better way to ‘confirm’ their calling but through signs and wonders that have people mesmerized and awed at them, distracting the people from the one and true Christ, Jesus. The exaltation of miracles and the persons behind it have superseded the preeminence of Christ (Col 1:18 vs. 3 John 1:9). The foretelling of this warning leads to one thing, deception, ‘if it were possible, even the elect’ to meet the same conclusion as the son of perdition and the father of lies (Rev 20:10).


But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: (Mat 12:39)


Why do people look for signs and wonders? Perhaps the world is looking for ‘change’ so that there can be a rescuing of the economy, from suffering, etc to bring hope and a future. Most are looking for a hope for the future without our morality being challenged (2 Chron 7:14). To seek God means facing the reality of our sin and the uncomfortable dealings of God to take us through the process of sanctification and trying of our hearts (Prov 17:3). Jesus uses the description ‘evil’ and ‘adulterous’ generation, a generation that is degenerating, diseased, immoral and unfaithful to the One True God.


For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (1Cor 2:2)


Only one sign will Jesus perform, death unto resurrection (Matt 12:40), the cross before exaltation. Paul is not talking of the historical crucifixion of Jesus but the current reality of the marks of discipleship of the Lord Jesus (Gal 6: 14-17). It is the same discipleship that beckons us to take up our cross daily to follow the footsteps of our Master. The cross applied to our lives so deeply that the ‘I’ decrease and Christ increase where discipleship is the process of the Potter changing the fleshly form to be conformed to the image of His Son. Is it not ‘what’ God sees in us, but it is ‘Who’ He is longing to see in us.


And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. (Rev 6:11)


Why the cross? The coming of the Holy Spirit is the making of martyrs (witnesses) (Acts 1:8). It has been widely taught that the end will come with the gospel of the kingdom preached to the entire world (Matt 24:14). The other condition also holds… until the quota of martyrs has been fulfilled. Thus the cross that we bear daily is the test of faithfulness in the little things that we might be ready for the final testing that we love not our lives unto death (Rev 12:11). I cannot sincerely declare that I can face martyrdom today, but I must hold on to Jesus’ promises in Mark 13:9-13, the promise of the Holy Spirit. Knowing this reality, the only true sign that Paul determined or to come to a conclusive decision that the everyday reality of the powerful in-working (Eph 3:7) of God though the cross is being exerted in me. The end is the crown of life (Rev 2:10) which He gives to those called, and chosen and faithful to the end (Rev 17:14).