ESOCS Devotional 11 October 2026 – Signs of His Coming
MEMORY VERSE: “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And He left them, and departed.” Matthew 16:4 KJV
TEXT: MATTHEW 16:1-12
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 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. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.
5 Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the [c]leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”
8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? 9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 11 How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
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In using the sign of Jonah, who was inside a great fish for three days, Jesus was predicting His death and resurrection (Matthew 12:38-42). Many people, like these Jewish leaders, say they want to see a miracle so they can believe. But Jesus knew that miracles never convinced the sceptical. He had been healing, raising people from the dead, and feeding thousands, and still, people wanted Him to prove Himself.
Do you doubt Christ because you haven’t seen a miracle? Do you expect God to prove Himself to you personally before you believe? Jesus said, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). We have all the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testaments, 2000 years of Church history, and witnesses of thousands. With all this evidence, those who will not believe are either proud or too stubborn.
Today, we have people who are like those Jewish leaders – they want various signs, especially wealth, to know that Jesus is Lord (not His coming). If you simply step forward in faith and believe, then you will begin to see the miracles God can do in your life.
Signs of His coming are everywhere – earthquakes, diseases, famine, insecurity, wars (no longer rumours of war), deceivers, false teachers/prophets, etc. (Matthew 24:4-7). Talking about that day, Jesus said that no one knows the day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but only the Father (Matthew 24:36). When you are a doer of His word, you do not need any sign.
Reflections
- Only those who are ill-prepared for exams need the expo and special centres.
Prayer
- God, help us to remain focused until the end of this age.
Further Reading: Matthew 24:25: 1-13; Mark 8:11, 12
ESOCS Devotional 11 October 2026
