Jesus’ ministry was full of signs and wonders that pointed to him as the Christ and Savior. This discourse of Jesus in Luke 11 concludes that there is no more excuse as he laid out clearly that he is the only way to the Father. Jesus states how evil this generation is and how it eagerly seeks a sign, not out of a genuine heart of wanting to believe in Jesus, but rather to find a way to dismiss and reject Jesus as the Savior and Lord he is.
“This generation” Jesus alludes to implies the wicked and evil people. It does not speak specifically of the people during Jesus’ time but speaks of people in general. These people actively seek evil and what is harmful just as the people continually committed evil during Noah’s time leading to God’s judgment (Gen. 6:9, 11). God’s solution to these evil and wicked people is his judgment and punishment. Jesus indicted these people as they did not seek forgiveness and salvation. These people sought to entrap and destroy Jesus.
Moreover, “this generation” describes all sinners since Adam and unbelievers today who find any excuse to push away Jesus Christ. The Apostle John made it clear that those who believe in Christ are not judged but those who do not believe are judged and indicted already because they did not believe in Jesus Christ (Jn. 3:18).
So what sign did these evil sinning people seek that Jesus states (v. 29). First, we must define what a sign is. A sign is something significant and points to something. Jesus showed many signs and wonders to point to himself as the promised Messiah, the God-incarnate, and Savior (Jn. 10:24-25). Despite the many signs, the evil people say they are inadequate and continue to demand more. These people might be religious and externally upright, but they lack the regeneration to the heart and completely miss the source of the sign, Jesus Christ.
The sign that these people sought was a different Messiah who fit their idea of who would rescue them from the Romans and their current state. They wanted a Messiah who was a conqueror and a warrior. They sought any other sign but the one that Jesus continued to show through the gospel. Jesus continued to declare that he must suffer and die so that sinners can be saved. They refused to believe in this kind of Messiah and rejected him. In the end, what the evil generation is guilty of is that they have no more excuse for their unbelief. Jesus has demonstrated sufficiently to believe and be saved.
Jesus showed that no other sign was necessary and exposed their delay to surrender and believe in him. He, then, goes on to show the perfect and final sign; that is, the sign of Jonah (v. 29b-30). Jesus said, “For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation” (v. 30). Not only does Jesus recognize Jonah as a historical figure but he points to his death and resurrection in drawing a comparison between himself and Jonah (Matt. 12:40).
What happened to Jonah? Jonah was swallowed up by a big fish and remained in the belly of the fish for three days and spat out. In the same way, Jesus is pointing to his death on the cross and being raised up on the third day.
Jesus is the Son of Man. The God who became man and offered up himself as a sacrifice for many so that they would avoid judgment and wrath of God.
In other words, the Son of Man would be punished by God just as Jonah was as he refused to obey God. But just as Jonah was rescued, Jesus pointed to his resurrection. His resurrection is the final act that would bring eternal salvation to all those who would repent and believe in him.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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