A Sign That Will Be Spoken Against

Why did the Lord Jesus become a sign that would be spoken against? What does it mean to be “spoken against”?

Luke 2:34 (ESV)
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed…”

To be “spoken against” here does not mean to be honored or praised. Rather, it means to be opposed, rejected, misunderstood, and even ridiculed.

The Jewish people expected the Messiah to come in glory and power—born in a royal palace, living a life of splendor, reigning as a great king in Israel. They imagined a Messiah greater than Solomon, immortal, and eternal, who would lead Israel to political and spiritual dominance.

This was their hope: a triumphant, visible king who would restore Israel’s earthly glory.

But when Jesus came, He shattered those expectations. Instead of arriving in a palace, He was born in a manger. Instead of appearing as a mighty ruler, He grew up in a humble village. Instead of associating with religious elites, He ate and drank with sinners and the marginalized.

When He announced His mission, including His death and resurrection, many were confused and offended.

John 12:32-34 (ESV)
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”

They were unwilling to accept that their Messiah would suffer and die. They wanted a conquering king, not a crucified servant. They longed for political power and earthly riches, but Jesus offered a very different kingdom.

Therefore, Jesus became a sign that many would reject and speak against.

The “sign of Jonah” is crucial to understanding this.

No one would voluntarily choose to be associated with Jonah—a reluctant prophet who fled from God’s calling, who spent three days and nights in the belly of a great fish. Jonah’s story is one of struggle, judgment, repentance, and God’s mercy—not a glamorous or honorable symbol.

Yet Jesus chose this sign as the defining sign of His mission.

Matthew 12:38-40 (ESV)
Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

At first glance, Jonah’s story might seem almost absurd—how could anyone survive in the belly of a fish for three days? But it was precisely this sign that led the people of Nineveh to repentance. When they heard Jonah had survived this impossible ordeal, they knew God’s power was with him.

Likewise, Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is the ultimate sign of God’s power and mercy. It is through this sign that we come to faith.

If Jesus had only come to live and teach, or even to perform miracles, but never died and rose again, how could we believe in the promise of eternal life? His resurrection is the divine proof that death has been conquered.

John 12:23-24 (ESV)
And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

The question for each of us today is this: Have you embraced Jesus through this sign of His death and resurrection? Are you speaking well or ill of this sign?

Do you look to Jesus expecting earthly wealth, luxury, and power? Or do you recognize Him as the crucified and risen Savior who calls you to repentance and new life?

True discipleship means following the suffering Messiah.

Mark 8:34-37 (ESV)
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?”

What will you give up to follow Christ? The worldly sins that enslave you—lust, drunkenness, theft—cannot save you. Neither wealth, family, nor political power will rescue your soul.

Job 7:9-10 (ESV)
“As the cloud fades and vanishes, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come up; he will return no more to his house, nor will his place know him anymore.”

Receive Jesus today and be made a new creation. Your old self will pass away, and you will become new in Him.

Maranatha—Come, Lord Jesus!