Reading the Signs

Articles

Lance Byers
01/18/25 - Text Study

Reading the Signs

“I just read the temperatures and tell a bunch of lies and end up being right more than the guy on channel 5!” ~TV Weather Guy by the Arrogant Worms

The weather is a clichéd topic of discussion, but one that we all engage in. It is easy to go into and discuss, it is always new, is ever-changing and impacts all of our lives in one way or another. Where I live, discussions of snow shutting everything down this week are a hot topic. As we crane our necks skyward to observe the skies, we all make predictions to some degree as to what the weather is doing or is about to do.

Even Jesus, Himself, talked about the weather. Whether He did it as casually as we do given His omniscience and omnipotence will forever remain a mystery to us living on earth, but in two instances recorded in the bible, Jesus talks about the weather to teach:

Matthew 16:2-3 - He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

…and…

Luke 12:54-56 - He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so, it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Jesus used the common knowledge of the weather and weather patters to demonstrate the foolishness of men who deny Him. The people He is talking to are the scribes and the pharisees. These men had extensive knowledge of the old testament, and of all the prophecies written within. Over the centuries, these scholars had convinced themselves that Jesus would be an earthly king. Like king David, the messiah would rule over a united kingdom again, and the Jews would live in a new era. They would look at prophies such as Jeremiah 23:5-6:

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’”

And interpret this as an earthly king who will all peoples of the earth will worship, and all will keep the festivals and laws God of or face punishment by God (Zechariah 14:17-19).

Jesus tells them that they have misinterpreted the scripture because of their own hypocrisy. Their place of power and authority and their desire to keep that position in life was more important to them than the truth. It was so important to them, that they were willing to kill the messiah they had proclaimed for generations to be waiting for so earnestly.

Do we interpret the signs in our own lives? Psalm 19:1 tells us that even “the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” He exists all around us. Do we choose to see and interpret those signs correctly, or do we close out eyes to the sight, and our ears to the sound, choosing instead to hear and listen to those who are perishing, pushing against God?

Lance Byers

1/18/2025