No signs, one sign or many signs?

Question

At one point the Pharisees come to Jesus and ask him for a sign.

1. In Mark 8:12 Jesus says that "no sign shall be given to this generation."

2. In contradiction to Mark, in Matthew 12:39 Jesus says that only one sign would be given - the sign of Jonah. Jesus says that just as Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so he will spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Here Jesus makes an incorrect prediction - he only spends two nights in the tomb (Friday and Saturday nights), not three nights.

3. In contradiction to both Mark and Matthew, the gospel of John speaks of many signs that Jesus did:

a. The miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana is called the beginning (or first) of the signs that Jesus did (John 2:11).

b. The healing at Capernaum is the "second sign" (John 4:54).

c. Many people were following Jesus "because they were seeing the signs He was performing" (John 6:2).

Confusing contradictions?

Answer 1

Mar_8:12
Sighed deeply in his spirit - His heart was deeply affected at their wickedness and hypocrisy. The word “spirit” here is taken as the seat of the emotions, passions, affections. He drew groans deeply from his breast.
No sign be given - That is, no such sign as they asked, to wit, a sign “from heaven.” He said a sign should be given, the same as was furnished by Jonas, Mat_16:4. But this was not what they “asked,” nor would it be given “because” they asked it.

Mat_12:39
An evil and adulterous generation - The relation of the Jews to God was often represented as a marriage contract - God as the husband, and the Jewish people as the wife.
See Isa_57:3; Hos_3:1; Eze_16:15. Hence, their apostasy and idolatry are often represented as adultery. This is the meaning, probably, here. They were evil, and unfaithful to the covenant or to the commandments of God - an apostate and corrupt people. There is, however, evidence that they were literally an adulterous people.
There shall no sign be given to it ... - They sought some direct miracle “from heavens.” Jesus replied that no “such” miracle should be given. He did not mean to say that he would work no more miracles, or give no more evidence that he was the Christ, but he would give “no such miracle” as they required. “He would give one that ought to be as satisfactory evidence to them that he was from God, as the miraculous preservation of Jonah was to the Ninevites that he was divinely commissioned.” As Jonah was preserved three days by miracle and then restored alive, so he would be raised from the dead after three days. As on the ground of this preservation the Ninevites believed Jonah and repented, so, on the ground of his resurrection, the people of an adulterous and wicked generation ought to repent, and believe that he was from God. “The sign of the prophet Jonas” means the “sign” or “evidence” which was given to the people of Nineveh that he was from God - to wit, that he had been miraculously preserved, and was therefore divinely commissioned. The word “Jonas” is the Greek way of writing the Hebrew word “Jonah,” as “Elias” is for “Elijah.”

The signs set in John refers to signs of His ministry and Him being God. They followed Him because of His miracles but soon faded away when He started teaching "hard" truths.

No contradictions at all the someone who bothers to examine the context of the verses given.

Answer 2

You need to take into account the context in which he was speaking, and who he was speaking to, and what specifically the "sign" was expected to be.

Which "generation" of pharisees was he addressing in 8:12 and what was the "miraculous sign" they were seeking? Many of the healings Christ performed were not even considered signs, rather they were chalked up to be sorcery or the work of demons. Whatever it was they were seeking specifically from Him to prove, He was unwilling to grant them. We can only speculate upon what sign they expected, but I highly doubt it was as "small" as curing a sickness.

Something else we may have to consider is the word "signs" itself. It can be used interchangeably for giving direction, noteable feats, or a specifically miraculous occurrance.

Finally, comparing the useage of grammar between three author's who really were very different people can be, at best, futile. All of these authors point in the same direction yet all of their writing styles and perspectives on witnessed events are completely unique, and vary in detail and complexity.

I hope this helps you. Your Bible doesn't suck. What sucks are the perceptions of the weak minded and ill willed.

Answer 3

why dont you just go with the flow and quit fretting the small stuff? Seriously...religions prey on people like you.