A NOTE FOR CONTEXT!
1 Corinthians 1:22-23 - For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks (Gentiles; non-Jews) seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness!
CHRIST'S ENEMIES DEMANDED SIGNS OF HIS TRUE IDENTITY!
Matthew 12:38-40 - Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from You. But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas (Jonah): for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 16:1-4 - The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired Him that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, you say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowring (dark and gloomy). O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky; but you can not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas (Jonah). And He left them, and departed.
CHRIST'S DISCIPLES WANTED TO KNOW THE SIGNS OF HIS RETURN!
Matthew 24:3, 29-30 - And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the world? - - - Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
THE SIGN OF CHRIST'S BETRAYAL!
Matthew 26:46-49 - Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that does betray Me. And while He yet spoke, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves (wooden clubs), from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is He: hold Him fast. And forthwith (immediately)he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master; and kissed Him.
EVEN IN HIS ARREST, HIS IDENTITY WAS WITNESSED BY A SIGN!
John 18:2-6 - And Judas also, who betrayed Him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes (often) resorted thither (gathered there) with His disciples. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither (came there) with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye (Whom do you seek)? They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said unto them, I AM.* And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon then as He had said unto them, I AM,* they went backward, and fell to the ground.
*[Note: Because "I AM" is the holy name of the LORD, that is, Jehovah (see Exodus 3:13-15), it is significant that the power of the words "I AM" caused the mob to fall down; the King James Translators added the pronoun "he" thinking it was needed to finish the phrase; in most King James Versions of the Bible, the "he" is italicized, showing it was added.]
BECAUSE JESUS IS THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD,
THERE WAS NEVER A TIME IN WHICH HE WAS NOT PRESENT!
HE IS THE GOD WHO WAS, WHO IS, AND WHO EVER SHALL BE!
HE IS THE GREAT "I AM!" HAVE FAITH IN HIM TODAY!
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