Matthew 12: 38-45  Jesus had thoroughly rebuked the Pharisees for their blasphemous accusation that the power of satan had healed the blind and dumb man. He openly called them a "brood of vipers" with evil hearts. He warned them that the words they were speaking would be the words that would condemn them. So, they came back with a different attack.. 

"Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."   Now, Jesus had done many miracles that revealed His authority... The scribes and Pharisees rejected and ignored them all.  They seemed to want Jesus to perform for them. But, Jesus refused.  Again He calls them evil.  "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster; so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."  This sign they would see.. and still refuse to believe.

Jesus knew that these evil men would reject Him, condemn Him, and kill Him.  They were condemning themselves by their refusal to follow Jesus. They had chosen to be "against" Him and refused to change their minds.. to repent. 

Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah.  The Queen of the South came "from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon.."  But, Israel, standing in the Presence of the Son of God refused to repent... and for that reason they would be condemned.  Like a man who had been delivered from an evil spirit only to be invaded by seven more.. the generation that condemned Jesus was moving further and further from God... into greater darkness and evil.. Their hearts were so darkened by their sin that they willingly took upon themselves the blood of Jesus.. "His blood be on us and on our children!" (27:25)

Oh, Father in heaven, how sorrowful it is that hearts are still full of evil and darkness, unwilling to believe that Jesus came to save.. to bring the Kingdom of God.. full of goodness and love and light! Every generation.. every person has to make that choice, to be for You or against You.  Let Your Kingdom come, Lord Jesus! Let hearts be yielded and let repentance be granted. Let the power and authority of Your Name be made known to this generation.  May Your people, who are called by Your Name.. rise up and pray as we should.. so that You will hear and heal our land. We ask this in the Name of Jesus. Amen.