Miracles and a Wicked Generation: Why God Doesn’t Perform to Prove Himself

We live in a world that craves the spectacular. People chase signs, demand wonders, and wait for the skies to part before they’ll believe. “If God is real,” they say, “then let Him prove it.” But here’s the truth: God doesn’t perform on command. He doesn’t cater to skepticism. And He doesn’t hand out miracles like party favors to satisfy a faithless crowd.

Jesus Himself made that clear.

In Matthew 12:38–39 (LSB), some of the scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation eagerly seeks for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.” In other words: You want a miracle? You’ve missed the point.

Miracles were never meant to be God's resume. They were signs of His mercy, not proofs of His existence. They pointed to who He is, but they were never the foundation of true faith. In fact, when people demanded signs as a prerequisite for belief, Jesus often rebuked them, not because He lacked power, but because they lacked hearts that wanted the truth.

Miracles Are Not a Show
God’s power is not a circus act. When Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, calmed storms, and cast out demons, it was always to reveal the heart of God, not to entertain or appease those who doubted. The miracles served a purpose, but they weren’t parlor tricks for the spiritually stubborn.

John 20:30–31 tells us, “Therefore many other signs Jesus also did in the presence of the disciples… but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” The signs were recorded to strengthen faith, not to replace it.

Jesus didn’t heal everyone. He didn’t raise every dead person. He didn’t solve every problem. Why? Because His mission was deeper than the miraculous, it was redemptive. He came to save souls, not just to fix symptoms.

Miracles Don’t Change Hard Hearts
One of the most sobering truths in Scripture is that miracles don’t guarantee belief.

Think of Pharaoh in Exodus. God performed miracle after miracle through Moses—ten devastating plagues, the parting of the Red Sea—and Pharaoh’s heart only grew harder.

Think of the Israelites in the wilderness. They saw God split the sea, rain down manna from heaven, and lead them with fire and cloud. And still, they grumbled, doubted, and worshipped a golden calf.

Even in the New Testament, some people witnessed Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead—and instead of worshiping Him, they plotted to kill both Lazarus and Jesus (John 12:10–11).

The truth is, if someone’s heart is set against God, no miracle will convince them. Miracles may grab attention, but only the Spirit of God can transform a heart.

The Greatest Miracle Has Already Happened
Jesus told the Pharisees they would get one sign: the sign of Jonah. What was that sign? Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days. Jesus would be in the grave for three days, and then rise again.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ultimate miracle. It’s the center of our faith. It is the undeniable declaration that Jesus is the Son of God, victorious over sin and death. And yet—how many still ignore it?

You don’t need fire from heaven to believe. You don’t need writings in the sky. You need to look to the cross and the empty tomb. If that’s not enough for someone, then no amount of “signs” will ever be enough.

What About Today?
Can God still perform miracles today? Absolutely. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). We serve a God who still heals, still provides, still protects. But He does so according to His will, not our demands. He works in ways that glorify Him, not in ways that satisfy our curiosity.

A generation that constantly demands miracles to believe is not a faithful generation; it is a wicked one. That’s not my opinion; that’s what Jesus said.

God is not silent. He has spoken through His Word. He has revealed Himself through His Son. He has sealed His people with His Spirit. And He has given us the greatest miracle of all: a new heart—a heart that beats with faith in the unseen.

So here’s the challenge:

Stop looking for fireworks and start listening to His voice.
Stop demanding signs and start seeking His face.
Stop waiting for proof and start walking by faith.

Because the God who raised Jesus from the dead doesn’t need to prove Himself again.

He already did. And that’s enough.

In Love,

Pastor Jody