Something greater than Solomon, something greater than Jonah - this is how Jesus characterised Himself in the face of doubting, skeptical people who asked Him for more proof of who He was. As if, in His healing, His miracles, and His teaching they didn't already have proof enough that He was really someone exceptional. The trouble is, we never have "enough" proof because such "proofs" remain in the realm of thinking and rationalisation.

What Jesus looked for from His hearers was faith and trust in Himself, a matter of the heart and soul. Of course they knew the stories of Jonah and of the Queen of the South visiting Solomon, just as we today have the advantage of so many years of Christianity and the evidence of Christian lives, past and present.

Yet, we still want more or newer "signs". But have we really understood and accepted the Jonah story? He preached an urgent message of repentance - and the people of Nineveh actually listened to him and did change their ways and repent! But Jonah became angry with God and sulked because things didn't turn out the way that he himself had expected - God's mercy, compassion and generosity to others was too much for him!

What about us? The signs people look for, or get excited about, can also be distractions from attention to God's word.