For most of recorded history, the world’s principle occupation was farming. The farmer depended directly on the weather for his livelihood. He needed just the right amounts of sun and rain to make his living, and he grew skilled at interpreting natural signs. Jesus was announcing an earth shaking event that would be much more important than the year’s crops – the coming of God’s kingdom. Just as dark clouds forewarn of a rainstorm, there are signs that God’s kingdom would soon arrive. But Jesus’ hearers, though skilled at interpreting weather signs, were intentionally ignoring the signs of the times.