June 30
Mark 8:10-13
[Jesus] sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign?” (vs. 12a NIV) I can think of another generation that is always looking for signs….this one! I’ve heard it countless times, and I’m sure you have as well. People are always looking for that magic sign to tell them what they are supposed to be doing. And just like the Pharisees in today’s verses, people are also looking for signs that Jesus is real. The funny part is, if the Pharisees had truly been looking, there would have been no doubt in their minds that Jesus really was the Son of God. Pretty much all Jesus had been doing was healing people, teaching, and performing miracles. What other proof did they need? Sometimes I think that it would have been easier for people to believe in Jesus back then. They were there to actually see Him in action. But this story is proof that hard hearts will reject the truth even if it is right in front of their faces. And just because Jesus isn’t physically on Earth right now doesn’t mean we don’t have proof that He is real. Today a friend of mine posted a video of his 2 year old daughter playing with the Bible. She opened it up and exclaimed, “Ah! I found Jesus!” Jesus shows Himself to us when we are seeking Him. We don’t need signs when we have His truth.
Principle: Jesus reveals Himself to honest seekers be He will not be manipulated.
Application:
1. Am I refusing Christ’s revelation of Himself and requiring another sign from Him?
2. How am I grieving Him by my unbelief?
3. How often do I ask for a miracle before I ask for the mind of Christ in my situations?
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Good lesson. Don't you just want to whop a Pharisee upside his head and say "Whadda you mean 'show us a sign'?? What's wrong with you, are you blind?!!" But the truth is that I also need to be whopped upside the head from time to time. I take for granted or don't recognize the things Jesus does for me and then I ask for proof or I doubt or I do any number of unbelieving things that I am sure cause Jesus to sigh deeply and shake his head at me.
ReplyDeleteThe question for me is #1. Am I going to act like a Christian or a Pharisee. I know that the signs of Jesus are everywhere. He often points them out to believers to encourage us and strengthen our faith (and for many other reasons too, which might be a good study in itself!) In this passage, when the Pharisees were questioning Jesus, it was such a degrading act because they only wanted to test Him and probably rejoice in proving Him wrong. When Jesus “sighed deeply” that gave me such a picture of grieving The Holy Spirit. I’m the type of person who can’t stand it if someone is upset with me, so to grieve The Holy Spirit …… like Bob said, I need that whooping from time to time too.
ReplyDeleteThe day that my husband and I were saved, I didn’t have a clue. Rick kept telling me to just trust in The Lord. That afternoon we went into a small gift shop in North Carolina and all around us were handmade plaques that said “Trust in The Lord” That “sign” was what I needed to begin my Christian journey. I know now that it was God’s hand leading and strengthening me. What an incredible feeling of ‘The Joy of The Lord’ I experienced on that very first day. I need to bring that memory back to the surface more often!
I think Bob and Sarah summed things up nicely. We do need a whoop upside the head sometimes. But also after todays passage in my head I can hear Jesus sigh when I have doubts or forget what He has done for me. I hope the thought of His sigh will make me step back and be thankful instead of asking for more assurance.
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