Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation."
--Mark 8:11-12 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on May 3, 2013 of Psalm 84; Mark 7:24-8:13; Judges 15-16.
Since being baptized by John in the River Jordan, Jesus had performed wondrous feat after wondrous feat throughout the land affecting Jews and Gentiles alike. He fed 5000 men (and probably double that including women and children present) with what would have barely been enough for five. He healed the sick - some by touching them, some by being touched, some not even being near at all. He gave hearing to the deaf and speech to the mute. He cast evil spirits out of the possessed. He even returned life to the dead. The multitudes thronged Him everywhere He went, reaching out to Him, leaving Him with no time for peace. And He had just fed 4000 additional men with nothing more than seven loaves of bread and a few small fish when the Pharisees approached, demanding He give them some sign from heaven to show His authority. Incredible! They wanted some startling miracle or heavenly omen that would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that He was the promised Messiah. Jesus had been performing miracles all around them, but in their blindness they could not see. In their stone-cold hearts they could not believe Jesus could deliver the miracle they sought. They would not believe He was indeed the Messiah.
Jesus asks, "Why does this generation seek a sign?" The signs were all around them. He was right in front of their faces, hiding nothing, doing nothing in secret. Yet they could not see. The signs were right there all along but they refused to see. Jesus could just as easily direct this question to us today. How many of us are seeking some sign, some startling miracle, some piece of absolute proof before we will believe that Jesus is the Christ, our Lord and Savior? How many refuse to see the signs that others see all around? How many of us simply cannot believe in what we cannot experience with our own senses? Jesus addressed this after His resurrection when He appeared to His disciples and Thomas had doubts until he could prove for himself this was indeed Jesus before him. "Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen yet have believed.'" (Please see John 20:29.)
That is what faith is all about: to believe without first having to see. The author of the book of Hebrews defines faith as, "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (please see Hebrews 11:1). Our salvation and eternal life are things most hoped for, and Jesus is the substance and basis of our hopes. Even though we can no longer see Him with our eyes, His presence is evident within us. Believe, and be blessed. Amen.
Most marvelous Jesus, the many miracles You performed while You walked this earth have been recorded for us by the Gospel writers in the book of God's word. But we have even greater evidence that You are the Messiah, and that comes from the miracles You have performed in our lives. You make the blind of spirit to see the truth. You make the deaf of life to hear the wonders of God. You make the coldest heart come alive again. Thank You, dearest Jesus, for blessing us because we believe. In Your most wonderful name, sweet Jesus we pray. Amen.
Jesus asks, "Why does this generation seek a sign?" The signs were all around them. He was right in front of their faces, hiding nothing, doing nothing in secret. Yet they could not see. The signs were right there all along but they refused to see. Jesus could just as easily direct this question to us today. How many of us are seeking some sign, some startling miracle, some piece of absolute proof before we will believe that Jesus is the Christ, our Lord and Savior? How many refuse to see the signs that others see all around? How many of us simply cannot believe in what we cannot experience with our own senses? Jesus addressed this after His resurrection when He appeared to His disciples and Thomas had doubts until he could prove for himself this was indeed Jesus before him. "Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen yet have believed.'" (Please see John 20:29.)
That is what faith is all about: to believe without first having to see. The author of the book of Hebrews defines faith as, "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (please see Hebrews 11:1). Our salvation and eternal life are things most hoped for, and Jesus is the substance and basis of our hopes. Even though we can no longer see Him with our eyes, His presence is evident within us. Believe, and be blessed. Amen.
Most marvelous Jesus, the many miracles You performed while You walked this earth have been recorded for us by the Gospel writers in the book of God's word. But we have even greater evidence that You are the Messiah, and that comes from the miracles You have performed in our lives. You make the blind of spirit to see the truth. You make the deaf of life to hear the wonders of God. You make the coldest heart come alive again. Thank You, dearest Jesus, for blessing us because we believe. In Your most wonderful name, sweet Jesus we pray. Amen.
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