Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Tuesday, week four: Demanding things already present (Devotions for Lent from the Gospel of Mark)

The religious leaders approach Jesus and demand to see a sign. They want proof that Jesus has come from heaven.

Jesus sighs.

It’s ironic, of course, because they’ve already seen plenty of signs. He’s been exorcising unclean spirits, healing people left and right, multiplying bread and fish as if by magic, and teaching with a kind of power and authority no one has ever seen before. He backs everything he says with action and compassion.

His disciples have seen even greater and stranger things than these: He has calmed the wind and the sea and walked in the water.

Where do the religious leaders think he has come from? How do they think he has been doing the things he’s been doing? Are they kidding?

No wonder he sighs. It’s absolutely exasperating. Some people will never be convinced, no matter what he says or does.

Clearly, these leaders think they haven’t seen a sign. Their thoughts and opinions have become powerful; more powerful, in fact, than the miraculous things that have happened. In their minds, they have witnessed nothing out of the ordinary. They can explain it all away.

Jesus sees there’s no convincing them of anything. Now he does the only thing that makes any sense. He gives in and goes along with them. “Why does this generation ask for a sign?” he says. “Truly I tell you no sign will be given to this generation.”

What he doesn’t say is, “I could give another sign, but you’d never believe it anyway.”

Text for the day:

Things to think about:
Jesus has been performing signs, wonders, exorcisms, and healings all around you, for your entire life. He has always been teaching with a new kind of power and authority, backed up with action and compassion.

Things to do:
Look for something miraculous, no matter how small, in your life today.

Jesus, open my eyes to see your signs.

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