No Signs
Mark 8:11-26
Do we need a sign to believe?
Photo by Bit Cloud on Unsplash
The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side. Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out-- beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” They said to one another, “It is because we have no bread.” And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” And they said to him, “Seven.” Then he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Then he sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.” - Mark 8:11-26
Do you ever ask yourself why you believe in Jesus?
The Lord and Savior, the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ, these are all names we give to Jesus, the man born of a virgin who changed the world forever.
Some of us believe because of the Christmas Nativity story, while others believe because of the Resurrection.
Which sign do you point to when asked about your faith?
Do you even talk about your faith?
Jesus told his disciples to go and spread the good news of salvation, and they did so. But we are his disciples, too. Do we do that?
Jesus said there will be no signs for this generation, responding to the demand of the Pharisees.
God does not respond to demands by nonbelievers. So, Jesus is correct. They, the Pharisees, will not see signs from God.
God initiates signs without them being demanded of Him. Jesus performed many signs.
So, how do we show signs to the nonbelievers, or is that even possible?
Through the parables and his one commandment, Jesus showed us how to perform signs for others.
Do these things. Be the sign for others to see and believe.
The examples we have are the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son/Father.
We can be those people in our daily walk with Christ.
And Jesus told us how we will be recognized by him when we do them. I was hungry, and you fed me, naked and you clothed me...
The signs of our faith are ours to perform every day.
They aren’t difficult. We don’t need to feed five thousand. Just one will do.
We like to think that the signs Jesus showed us were the miracles, but the true signs were the examples we should follow.
Signs point to where we should go, where we can go. When we become the sign, others know what we know, where to find Jesus.
More to come...