When Jesus Says “No Signs for You”
The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side. Mark 8:11-13 ESV Read More
If you are keeping track, so far in Mark, Jesus has cast out thousands of demons, healed hundreds, fed over 10,000 people, raised a girl from the dead, and worked a ton of other miracles. In light of that, there are two confusing things that happen in this passage.
Two things that don’t fit in this passage.
1. The Pharisees Ask for a Sign
What in the world? Where have these guys been? Jesus has been doing miracles like crazy all over the northern region of the Sea of Galilee. The only time we’ve heard about the Pharisees being around is when they were criticizing the disciples for eating grain on the Sabbath.
The Pharisees are a warning and a proof for us. You can be right in the middle of the great work of God and not see it. You can be surrounded by the Holy Spirit moving in people’s lives, but if you see it all with a critical eye, you’ll miss out on what God has to teach you. It’s a wonder the disciples didn’t laugh in their faces.
Instead, it says that Jesus “sighed deeply in His spirit.” Jesus really cares for the Pharisees too. He wants them to be in the Kingdom of Heaven just like all of these sick and lost people He has been healing. But…
2. Jesus says no sign will be given
When Nazareth said, “Isn’t this guy the carpenter’s son?” Jesus didn’t work many miracles among them. He didn’t show off extra to get them to believe. He showed Himself, let them consider what He said, and then marveled at their unbelief.
Here Jesus does all of this teaching and works all of these miracles, but when put on the spot to show off some power, He declines. The reason is that He could tell what was in the hearts of these testers. When someone wants something proven to them but they have their arms crossed with an “I don’t know about that” attitude, proof might not even convince them.
When you look across all of the Gospels at the things that Jesus said and did, you begin to really appreciate Jesus saying no and jumping in the boat at this point. The miracles weren’t a sideshow. They were never to be the proof of His glory. He healed people because He had compassion on them and genuinely wanted them to be healed. He brought people back from the dead because He was powerful enough to do it when He had compassion on mourning parents.
How does that fit?
What changes if we consider that Jesus did all of His miracles out of love for the recipient, and not just as a show of power?
What have we done to be more like the Pharisees, missing the obvious work of God in front of us?
How can we be like the disciples, that were able to see it all, then leave with Jesus in the boat?