We Want Proof

Then as an answer to him some of the scribes and Pharisees said: ¨Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.¨  Matthew 12:38  (Reference Bible)

As usual the world is set in sharp contrast to the teachings and workings of Jesus.  In Matthew 12 verses 38 to 42 Jesus was confronted by the ambitious leaders of the church.  The very people who should have recognized Him and been celebrating His presence among them, were demanding to see proof.

It would be so easy for you and I to shrug off the implications of our involvement in this story.  However, seeing the reaction Jesus had towards this attitude of mistrusting faith, don´t you think we would be better off taking note, in case we might somehow be drifting dangerously into a trap?

Jesus´ first reaction to the people demanding proof was to rebuke them.  Then He tied those daring skeptics, along with us and Himself to the scriptures by quoting related Bible stories.  In every case, it does not seem to look well for any human being to dare to question the power and authority of Jesus or His Father.

Now we are human and you may say that it is completely natural to have questions.  We have heard well-educated preachers saying that it is ok to ask questions and it is true.  It is true when we are seeking to find God, not seeking to disprove Him.  On one hand the inquirer draws near in the tender efforts of opening wider the heart to allow more of the Divine to enter.

But on the other extreme, a person whose cold heart requires proof is standing in shoes meant for God alone and pretending to be the judge.  This kind of skepticism turns a normal Christian into a scribe or Pharisee who stands in Jesus´ face and demands their proof.

Perhaps that is a risk we should not like to place ourselves in.  Far more productive and beneficial to our relationship to the Lord of All, would be to lift up certain doubts personally to Him.  We could say to our God, that we might not see or understand but place our hope in what He has made known unto us.  A small step in faith and hope towards Him will go much further for our souls than any blatant inquisition.

God is happy to reveal Himself to worthy individuals, those individual who have His interests in mind and not their own.  Someone who is willing to let God be right even when they cannot see clearly nor have any iron-clad proof, is far more pleasing to Him.  He has called for this kind of faith.

Sure it is natural to have doubts, but remember what nature we are talking about, fallen human nature.  We were called to be different; faith that has to ask for proof is not faith at all.  It seems to be the rage even in Christian circles today to ask for proof from the Bible, science and history.  There are countless documentaries and sermons where some new information or study has been made to prove God.

However when we read texts like the one we are examining today, perhaps we will start to feel a little guilty of such crass skepticism.

Dear Lord, help us today to lift up our hearts to You in the simplest form of faith possible.  Do not let us fall into the trap of sitting back as judge and asking for proof of You or Your ways.  We most certainly wouldn´t understand everything even if you did show us, as we are not accustomed to making God-sized decisions.  So let us take a hold of anything You have expressed to us of Yourself and resist any effort to create any barrier of any kind between us.  Let us stand always on Your side and make sure we never stand on the side of the doubter.

For Your glory and in Your name we pray,

Amen

Scott W