No Sign!

He signed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign?  Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.”  Mark 8:12 (TNIV)

Miraculous things were happening all around.  People were flocking to Jesus from here and there.  Sick people were healed from their suffering.  The hungry were being fed.  Jesus just finished providing a meal for four thousand people from just seven loaves of bread and a few small fishes.  Then along come the Pharisees.

There is something peculiar about this group of people.  They were from the church and nation which was intended to know God.  In the story of Jesus walk here on earth though, they were a constant menace.  They were the picture perfect religious enthusiasts.  Yet they were nothing but trouble to Jesus.

Jesus worked hard.  He said and did a lot of miraculous things.  But He was unable to help these poor Pharisees see that God was there and wanted to connect with them.  These people had the scriptures, the words, the rituals and the laws.  They had formed up a way of speaking and acting.  They had all they needed in lifestyle and religion.  They did not need someone to come and tell them to get to know God.  So they rejected Jesus.  They opposed Him.  Eventually they killed Him.

It is sad.  But it is more tragic to know that this same breed of people, still do exist.  They are found in our very own religious circles.  They sit next to us at church. Perhaps unknowingly we have become one too!

We are the ones who profess knowing God.  We are the ones who would teach Him to others.  We are the ones who have our religion defined for us.  We are the ones who have built up a way of life or conducting ourselves in society.  We are the ones who would get offended if someone told us we needed to get to know God.  We do not need someone coming to us and telling us that we got it all wrong.   We would be offended and attack anyone who told us that we needed to enter a deep personal relationship with the God we already think we know.  We already got all that!  We ARE the Pharisees?

Yet Jesus insists.  He gently tries to bring us past all this chaff and back into the presence of the Father.  He showed us by His own example that one could walk in complete communion with the Lord.  The miraculous things that He performed and said were proof that the barriers that separate us and a magical wonderland are no limitation for the one who walks with God.  God is not found in a way of life.  He is not found in a set of rules.  He is not found in a form of worship.  He is found by honest souls who truly seek Him.

We need to be careful to see that we need to step past all the externals.  The true children of God refuse to wrap Him up in a book.  They cannot bear the thought of their God being reduced to ideals or fine education.  God is alive!  And for them He is very close and very dear.  They have worked hard to cultivate their relationship with Him.  They desperately seek His presence and His council for everything.

So when we get the urge to question some remark or theory, let us not stoop to ask for proof.  The Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign.  He would not give it to them.  Let us go to Jesus.  Let us drop to our knees and seek Him personally.

Dear Jesus, Your work of lifting our hearts and minds from this world is not yet finished.  Some of us still need Your help each day.  Please guide us past our distractions and into the most fulfilling and intimate relationship we could hope for.  Let us fix our eyes on You.  Be for us the Sign that our wondering hearts ask for.  Keep our gaze fixed upon You until we realize that in knowing You we know the Father.

Amen