Unlimited: The Pharisees Ask for a Sign
May 1, 2024 1263
The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side (Mark 8:11–13, NIV).
The Pharisees followed Jesus everywhere, asking questions and challenging him at every turn.
They can’t deny his wisdom or the evidence of his miracles. But still, they can’t work out who he is, because he doesn’t conform to what they expected according to their worldview.
There are some people whom no evidence will ever convince. The Pharisees didn’t believe in Jesus because of any lack of evidence. Many strands of powerful evidence came together to point to Jesus as the Messiah sent from God. The Pharisees knew the prophecies that Jesus was fulfilling; they heard his teachings and witnessed his mighty works.
The reason why the Pharisees didn’t believe in Jesus was because they didn’t want to believe in him, simply because Jesus didn’t conform to their opinions and worldview. It was easier for them to explain everything away.
The Pharisees ask for a sign; they always ask Jesus for yet another sign, but Jesus refuses to give it to them. Jesus didn’t play games. It was a wasted effort. As he said elsewhere, Jesus wasn’t going to “throw pearls before swine.”
More than any other of the gospel writers, Mark reports to us the human emotions of Jesus. He tells us that when the Pharisees asked for a sign again, Jesus sighed deeply.
– Eliezer Gonzalez
Eli’s Reflection: Could Jesus have given more than enough reasons for you to believe and trust in him, but you still haven’t given yourself entirely to him? What parts of your life are you withholding? Find a time today to pray about this seriously. Perhaps right now.
Republished with permission from Blogs.crossmap.com, featuring inspiring Bible verses about Unlimited: The Pharisees Ask For A Sign | Good News Unlimited.
