Thoughts for the Day

The Demand for a Sign

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.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Those who are going to serve God and minister to others meet many people. An old book by Gordon MacDonald ('Renewing your spiritual passion'), describes five types of people: The Very Resourceful People (those who inspire you and help you grow); The Very Important People (share your passion, your teammates, and friends); The Very Trainable People (catch your vision, willing to learn); The Very Nice People (enjoy your ministry, but not always growing or serving); and The Very Draining People (sap your energy, over-critical and demanding).

Very Draining People are the kind of people that Jesus meets in today's passage from Mark. Draining people are argumentative! The Scribes and Pharisees have already accused Jesus of being in league with the devil (Mark 3.20-27). Even though he has calmed a storm, raised the dead, and healed the crippled, blind, and deaf, the Pharisees do not see God at work. Neither do they recognise Jesus as the Messiah. Draining people argue and oppose in an aggressive manner, and want to test everything, not to learn, but to destroy. No wonder Jesus sighs. The word for 'sigh' means a deep breath coming from exhaustion over arguments that never end. Draining people are dissatisfied and are never happy. Jesus knows even if he produces a sign from heaven they will not be content. Draining people are also left behind. There is a point when we and Jesus must move on. Having said "No!" to their demand for a sign Jesus gets into the boat and crosses the lake. The words 'left them' can be used to describe a divorce. Jesus turns His back and moves on, as he had told His disciples to do earlier (Mark 6.11)

In life when we encounter very draining people, we should be gracious to them, but there will be a time to move on. Equally we don't want to be such a person for our Lord. We want to be teachable, and willing to learn and to do whatever he would have us do.

Lord Jesus Christ,
may we be open to new ideas,
and to Your voice
within the world and the Church
so that we constantly measure
outcomes by Your words of Truth.
May we also be honest with ourselves
about the kind of people we are,
and that we would like to grow into.
Amen.