Today's Scripture Reading (November 23, 2020): Mark 8
I love the scene at the beginning of Jim Carrey's
movie, "Bruce Almighty," where Carrey's character, Bruce Nolan, is
searching for a sign about what God wants him to do. The distraught Nolan is
driving down a road, begging God to speak to him. And as he goes, he passes a
sign that says "caution ahead." And he continues to demand a sign. And
then a truck filled with signs cuts him off, only frustrating Nolan more. And
then he prays for God to reach into his life and – he hits a pothole, dropping
his prayer beads. While searching for his prayer beads, he takes his eyes off the
road and hits a pole. Frustrated, he throws his prayer beads into the river and
then delivers one of the movie's classic lines, "Smite me oh mighty smiter."
I asked for a sign, and look where it got me; my car is wrapped around a pole.
(Maybe seeing the "caution ahead" sign might have made a difference.)
There is a problem with asking God for a sign. Regardless
of how many signals he might send to us, we probably wouldn't recognize any of
them unless, of course, the sign confirms what it is that we already believe.
It is part of the problem with asking for a sign from an unseen God. God sends us
signals, but often they are lost in a sea of other messages and selfish desires;
his signs remind us of things to which we are not already paying attention. The
reality is that religious history is filled with people who have caused great
disasters because they misread the signs.
As the religious elite of Israel asks Jesus for
a sign, Jesus's response is a deep sigh. It is a deep, physical sigh reacting to
an internal frustration. Despite everything that Jesus had done, these spiritual
leaders were not getting it. They were arrogant, daring Jesus to come and participate
on their playing field. They still believed that they were leading the process,
that they were in control of Jesus's future, and that it was their right to
demanded a sign from Jesus to move the situation along.
But Jesus had no desire to give in to their
wishes. He was not about to give in to their demands. They had already seen the
signs, but the signs were not given to strengthen the leaders' egos but rather comfort
the people. And the people were the focus. When there was a real need for a
sign, one would be given. But none would be given just to satisfy the unbelief of
those who asked for one. (Insert a deep sigh here.)
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Matthew 17
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