David Bahn – Reflections

Write it in the sky! Show me for sure that you exist. Prove that you can what you say you can do. Show me the money! What is wrong with these demands? Why does Jesus refuse to give the doubters of his day a sign?

The photo isn’t much to look at. The crucifix isn’t all that noticeable. But the message is clear, and the sign of God’s love is unmistakable. God loved the world so that he gave his one and only son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. But some people ask for a different kind of sign. Some people want a clearer testimony to God’s power and presence. Even more, some people realize that Jesus’ message is so revolutionary that it changes everything. His call to repentance and faith upends life as normal and undercuts our self-established autonomy. That’s why these people ask Jesus for a sign. He was calling them to such a different lifestyle and world view that they would lose everything they had fought to achieve as religious leaders of their day.

Matthew 16:1-12

And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. ²He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ ³And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. ⁴ An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

⁵When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. ⁶Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ⁷And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” ⁸But Jesus, aware of this, said,  “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? ⁹ Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? ¹⁰Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? ¹¹How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ¹² Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Jesus calls us to faith. He calls us to trust in him, believe in him, allow him to chart our course, and follow where he leads. Requiring a sign from him turns the universe upside down. It makes us masters of Jesus, requiring him to perform for our benefit rather than seeing that our greatest benefit lies in acknowledging him as Lord and King. Faith never requires a sign, but rejoices in the gifts that come from our good and gracious God.