"If You're Real, Lord."

Mark 8:10-13 He got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. 11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
 
IN a recent lesson we considered Jesus’ deep sigh as he spoke healing into a deaf man’s ears. The Lord’s sigh seemed to express his weariness over sin’s great cost to mankind. The Holy Son of God had empathy with his people’s suffering.
   Notice Mark again records Jesus sighed deeply. This time he did so in a response to spiritual brokenness. He had traveled from feeding thousands of people. And the first encounter he has is not with a worshiping, believing crowd. Instead, he meets the hard-hearted Pharisees. They asked him for a sign from heaven. His response is to sigh deeply and ask, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.” In effect, the Pharisees have put Jesus to the test. And he will not submit to their exam. Their purpose is to control him. If he has to prove himself each day to an unbelieving people, he is not their Lord but becomes their servant. Jesus is not a butler waiting on your every whim. He is Lord who works for your good in the Father’s will.
   Satan wanted to do the same with Jesus. He told Jesus: Matthew 4:3 “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus’ response is a powerful Word to assert God’s sovereign authority: Matthew 4:4 “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” And then he tells the devil: Matthew 4:7 “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
   God does not need to prove himself to his creation. Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Jesus came to open our eyes, ears, mind and heart to help us know this remarkable creation we call home comes from God.
   Have you tested the Lord? “If you’re real, Jesus, you’ll (fill in the blank). Just do this one thing, and I’ll believe in you.” If you have, hopefully you’ve matured past this point to realize a “faith” based on one response from God is no faith. God cannot possibly function as the Sovereign Lord if he must prove himself to you.
   God teaches you to believe his will for you is for your good. He wants you to know deep in your heart the eternal sign he has given to the world.
    You see the sign when you first look to the cross. See then the empty tomb. Look around and notice Jesus’ true church changing lives. These are the signs you need to know. Receive them and be saved.