Why?
Why can't they just believe him?
Why did they need a sign?
We are always looking for proof. We like it better when we can see for ourselves before we make decisions. Ever been to consumerreports.org? Someone has tested whatever it is that you are thinking about buying. There is proof that the product either works or doesn't. You now get reviews online for everything from hotel rooms to baby beds. Just yesterday Stacey was looking at beds online and was reading the reviews for this one particular bed…all the reviews she read were positive except for one! Guess what? We aren't buying that bed because someone didn't like it. We want a "sign" that what we are getting is worthy of us having it. One star? No way, give me at least 3.5!
Do we do this with God? I do. Sure, I don't say that I want God to show me a "miraculous sign", I usually say something like "God will open that door if he wants me to do that."
How can I be less like the people in this story and more like Abraham leaving his home not knowing what was ahead?
2 comments:
This is my favorite chapter in the Bible! Jesus is like a rock star. He's just fed the 5000, he walks on water, and throngs of people are piling into boats to get across the lake to be near him. When he gets down to business they ask for a sign. They're not looking for proof; they're looking for a free meal ("when God's people were in the wilderness God gave them manna... that would be a good sign"). They want Jesus the Miracle Caterer, not Jesus the Lamb of God. The more they don't get it, the more graphic he gets. They want to follow Christ as long as there is something in it for them. It's consumer Christianity. After a while, they get mad and leave. One minute Jesus is a rock star with 5000 groupies; the next he's an outcast with twelve loyal misfits.
What if Jesus stood in our pulpit on Sunday morning and told us what he really wants? How many would be left in the room when he was done? Are we disciples of Christ, or just groupies?
I think we should add Van as a writer on this blog!
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