Those who refuse to accept Jesus as Christ will always come up with a reason. No matter what signs and wonders God has demonstrated through Jesus, some will always find a way to reject Him anyway. He has already been born a virgin and performed many miracles with many witnesses. He died publicly and rose from the dead to walk among many witnesses in public! These are amazing miracles, but so many refuse to believe and demand a “sign”. The trouble is, they ignore every sign God has provided.
Let us take a look at one such occasion in Mark 8.
11The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. 12Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side.
At first blush, you may be thinking… “What’s the big deal? They are only asking for proof.” But if we back up in the scripture and see the context, it becomes more clear. Jesus had just come from feeding 4000 people with very little food to start with. He just performed a miracle, a sign, in front of 4000 witnesses and the Pharisees are demanding a sign. They have already decided not to believe Jesus is Christ.
1In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples and said to them, 2“I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3“If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.” 4And His disciples answered Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” 5And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” 6And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people. 7They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well. 8And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. 9About four thousand were there; and He sent them away. 10And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples and came to the district of Dalmanutha.
Be cautious in demanding signs and wonders. Study those that have already taken place. Look even in your own life for the times when God has done things you never even expected or knew to ask for. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and reveal the hand of God at work in your life. Take note that Jesus did not force the Pharisees to believe or accept that He was Christ. He left. God will not force you to accept Him. He will not feel obligated to keep sending miracles to those who have already decided not to believe and reject the signs He already provided.
Look even at the signs and wonders all around us in creation. One can study the limitless variety of life across this planet all perfectly designed for their purpose and environment and know that it was not random. It is a creation, a wonderful creation, provided and held together by a Creator who remains active in the universe today. Look at reproduction. How can two tiny parts of a man and woman come together and create life with such order and structure? How does the baby know to grow? How does a seed know how to grow into a plant? How can order come from disorder without a Creator guiding it?
Do not dismiss the signs and wonders around you and then demand one from God. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you in your faith and in recognizing the signs and wonders all around you.
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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.