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17. Christ Denies the Demand for a Special Miracle (Mark 8:10-13)
MARK 8:10-13
10 Immediately he entered into the boat with his disciples, and came into the region of Dalmanutha. 11 The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing him. 12 He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side.
The Pharisees were not philosophers, but realistic men who sought actual practice of religious teachings in life that faith might not remain a mere notion. They kept the law strictly and circumspectly, to obtain the power to fulfill the commandments.
Here we find one of the differences between the West and East, the Greeks and the Semites. The Hebrews seek first the experience of a supernatural power as an evidence of their covenant with God, in order to reach tangible results of their beliefs, while philosophers in Europe think more about the reasons, motives, and purposes of their doctrine. First, they try to know God and the thought of faith. The Semites, on their part, want to carry out holiness. Thus, the law has become the axis of oriental religions.
The Pharisees asked Jesus to perform a miracle as a sign of his power, and a proof of his divine origin. They wished to see him perform a great miracle, like that of Elijah when he brought down fire from heaven upon the heads of his enemies. They were not satisfied with his miracles of healing the sick, and casting out demons, nor did they seek a sign of love, knowledge, and kindness, but they insisted on a sensational sign, which could bring about political results forcing the law on everyone. However, Jesus gives no such proof or sign to whoever seeks power, money, or earthly wishes from him.
Christ himself is the great sign of God. Therefore, the Mighty One was not willing to respond to the lawyers and perform a miracle to give them proof of the power of his Son. But he came in person, proclaiming himself as a Father in the Son of his kind love, who manifested the hidden glory of God in the words of truth, and healing of the sick. Whoever believes in Christ recognizes that he is the great divine sign of all times, for he was born of the Holy Spirit, took away the sins of the world, and reconciled us to God. He is life in himself. His resurrection is the evident proof of his divinity and of his triumphant power over all that is adverse to God. Christ himself is life. He gave us life with his Holy Spirit. If you believe in the Son of God, you will share his triumphant life, and live forever, experiencing his kindness, and his heavenly powers in his church today. Thus, Christ answers the questions of the East and West offering us, through the knowledge of his divinity, the power of love to carry out the law of the Spirit in us.
PRAYER: O heavenly Father, we magnify you because you gave us a supernatural sign from heaven in the incarnation of your Son, in his bitter death, and his glorious resurrection. We worship you. We believe in your Anointed One, and ask you to fill us with your Holy Spirit, that your strength may be magnified in our weakness and foolishness. Let your comforting Spirit guide us to the whole truth. Amen.
QUESTION:
- Why did Jesus not perform a special miracle to the Pharisees?