Should I Ask For A Sign?

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 Mark 8 "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 sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side."

 After reading this passage you might ask why is Jesus reluctant to show the Pharisees a sign from heaven.  After all didn't Jesus do many miracles as "signs" that He was truly the Messiah.  Jesus didn't want the public to believe in the signs in themselves. Their true purpose was to show that Jesus was the Son of God.  

So why then did Jesus rebuke the Pharisees for asking for a sign?

 1. They demanded a sign.  They weren't truly looking for a sign They were trying to control him and get him to act at their bidding. Jesus saw their true motives.

 2. Jesus knew they really wouldn't believe in him no matter what sign he performed.  This was confirmed when Jesus rose from the dead.  This was the ultimate sign and yet they denied it.    

 3. Jesus did signs as he was led by God.  He did them when he knew they would glorify His Father and point to God as the true source of the miracle.  

 4. Jesus did miracles to demonstrate God's kingdom coming to earth as it was in heaven.  For example, Jesus healed to show that in heaven there was no sickness.  Jesus cast out demons to show that one day evil will be defeated once and for all.  He fed 5,000 to show that there will always be enough in heaven, and no one will ever go hungry. 

 So what can we learn from this?  Though Jesus still does miracles today through the power of the Holy Spirit living inside in each believer, these miracles are not manipulated by man.  They are supernatural acts that can only be realized through God's power being exercised in faith of the one praying and the faith of the one receiving the prayer. 

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