https://youtu.be/Zt7sdzQygcc

Give Me a Sign

Read Mark 8:11-13Context/History– Jesus’ ministry is in full swing. He is well known for his miracles, and crowds follow him everywhere.– He has just come across the Sea of Galilee, after feeding the 4000, ready to do more ministry.– The Pharisees hear that he arrived, and go out to pick a fight with him. (Not the first time!)– Pharisees were Jewish scholars, mostly God-fearing, law-abiding citizens that taught strict adherence to Old Testament law. (Some of them loved God, some just loved position.)– They taught people to believe that sin could be eradicated by strictly following the law.– Jesus opposed them because they were leading people away from God’s plan for redemption. (Jesus’ message was in direct contradiction to the Pharisee’s message.)

1. Why are they arguing with Jesus.

– The Pharisees are demanding a “miraculous sign”, but what are they looking for that Jesus hasn’t already done?– Jesus had fulfilled Old Testament prophecy:– Jesus fulfilled 61 different details of prophecies that speak of the coming Messiah.– So far Jesus had been born of a virgin, from the family line of King David, born in Bethlehem but from Nazareth, preformed many miracles, and was rejected by his own people. (The Pharisees are actually fulfilling prophecy by their own behavior!)– Jesus had done many miracles, and this was well known!– The lame walk, the blind see, and the deaf hear. He healed many people, cast out demons, fed the 5,000, and raised the dead. All of these were done before hundreds of people.– Example: Read Luke 7:11-17 (Jesus brings the widows son back to life.)– Being OT scholars, it should have been easy for them to recognize the signs of the Messiah.– They had built their lives around what they thought it said, instead of what it really said.– They were servants of their religion, NOT of their GOD.

– The Pharisees wanted direct proof from heaven, but I don’t think that they would have believed it, even if they did get it.– Upton Sinclair said, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!” (Their reputation and lively hood are in question.)– John 12:37, Despite all the miracles and signs Jesus had done, most of the people still didn’t believe in him.2. Here’s your sign.– People often ask for a “miraculous sign”, and sometimes God will give it to them.– Example: Gideon, in Judges 6: The Midianites have oppressed the Israelites for 7 years. Destroyed their fields, killed their livestock, and attacked their camps.– Judges 6:14-18, Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me. Don’t go away until I come back and bring my offering to you.” He answered, “I will stay here until you return.”– Verse 36, Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. (He laid out the fleece: wet night 1, dry night 2)– How does Gideon get away with this? He sees that this is an impossible task, he is willing to obey, he just doesn’t believe he CAN.– He doesn’t doubt God, he doubt himself. His heart wants to grow in confidence.View image on Twitter

– Example: Doubting Thomas. He was one of the 12 disciples,