40 DAYS in the GOSPEL Sample

SIGNS

"The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him." (Mark 8:11)

I (Shawn) don’t know how many times I’ve been lost. I’ve lost count. But I do know this: I’ve wasted a lot of time going in the wrong direction. It seems I’m directionally challenged! (Any guys with me?)

Have you ever asked for help with directions, and someone says, “No need for directions. Just follow the signs.” In other words, listening is not required. Just look, read, and follow.

The gospel, however, is not a message that says, “Just follow the signs.” The message of the good news comes by words. And this message requires faith. This is why Jesus so often asked, “Do you believe?”

In our text today, Jesus is confronted again by the hyper-religious crowd—namely, the Pharisees. They are intrigued by Jesus—even interested in his message—but before they will listen, they want proof. They want signs. It’s like they are saying, “Do a trick for us, and then we might listen to you.”

Jesus refuses. In another place He says, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah” (Luke 11:29). He hints to the biggest sign of all that no one has to miss. Like Jonah spent nights in the belly of a whale, Jesus will spend nights in the belly of the earth and then will rise from the dead.

Jesus certainly did many other signs. But they followed His message. Consider how He preached first, then fed the 4,000. This sign confirmed the words He spoke were true. Demanding a sign first is to demand that we run this race by what we see. But the gospel is heard and believed. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

PRAY ABOUT IT: Are you hearing and believing His Word first? Let your faith rise today in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank Him for the biggest sign of all, that He died for your sins and rose from the dead. Pray John 3:16-17, and thank Him for that truth. Refuse to be a sign-seeker and rather be a gospel-believer.