Mark 8:6-12: a reflection

6He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves. Having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to serve, and they served the multitude. 7They also had a few small fish. Having blessed them, he said to serve these also. 8They ate and were filled. They took up seven baskets of broken pieces that were left over. 9Those who had eaten were about four thousand. Then he sent them away. 10Immediately he entered into the boat with his disciples and came into the region of Dalmanutha. 11The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven and testing him. 12He 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.”

Jesus has just fed thousands from seven loaves, with seven baskets left over, abundance out of almost nothing. And immediately the Pharisees come and demand a sign from heaven, a proof, on their terms. Mark says Jesus sighed deeply in his spirit and said no sign will be given to this generation.

Notice that sigh. It is weariness, the weariness of one who has just given plenty of evidence to people determined not to believe it. They had the sign, loaves multiplied, hungry crowds fed, and still they demanded another, because the problem was never a lack of evidence. A heart set against believing will always want one more proof, and never be satisfied by the ones already given.

That is a caution for the times we treat God the same way, saying we would believe, we would trust, if only he would show us one more thing, when he has already shown us much. Sometimes the honest issue is not that God has given too little evidence, but that we have decided in advance not to be moved by it. Rather than demanding a new sign, look again at what he has already done, the provision already in your hands, and let it be enough to lean on. Do not make him sigh over a heart that has already been shown.

Lord, keep me from demanding one more sign while ignoring all you have already done. Open my eyes to the provision already in my hands, and give me a heart ready to believe what you have shown, not one always asking for proof.