New Thoughts (12/2/06-12/5/06)
The big issue in this passage is lack of comprehension, or worse still, an insistent miscomprehension. I recall reading Michael Card’s book on John’s Gospel, and he noted a theme of misunderstanding that ran through the text. Things were happening that should have made it clear to any student of Scripture that this was Messiah, but they simply refused to get it. This is exactly what we see happening in the present text. They have just witnessed a blind man given sight, and that great prophecy which Jesus declared fulfilled at the opening of His ministry reminds us that this was exactly what was promised. “He has anointed Me to give sight to the blind.” Well, the blind man saw. He was also mute, Matthew tells us, incapable of speech. And yet, after this encounter with Jesus, He was not only able to speak, it was impossible that he would not!
Matthew also makes it clear that there were a number of folks who saw this and understood the implications. They recognized that this was a clear sign that Messiah was with them. But, there were others who were not ready to have a Messiah that was so very much present. Unwilling that He should disturb their comfortable status quo, they blinded themselves to the obvious. Instead of understanding the signs that had already occurred in their very presence, they demanded some other sign. These men were so insistent on missing the point that they not only demanded some other sign, they demanded a sign of which no prophecy had spoken. They did not ask Him to do something else that was on the prophetic list of things Messiah would do. They asked Him to do something that had absolutely no foundation in God’s plan.
It is for this reason that they are spoken of as seeking to test Him. It is not that they wanted to prove Him real in His claims. They had plenty of evidence for that already. What they wanted was to prove Him false. A real Messiah must be dealt with. A real God must be acknowledged and obeyed. Their religious mediocrity would have to be cast off if they recognized this God-Man. They were determined not to have to do this, so they sought to require of Him a ‘proof’ that could only prove Him false. But, this He would not do. This He could not do, for how could Truth be false?
Some few of the translations bring this point out rather clearly. The TEV says the asked for this miracle ‘to show that God approved of Him.’ The Living Bible makes it even more blatant. They wanted Him ‘to prove His claim of being the Messiah.’ Well, I have to say that this really drives home something for me. See, the issue was not that they were missing the point. They understood as well as anybody there, if not better, that the things Jesus was doing were already sufficient proof of Who He Is. It was not that they didn’t understand. It was that they outright refused Him. They understood full well that this Jesus had already done more than enough to make His claims real. They understood that those claims were made, more to the point. But, I notice that Jesus never comes right out and says, “I am Messiah.” He never says it. He simply proves it. The claims are not by word but by deed. They understood the signs just fine, then, else they would not see any claim being made. Their problem is they don’t want the claim made.
They wanted a Messiah, but they wanted Him to be future Messiah. This is sort of the ultimate NIMBY problem. We want God, just not right now. Let me enjoy my sin first. Let me experience this position I have. Let me exult in my religious superiority while I have this breath in me. Time enough for reality later. Well, reality wasn’t waiting. God was there, then, standing before them in righteousness, and saying, “This is your one chance to get it right.” But, they would not.
The signs God had determined long ago were not going to satisfy these men. Nothing was going to satisfy them, truth be told, because they did not want the truth to be told. They wanted to be the official truth. They had grown used to that. Their most vain imaginations and opinions had been the law of the land as far back as they could remember, and they were not about to see that changed now. Not if they could help it. So, these experts on Law and Scripture came demanding a sign that had nothing to do with Scripture. They came seeking to make the Judge break the Law.
Does that seem too harsh a statement? Well, I have to say, reading that demand for proof really puts me in mind of Moses out in the desert. Here was a man whose actions to date had clearly marked him as God’s man. Yet, the people were forever putting him to the test, doubting his claim to leadership, and thereby casting doubt on God. This is ever the way of fallen man, I suppose, because in our fallen state a holy God must leave us feeling inferior and dissatisfied, and this is not something we will tolerate.
So, Moses grew accustomed to the people’s need for signs to remind them. When he came to the rock at Meribah, the thing God had told him to do didn’t seem like it would be enough to impress those he led. Besides being angry at this constant annoyance, he wanted to be sure that his authority would be properly established once more. So, he allowed the people’s need and his own anger to supercede God’s direction. When God said, ‘speak,’ Moses insisted on striking the rock instead. After all, the people were demanding a sign. Is it fair to say that they were insisting that he act in disobedience? Perhaps not in any straightforward way, yet their constant harassment doubtless pushed him to that point. Clearly, this does not lesson Moses’ guilt in the matter. If anything, it serves warning on the man of God. Be careful, lest you allow what seems the expedient course to cause you to depart from the Lord’s way.
Moses paid dearly for this slip. Because he decided to take the power of miracle into his own hands, to use God’s gifts in disobedience, he lost the opportunity to come into the promised land. That would be left for Joshua and Caleb to do. Moses, who had gone through so much, who had done so much, who had been so close to God that the Presence on his face when he went back to the people scared them; this man lost the greater blessing because he chose to do as he pleased rather than as God required. Is it any wonder we find Paul, the great Paul, concerned lest, in spite of all that he had done to establish the Church, he should be found to have fallen by the wayside?
It comes back, in its way, to that message Jesus delivers elsewhere. Many will come saying, ‘Look what we did in Your name!’, but I will not acknowledge knowing them. They were doing all manner of things, it is true. But, they were not doing them out of obedience. They were operating as did Israel in the age of the judges: every man doing whatever seemed good to him. That same attitude is at play in the scribes and Pharisees as we see them here. Unsatisfied with the signs God has chosen, they demand other signs, more to their liking. Unsatisfied by God’s provision, they seek entertainment.
They may not have understood the reason for Moses’ demise, but Jesus surely did! It is a lesson we could stand to learn again. Doing miracles is only good when the doing is at God’s behest. If the act is not taken in response to God’s will, then it is an act of willfulness, and therefore, an act of rebellion. Anything that is done apart from God’s good pleasure is an act of rebellion. If we accept that God still blesses His church with the gifts of His Holy Spirit – not just the presence and concept of that third Person of the Trinity, but the gifts attributed to Him by Scripture – then we had best accept that God has the right to direct the use of those gifts by our hands. If we still consider ourselves bondservants (slaves) of Christ, then we are His to direct as He pleases, are we not? This applies not only to our bodies, but likewise to such tools as He has chosen to provide us with.
If I speak in tongues, but only to amuse myself, have I done anything praiseworthy? No. I have been willful and disobedient. If I give a word of knowledge that He did not ask that I give, how am I different from those who leak inside information to the competition? As for prophecy, well, Scripture is clear enough on how God feels about those who prophesy without His direction. I tell you, we should have that same trepidation, that same fear of destruction, about us when we take any of His gifts lightly.
I will also be so bold as to say this need not be restricted to the gifts of the Spirit. Even for those who don’t hold to the availability of such gifts today, we must surely acknowledge that every talent, every ability, every breath that we breathe, is a gift from our God. The very fact of existence is a gift from God. If we hold to Scripture, we must also acknowledge that every one of these gifts is not only good, it is perfect. We have been perfectly fitted for the purpose of our creation. But, do we stop to ask our Creator what His specific purpose for our creation is? Do we even take that into consideration as we go through our days? What I have said of miracles and of the gifts of the Spirit is just as applicable to the mundane activities of daily life. The doing of those activities can only be proper when they are done at God’s behest, and in accord with His good pleasure.
God, here is a cause for repentance! How often have I neglected to consider what You were looking to accomplish in my day? No, I know the answer. If it is not a constant fact of my life, it’s close to it. How can I be so negligent a servant to You? Today, I will be once more in Your house, if it be Your will. Yet, even in this, how often I have forgotten that it truly is a matter of Your will? Forgive me, Father, for this great sin against Your rightful rule over me. I have been a willful child in Your household, rather than a faithful son. Let Your will be done in and through me today, my King. Let Your will be done and only Your will. Let it be done fearlessly, Lord, for You are my God, my Lord and King. Empower me, Lord, to pursue Your purpose in me today.
Jesus says elsewhere that this generation that comes looking for signs is evil and adulterous. That might seem a bit harsh. After all, all they wanted was some proof, right? Weren’t they simply being careful? The issue is threefold. First, there is this problem of not being able to recognize what was happening in their sight. Take the case before us. They have just witnessed a mute recover speech at one word from this Jesus. This is hardly an isolated case, and given the amount of talk that surrounded Jesus’ ministry, they would not be ignorant of those other occasions either. Yet, they felt a need for a sign, or so they said.
Then, there is the nature of the signs they sought. If these were merely diligent believers seeking to confirm the works of Messiah from those of imposters, then why are they asking for signs in the heavens? Why are they asking this candidate for Messiah to do what is not given by God as a proof of His office, particularly when He has just done exactly what is given by God as proof? It is an evil to request the man of God to do what is not in God’s good pleasure. If God has willed it that these shall be the signs of office, who is man to attach another list of requirements? I tell you, if it was a sin for Moses to act contrary to direction, it is likewise a sin to advise the man of God to act contrary to God’s directions.
Finally, there is another, issue: the issue of adultery. That word ought to suggest to us the bigger problem with the signs they were seeking. Not only were these signs they asked for matters not found in Scripture, there is the issue of where they were found. Now, I cannot claim to have some authoritative knowledge in this matter, but the fact that Jesus complains of an adulterous generation would tend to point to the idolatries of the nations as being the source of these proofs they sought. It is as if they asked the Son of God to prove He was God’s man by doing as all the surrounding imposters did. Isn’t that in line with man’s character, though! It is not enough for us to have God as our king. We want a human king like everybody else. It’s not enough that Messiah has done what no other has ever done. We want Him to do what everybody else’s gods are doing, too.
I don’t find it much of s stretch to move from this to the issue of entertainment. These were not a people seeking God. They were a people seeking entertainment. Healing’s nice, and all, but there’s really not that much visual impact to it. Can’t we have some fireworks? Can’t we have some gold dust floating down. Now, that’s got impact! It’d be like Mardi Gras, where they throw coins to the crowds! Can’t God manage that for us? We want to be entertained! How about some dancing lights, then? You know, they used to have those laser light shows at concerts. Surely, the God who created heaven and earth can manage something on that level, can’t He? C’mon! Entertain us, God!
Too much of our own attitude fits this model. Too much of the church of God is sitting back in the pews, just watching the action up at the altar as though it were some made for television movie. We have become so used to being entertained that we don’t even remember how to get involved. We no longer come to church to be changed. We just come for the fun. We are here to party, since it wouldn’t do for a godly man or woman to be out at the dance clubs. Well, we’ll just come here and do our worldly thing in the house of God instead. Won’t He be pleased by our sacrifice! Won’t He be pleased that we deign to honor Him with our presence? Oh! But, where is the honor of His presence?
We cannot expect to last long if we insist on using the gifts God has given us in such willful and profane fashion. If we are not seeking His direction in the use of these gifts, then we are rebels in the camp. I don’t know about you, but I’ve read of how God deals with rebels in the camp, and I’d rather not be part of that.
I have no problem with signs and wonders. God’s Word has declared them as part of the ministry of His Church. I do have a problem with those who think that these signs and wonders are a mandatory adjunct of ministry, items without which you cannot be a true Christian. I have an even greater problem with those who think that signs and wonders automatically legitimize a ‘ministry’, because that is a sign that somebody hasn’t been doing their studies. Signs and wonders are only as legitimate as the direction of God behind them. If He has not told the man of God to act, then to act is to rebel. If He has told the man of God to act, then to refrain is to rebel. The wonder is not the proof. Obedience is the proof.
What I fear is the case is that we are in that time of which Paul wrote to the Thessalonians (2Th 2:9-12). One is coming, he wrote, who is in accord with Satan. This one will have all sorts of powers, signs and wonders. He will have at his disposal every sort of deception that will serve his wicked ends, which is the distraction and the destruction of the true Church of Christ. He will come to those who perish for rejecting the love of the Truth which comes with salvation. If this one and his minions have any success in their effort, it is because God has sent a deluding influence among the perishing. See, they will believe what is false because this fits them to be judged for preferring wickedness to Truth.
How many in our day are happily deluded? How many are wandering off after other gospels, chasing after signs and wonders and neglecting the Word of Truth? How often must we excuse the teacher for teaching lies in a purported effort to express Truth? How long will God tolerate our being impressed by works and numbers and neglecting the weightier matters of representing His truth truly? These are issues of concern. They certainly ought to be, at any rate. People didn’t flock to Paul because he was twisting the story told by the Scriptures to make his point. No! If anything, he got the response he did precisely because he didn’t tinker with the text. He spoke from the Word of God, as is. He showed by the unvarnished truth of Scripture exactly who this Jesus was – the Appointed Christ of God. It was because he refused to play games with God’s Word that the Jews were so outraged. There was nothing there for them to legitimately complain against. They could not pick apart his arguments, because they were founded in Truth. All they could do was threaten and rave, or else accept the Truth.
I tell you, we would do well to have such a passion for Truth and accuracy in our preaching and teaching. God holds teachers to a higher standard. That is His word on the subject. Does that mean we are supposed to let them run unchecked and uncorrected? Some would have it so. There is this theory of Church order that I hear offered up that we can simply be blind followers after the leader God puts over us, because if that leader takes a wrong turn and we follow after him, the leader will take the blame. The rest of us can take cover in his fall. What’s up with that? Indeed, where have I seen that defense before? This is the defense many low-ranking Nazis offered at their trials. “We were just following orders.” Do we really think God will be pleased to hear that from His children? I think not.
There is a great danger in arbitrarily defining our own set of marks by which to distinguish the real move of God from the false. I’ve said it before, and it bears repeating: signs and wonders are not the distinguishing marks. Works and numbers are not the distinguishing marks. These things are not bad in themselves. Neither are they good in themselves. They are matters easily counterfeited. If numbers determined the real Church, then we should have to say that the ungodly are in the right. They have the numbers. If works define the real Church, then there are a number of charitable organizations; Rotary Club, Lions Club, even the Free Masons, who should be counted as more real than half of our denominations. For all that, those liberal denominations that tossed aside the Gospel of Christ in favor of the more culturally sensitive social gospel are doing more. Perhaps we should declare them the real deal? No. The defining trait of the real move of God is adherence to Truth. That is the one thing Satan cannot counterfeit. He cannot produce a false Truth. That’s an impossibility. He can only produce a lie. If we are grounded in Truth, the Lie cannot turn us. If we are grounded only in phenomena and outward show, we are at risk of being blown off course by every passing wind.
There is a Biblical basis for discipline and order, both inside the Church and outside. There is a Biblical basis for our behavior within the culture, for our response to and respect for government (even when we disagree with its direction). There is a Biblical basis for how we respond to a world of hurt, for how our lives should respond to the love of God. “I have shown you the way. Walk in it.” That is the message of our eldest Brother, our Lord and Savior. He has placed His yoke upon us with loving hands. He has been careful of our burden, ensuring that the load is not beyond our ability. He has fed us well upon the Word, instilled us with the Holy Spirit of God Himself to guide our efforts. He has provided for every need that we have as we pursue our labors. And, He has provided rest. “Come take up My burden and I will give you rest.” What a wonderful promise. Come, come and pursue the Truth wholeheartedly. These things that the Gentiles chase after; they need not catch your eye. They shall hold no attraction for you as you pursue God in God’s way. Dedicate yourself to the Way He has declared, and whatever this life may bring, it will be well with your soul.
