Today we are reading from Mark 8: 11-13:

11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.

We talk a lot about the patience of Job.  Today we see it may need to be the patience of Jesus.  There is this powerful, and sad phrase within it, “he signed deeply in his spirit.”  They wanted a sign.  How many signs could He give?  He’s just fed thousands of people, for the second time.  He’s healed, He’s preached, He’s shown command over evil.  

How much more do you people have to see?  You know He must have been wondering that.  So He sighs deeply.  Goodness, how much more will it take.  His patience is amazing.  

And you know what He does after this?  He continues to love.  He continues to heal.  He continues to teach.  He looks past their inability to grasp what He is doing and loves them in spite of it.  He never gives up on the people, in spite of everything.  

Just like we talked about yesterday, how often are we like the people? We’ve seen sign after sign after sign. And yet we want just one more.  We doubt.  We doubt His power, His love, His grace, His call.  We are the same as them. 

That is why I am so, so thankful that the same Jesus that never gave up on them is the same Jesus who never gives up on us.  He continues to show mercy and patience, even when we have done nothing to deserve it.  Because He loves us.  His love for us is greater than our inadequacies and our doubts.  

I am thankful for that.  Today let’s not test His patience.  Let’s believe.  And let’s see again how He is always true to who He is.  

If you’d like to get each day’s daily scripture reading sent to your phone along with this reading guide, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up!