In the Image of Man


The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

Have you ever tried explaining things to people and realized that no matter how logical or persuasive your arguments, they just don't get it? If you ever have — and surely you have — then you can imagine what Jesus must have felt like throughout his ministry. It didn't matter how profound his words were; they fell on deaf ears. And it didn't seem to matter that he backed up his words with the most amazing signs people had ever seen; they still weren't prepared to listen.

Consider today's passage. Jesus had just multiplied seven loaves of bread and two fish to feed four thousand people. Just consider that for a moment. Word of the miracle stpread and reached the ears of the Pharisees, who decided to "investigate." They came to Jesus and began to question him, asking him for a sign from heaven to prove who he was. Scripture says Jesus sighed deeply. One can picture Jesus shaking his head in sorrow because he knew they wouldn't believe, no matter what he did. They would find a way to "explain" the sign away as though he was a magician who had fooled them with a party trick.

For instance: "What actually happened," they might have said about the miraculous multiplication of fish and loaves, "was that somebody took out the little food that he had and shared it with those near him. Watching what he did, inspired others to do the same, and that is how everybody ate." Crazy, yes? But do you know what is really crazy? We can hear the same arguments spoken today, not just from unbelievers, but from those who call themselves Christians! Unable to reflect God's divine image and likeness, we try to make God in our human image and likeness. 

This consequently reflects how we behave. When we are unforgiving and unmerciful toward others, we portray Jesus as an unforgiving and unmerciful God. We talk about the times he was harsh with people. We choose not to see that the people he was harsh towards were those who were unforgiving and unmerciful. He was nothing but kind and compassionate towards those in need of forgiveness and mercy. It is why he told the religious leaders of his time: The sinners are going to beat you into heaven, buddy (see Matthew 21:31). 

But it doesn't have to be like that. Let us listen to the words of Jesus with an open heart so when he looks at us, he won't sigh deeply.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Let’s Get Healed - A Reflection on Matthew 18:21-19:1

Image
  Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me...
Read more

Patience - A Reflection on Luke 2:33-35.

Image
  And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”   This is probably the shortest passage that we have reflected upon this year. In it, we find a man named Simeon making a prophecy about three things. One, about Jesus. Two, about the people of Israel. And three, about the pain that Jesus’ mother Mary would go through. We have seen all his prophecies came true. But who is Simeon? And what can we learn from him? Ok. On the 40th day of his birth, Jesus is taken by Mary and Joseph to the temple to be officially inducted into the Jewish faith. When they were there, a man named Simeon came in to see them.   He is described as “righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Isr...
Read more

Dying and Killing

  The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’—and the scripture cannot be annulled— can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earl...
Read more