What in the World Were They Thinking?
Gospel Reflection for Wednesday, February 24th, 2021 — Luke 11:29-32
What in the world were they thinking? The multitudes following Jesus had witnessed healing after miracle, and yet they would rather believe the lies and manipulation of the Pharisees. This uproar reminds me of the modern reaction driven by the FakeNews Media to President Trump. No matter how many successes he’s had, no matter how well the economy is doing for virtually every class of American, nothing is good enough. Multitudes would rather believe the lie, thus, themselves become the “People of the Lie.”
In Luke’s version of presented here, we find the multitudes seeking a sign of just who Jesus was. In The recent reflection on the same event in Mark’s Gospel it was the Pharisees who were demanding signs. Was it the Pharisees who were instigating today’s demands? I believe so. It sounds like a precursor to the “Good Friday” event where the leaders of the Jews ginned up the crowds to demand that the Romans “crucify him.”
Was asking for a sign actually something evil? No. Not really. The problem was that, in their evil intentions, the Jewish leaders were falsely claiming that Jesus’ miraculous deeds were being performed through the nefarious power of Satan. There was actually nothing that Jesus could have done to sway them from their contemptuous mindset. Jesus was already performing the exact same signs and wonders that were prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures that attested to His Authority.
Jesus’ ministry was overflowing with signs. Virtually everything he did attested to his divinity and messiahship. Consider what Jesus told the disciples of John the Baptist: “Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.” (Luke 7:22)
If the Pharisees were actually sincerely seeking the truth, the signs would have been impossible to miss. So, in my opinion, Jesus is actually poking fun at these Jewish officials.
I don’t know about you, but, I’m sick and tired of the lies and falsehoods. Even the concept of “Critical Thinking” itself is being condemned in the media. The Pharisees of our day don’t want us to be thinking for ourselves. Conformity to group-think is now being mandated. What about you? Have you become follower of the Lie? Or have you decided to follow the Truth? Jesus is the TRUTH?
Jesus came to offer the Good News of Salvation. Even for us today, if you have eyes to see, the evidence is as plain as the nose on my face. From healing the blind, curing the lame and lepers, to helping the deaf hear, and even raising the dead, virtually everything He did and taught were messianic signs. The pharisees were simply too blinded by their own pride and selfish misconceptions. Refuse the lie. Reject Sin. Turn to the Truth.
PRAYER;
Lord, Your word alone offers those who have eyes to see and ears to hear the keys to everlasting life. Help us Father to understand the signs you’ve revealed to us. As with the sign given to the Ninevites, we have a much greater sign in the Son of God, who gave Himself as a ransom for many. Send us your Holy Spirit this Lent, Lord, to guide us to an authentic understanding of your Word, and how we are to respond to Your divine revelation. Pray that your eyes and ears will be opened to understand the signs. AMEN
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