The shortest verse of the Bible is “Jesus wept” (John 11:35).
Ever wonder if “Jesus sighed”?
I am struck today by Mark 8:12, “And he sighed deeply in his spirit …”
I sigh sometimes. Do you?
What causes you to sigh?
For Jesus it happened with the religious of his day, “And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
I am somewhat surprised by Jesus’ answer. I might have expected Jesus to say, “A sign, what the heck do you think feeding 5,000 and feeding 4,000 and all the healings and even the raising of Jairus daughter…was all about?”
Instead, he sighs. I get a sense that he might be exasperated. He gets in a boat with the disciples and leaves.
In the boat the disciples begin worrying about their lack of bread.
You would hope by now the disciples would turn to Jesus and ask for help. They don’t. They try in their own strength.
We, as Jesus’ followers all too often try and labor in our own strength.
Jesus knows this about us. He knows it about the disciples that day in the boat. I am surprised he doesn’t sigh. Instead this time, he does bring up his past miracles. We don’t however get to hear the disciple’s reaction to his questions. The next scene springs upon us.
And this scene directly connects with the other two. Unlike the religious who demand a sign because they want Jesus to pass their test, and unlike the disciples who for whatever reason won’t ask for Jesus’ help—the people in Bethsaida beg Jesus to touch their friend.
They don’t ask Jesus for his credentials. They don’t fuss among themselves. They simply go to him and beg.
Ever had anyone beg you for something? How about when it seems like you’ve given all you’ve got to give, your tired, and a person comes to you and pleads for you to do something. Ever had that happen?
I have. It is one of those moments I sigh. Funny that in this passage we know Jesus doesn’t sigh. He acts. We’ve learned from earlier passages that he does so out of his compassion for us.
Consider our world today. Today there are still many people demanding proof. We’ve got 2,000 years of history showing over and over the positive reality of Jesus. Sure, there are people who have done terrible things all in the Name of Jesus. But that does not nullify who Jesus is.
Today there are believers who, despite all Jesus has done in their lives, try too often in their own strength. The encouraging bit here is that Jesus doesn’t leave, instead he challenges us to believe (just as he did the disciples in the boat).
Finally, today there are people who in moments of desperation simply blow past all the obstacles and beg Jesus for help…and he does not sigh…he acts.
Which one of the three groups are you in? Are you still looking for proof? Are you, a follower of Jesus, too embarrassed to ask him for help? Are you past all that, and are imploring him?