Mark (TNTC) by R. Alan Cole

Author:R. Alan Cole [Cole, R. Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780830842322
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Published: 2008-07-06T16:00:00+00:00

iv. The Pharisees demand a sign (8:10–13)

This is an account of a mission to Dalmanutha (or Magadan, Matt. 15:39) apparently on the opposite shore of the lake (10). It might have been as spiritually fruitful as any other place, but seems to have failed to achieve any spiritual results, because it was met from the outset by a stubbornly ‘theological’ opposition on the part of the argumentative and unbelieving Pharisees. We may compare the attitude in Nazareth, where little exercise of the miraculous power of Jesus was possible because of stubborn unbelief (6:5–6). It is striking that in both cases the stumbling-block to faith was self-important knowledge, whether theological knowledge here, or knowledge of the local origin of Jesus in the case of the people of Nazareth. Knowledge is not of course wrong, but, as Paul says, it can ‘puff up’ (1 Cor. 8:1) and create pride, which is a spiritual obstacle: it is love that ‘builds up’.

11–13. This demand by the Pharisees for a sign is so significant that it is recorded in all four gospels. The reaction of Jesus (he sighed deeply in his spirit, 12) may be impatience which he always showed towards lack of faith in those who might be expected to possess it. Compare his reaction towards the faithless and powerless disciples, at the foot of the mountain of transfiguration (9:19). It is clear that unbelief lay at the root of the Pharisaic attitude too. To those in such a state of unbelief, even a sign if given would not convince, for these Pharisees must surely have already heard of some at least of the many miracles which had already taken place in Galilee, such as the feeding of the four thousand just before. John’s Gospel rightly says that the difficulty lies in the will, not the intellect, as far as acceptance of the ‘signs’ of Jesus is concerned (John 7:17).62

But even apart from the impossibility of convincing people against their will by mere signs, such an attitude of sign-seeking strikes at the root of the biblical concept of the nature of faith. It might be theoretically possible to base a belief upon signs and wonders, but this sort of ‘belief’ would not be ‘faith’, but only a logical conclusion (Schweizer). Perhaps this is yet another reason why Jesus used his undoubted miraculous powers so sparingly, and only in response to already existent faith. So Jesus refused the request of the Pharisees of Dalmanutha, and left the place (verse 13).

By contrast, to the Christian, ‘believing is seeing’. Hebrews 11:1 presses this still further: the eye of faith sees here and now what actually has yet to be realized in the future, and so obtains strength to endure.63 This was the faith which Peter was soon to express, in 8:29, in defiance of all outward appearances.

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