48 "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."
In our verse for today, Christ responds to our grieving man of authority with a gentle reproof. In a desperate search for a touch of the miraculous – a finger mark of God upon his sick child’s life – this man first receives a rebuke from our Lord before his request is granted. Jesus makes it clear that our faith is not to be built on miraculous signs and wonders but on Himself, the Word made flesh. Furthermore, Jesus gives us warnings in Scripture regarding future miracles to be performed in the end times - clearly pointing to knowledge of His Word as paramount likewise ignorance of the same as detrimental:
23 At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. Matt 24:23-25 (NIV)
“If you wish to know God, you must know his Word. If you wish to perceive His power,
you must see how He works by his Word. If you wish to know His purpose before it comes to pass, you can only discover it by His Word.” C.H. Spurgeon
Miracles are attention grabbers – magnificent visual aids, so to speak, sent to point our eyes to the all-powerful Source of such wonder – the Almighty. Having already performed many signs and wonders, Jesus often rebuked those in Scripture seeking even more of the miraculous.
“It is natural to proud men to prescribe to God, and then to make that an excuse for not subscribing to him; but a man’s offence will never be his defence.” Matthew Henry
Jesus states in Matthew:
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." 39 He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. Matt 12:38-41 (NIV)
Jesus tells these teachers of the law that the sinful city of Nineveh would be judging them since the Ninevites believed God and repented on only the word of a mere prophet yet they refused to listen to the Son of God and believe. These Pharisees in the above verses were not content with the signs Jesus had already performed, they once again demanded more proof from their own eyes. I am reminded of doubting Thomas after Jesus’ resurrection refusing to believe the other disciple’s testimony:
24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." 28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:24-29 (NIV)
“This blessing comes to all who believe on the basis of the proclaimed gospel and the evidences for its validity. Believers living today are not deprived by not seeing Him physically; instead, they are the recipients of His special blessing: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Bible Knowledge Commentary
Peter renders it in the following way:
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV)
“A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.” D. L. Moody
The focus of the believer’s faith is on the person of Jesus Christ. We are to dwell on the Word made flesh rather than the wonder or the miraculous, the Immortal rather than the emotion – He is to be the strength of our hearts and our portion forever. We are to fix our eyes on the One who authored and perfected our faith.
“We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by ‘looking unto Jesus’. Keep thine eye simply on Him; let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to Him; when thou liest down at night look to Him. Oh! Let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He will never fail thee.” C. H. Spurgeon