Do you make Jesus sigh?
Written by Brian Jennings, Posted in Blog
Do you have any “sighers” as friends? When things don’t go their way, they let the whole world know by emptying their lungs with a tremendous exhale.
Go ahead. Try it. It’s kinda fun.
I doubt Jesus sighed often. Joyfulness and patience filled his heart. Habitual sighers lack both. But there was a time in which Jesus’ exasperation bursts out of his lungs.
In Mark 1, after Jesus is baptized, the heavens tear open, the Spirit descends and God’s voice rings out: “This is my Son, whom I am well pleased.” Jesus would heal the sick and perform breathtaking miracles. He fulfilled prophecies, which were written centuries before his arrival. He performed sign after sign after sign….
Yet in Mark 8:11, the Pharisees asked him for another sign. Some people will never be satisfied. They’ll always withhold their trust.
So how did Jesus respond?
“He sighed deeply” (Mark 8:12).
Throughout the book, many saw the man, the same miracles, the same teaching, the same crucified body and the same empty tomb. Some of them believed. Some did not.
Sigh
And just when my jaw drops at the disbelief of the Pharisees, I wonder how many times I’ve made Jesus sigh. I’ve fretted over finances. I’ve worried about problems. I’ve tried to fix people’s problems on my own. I’ve tried to one-up others. I’ve kept the Good News to myself. I’ve known Him, but ignored His words.
Sigh
Are you making Jesus sigh? There is good news – great news. Jesus loves you. He’s not a habitual sigher. Joy and peace fill His heart. He really, really loves you. He loves you so much that even though you’ve distrusted, He’s remained. He welcomes you back. He leads you one step at a time.
Jon Weece said, “God loves us as we are, but refuses to leave us as we are.” So trust Jesus through the good and bad, highs and lows. Trust him in 2015 more than you have in any other year. Don’t ask for more signs. Ask for more faith. Trust Him.
I understand why Jesus sighed when the pharisees, whose hearts were hard, asked for a sign but I don’t want anyone to be discouraged from asking legitimate questions about God.
Jesus never turned anyone away or “sighed” when they came to him with a pure heart for questions or his healing touch. I know it is a fine line but we can ask God to show himself, speak through his Word and into our hearts. He NEVER sighs at that.
Don’t be afraid to seek HIM, ask questions and pursue HIM. He will not give you a deep sigh….. 🙂
Very true. Thanks, Jerry.
Yes, Brian, I’m sure I make Him sigh sometimes. I am sure I even make Him cry. So glad I have a Savior who loves me, even when I disappoint Him. “Jesus loves me when I’m good, when I do the things I should. And Jesus loves me when I’m bad, though it makes Him very sad.”
Thanks for drawing our attention to this particular verse. Thanks, Jerry, for you good thoughts, too.