Asking for a Sign

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” - Matthew 12:38

In Matthew 12, when the religious leaders asked Jesus for a sign (a validation of his worth) he flipped the script and said I’m not going to play that game, the game of power-seeking, status climbing, and empire. Rather Jesus links himself to the sign of Jonah: a sign of humility and going in the depth of pain. Jesus flipped the script, but what “alternative script” did Jesus offer? 

In Sunday’s message, both Brenna (one of the co-preachers) and Sam (a community sharer) said a couple of phrases that impacted me and helped me understand Jesus’ alternative script deeper. 

Brenna reminded us that: “Jesus is not macho. He is not that type of hero. This is a humble hero. Jesus is a hero that is going to love in ways that put him right next to pain.”

Sam shared they have learned the way of Jesus is to “be in touch with my humanity…I’ve been learning more about how to be a better relative and how Jesus treated human beings as human beings. What does that mean for me and how to exercise that in daily life?” 

The alternative script of Jesus, the Human One, was being in touch with people’s humaneness. Jesus was close to the pain and as those seeking the way of Jesus, we are invited into this alternative script. For many of us, the challenge is to widen our capacity to be with others in their pain. This means to not shy away or rush past, but to be close to our relatives in their pain. 

Today would you reflect on these questions: How does the alternative script of Jesus bring you comfort, love, and imagination? What ways do you feel like you are being invited to practice being a good relative today?

- Dottie Oleson