“So they said to him, ‘Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?’” (Joh. 6:30). What a strange thing to ask of Jesus. In v. 28, they asked Him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” His reply was simple, “Believe in Him whom He has sent.” I said it was a strange question to ask Jesus because those asking it had recently witnessed the feeding of more than 5,000 people with only five loaves and two fish. And it was not the only miracle they undoubtedly had heard of or even witnessed firsthand. Although Jesus had told many not to speak of what He had done for them, monumental life-altering events like that could hardly be kept a secret. An example of one such incident is recorded in Mat. 8:1-4.
“When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3. And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4. And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” Honestly, who could blame them? If we were miraculously healed, which of us would not want to share the news with any and everyone? And there were other miracles that surely were spoken of widely. They included the turning of water into wine (Joh. 2:1-11), the healing of the official’s son (Joh. 4:46-53), the healing of the paralytic who was lowered through the roof by his friends (Mar. 2:1-12), and the healing of the man with the withered hand (Mat. 12:9-14).
He also cast out many demons (Mar. 1:21-28), healed a woman with bleeding issues (Mat. 9:18-19), and raised Jarius’ daughter (Joh. 6:1-15). Speak of an absolute wealth of evidence that Jesus was no ordinary man. In fact, in Joh. 6:14, after witnessing the feeding of the 5,000, they admitted that he was, in fact, someone special, “When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” But, the very next day, they seemed to have totally forgotten their profession of who He was. They acted like the previous day’s events had no value and demanded more evidence that He was, indeed, from God.
We may be appalled at their apparent shortsightedness, but we do not have to look far in the Word to find they were not alone in asking for more proof. In Mat. 12:38, the Pharisees and teachers did the same, “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, ‘Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.’” In Joh. 2:18, God’s chosen people asked for the same, “So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” The recipients of the fish and loaves of bread may have had their doubts, as did the Jews and the Pharisees, but even they were not alone in their doubt.
There were people much closer to Jesus who were skeptical. Take the example of Peter. The only mortal to ever have walked on water and who had seen all the miracles up to the capture of Jesus denied Him three times. Why would he have done that if he was completely confident in who Christ was? Thomas was another case where Jesus was asked to prove his identity. What we learn from the text is that there are some who request evidence and will believe when presented with it. But there are others who, no matter the weight, quality, or volume of evidence presented to them, will simply refuse to believe.
Remember this lesson when people ask you to prove that Jesus is real. Some will listen, but others are only trying to trip you up, and no matter what evidence you provide, they will scoff at it and call you delusional. Like the people in Joh. 6:30, they will never believe, and quite honestly, some could not due to the action of God. In Rom. 1:24,26 and 28, Paul has three dire words to say of those who willfully live contrary to His Word, “…He gave them up.” Sadly, they will never listen to what you have to say and will reject any evidence that does not support their chosen, sinful lifestyle.
If people who were privy to the actual miracles of Jesus could not overcome their skepticism, how would souls so far removed from it accept the proof? And that, brothers and sisters, says something about us. We know there are eyewitness textual accounts and archeological evidence to support our beliefs, but we do not need them because we have faith. We believe because, in our hearts, we know He is both real and the Son of God. We will continue to press those skeptics to consent to the truth of Christ while never hesitating ourselves. Sadly, despite our best efforts, some will never believe.
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