A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.
Matthew 16:4 (NIV)

Early in my life I worked for many years in Christian bookstores hawking Christian books, music, and decorative trinkets. Along the line, I had the opportunity to observe how the Christian publishing, recording, and marketing world worked. In those days, Colorado Springs, Colorado was the hotbed of Christian organizations. In recent years, Nashville has become the hub for the hottest Christian authors, podcasters, and recording artists. It is a business. I learned that there is a way the game is played. For a period of time I had a cheap seat from where I got to observe it.

Along my chapter-a-day journey over the years, I’ve learned that spiritual lessons are found in Jesus’ actions as well as His words.

In yesterday’s post, I noted that the “big dogs” from Jerusalem had been dispatched to check out Jesus. Jerusalem was the Colorado Springs or Nashville of Judaism in that day. Jerusalem was a “Who’s Who” of the powerful movers and shakers in the Jewish establishment. Jerusalem had the best teachers, like a famous dude named Gamaliel. In fact, among Gamaliel’s prize students is an up-and-coming young prospect named Saul of Tarsus. Saul is from a wealthy and prominent Greek family who are Roman citizens. Impressive. Jerusalem is where it’s at for anyone wanting to be anyone as a famous teacher in Judaism.

Jesus wasn’t there. Jesus chose to focus His ministry in rural areas around the Sea of Galilee. He only went to Jerusalem on pilgrimages during festivals. His disciples weren’t well-educated, wealthy, or impressive. But Jesus was making big waves in the backwaters of Galilee, so the powerful establishment had to send a scouting party to check Him out. Yesterday they criticized Jesus for not toeing the line of tradition. He called them hypocrites.

In today’s chapter, they purposefully “test” Jesus. After-all, the word that had reached Jerusalem was all about Jesus performing miracles, healing the sick, and raising the dead. They came for The Show. The corporate execs back at the Home Office expect a full report on whether this podunk preacher is the real deal. Do they fast-track Him for stardom and offer Him a contract? Is He a threat that needs to be dealt with? They have an establishment to run and it runs a certain way.

So, the scouts “test” Jesus and ask for a “sign.” They want to see a miracle. They want to know if the stories are true. They have reports to file. The moguls back at the Temple will demand an accounting.

Jesus simply refuses. He walks away.

Later in the chapter, Jesus asks His disciples what “everyone” is saying about Him. The boys report that some were saying He was John the Baptist risen from the dead (that was Herod’s view). Others said that He was Elijah returned to earth (Elijah had been taken up to heaven in a tornado, and Malachi famously prophesied his return someday). Notice that John the Baptist seemed to have more PR “cred” with the masses and the establishment than Jesus at this point. Jesus was still, in many ways, a complete unknown.

Jesus tells his rag-tag group of nobody disciples to be wary and critical of the big dogs from Jerusalem, their establishment, and the games they play for power, prestige, wealth, and influence. God’s ways are not their ways. They want a “show,” Jesus said, but the only show He’s going to give them is to spend three days in the grave (like Jonah in the belly of a fish) and then showing up very much alive.

In the quiet this morning, I find myself once again blown away by the contrast Jesus purposefully created by what He did, where He hung out, who He chose as His disciples, and the kingdom of religion of His day. He was anti-establishment. He consciously chose to ignore those who could hand Him popularity, fame, and a whole new market for His teaching and miraculous ministry tours. In yesterday’s chapter, when the Big Dogs showed up, Jesus took His disciples and went north, further away from Jerusalem to Tyre and Sidon, a non-Jewish region full of heathens where the Jews would never follow.

The further I get in my life journey, the more convinced I’ve become that God’s plans and purposes don’t look anything like what the world tells me I should be chasing after. Jesus’ response to the power brokers of His day was to ignore, walk away, and then remind His followers that being His disciple was not a path to riches and fame, but humility, suffering, and death.

Am I willing to follow Jesus as He simply ignores the world and walks away?

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.