Why does this generation seek a sign?
Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.
We do not set the criteria necessary for Jesus to prove himself. Jesus does reveal himself to the world. He acts so that we might believe. But he does not engage in wish fulfillment to that end. We can't say that we will believe if we get the car or the raise or whatever else we want from him.
Becoming so focused on our own terms and conditions causes us to miss the significance of the real ways in which Jesus reveals himself. Pre-eminent among these are his preaching and his death and resurrection. Even his preaching is enough to reveal him. No one has ever spoken like this man. His words cut to the heart. His words are Spirit and life. He alone has the words of eternal life.
In making demands of Jesus we set ourselves up to miss the testimony of his resurrection. We look away at the first signs of trouble. We turn our backs on pain assuming that this couldn't be related to the self-revelation of Jesus. After all, the signs we desire have no trace of pain. Yet it is first and foremost by transforming pain and death into new life that Jesus reveals himself to the world.
Only when we are willing to put aside our own desire for signs can we learn true wisdom.
Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters,
when you encounter various trials,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
And let perseverance be perfect,
so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
True wisdom does not guarantee we won't suffer. It most certainly assures us that we will. Yet wisdom alone gives true meaning to that suffering. Wisdom alone shows how suffering can lead beyond itself to perfection. In order to seek this wisdom from God we can't allow the doubts that arise from selfish ambition to influence us. Wisdom comes from truly witnessing the resurrection of Christ. It comes from turning away from our selfishness and doubts and toward the cross.
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I hold to your promise.
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