Proof Or Love?

    As is usually the case with my quiet times, there are often words that jump out at me from the verses I read. Today it was ‘prove.’ 

    “Then the Jews demanded of him, ‘What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?’” John 2:18

    Jesus had just finished whipping the tar out of the merchants for selling animals for sacrifice within His Father’s Temple. There is a lot more behind all of that - the area they were set up in was where the gentiles’ were allowed to pray so to the Jews it was not really important, it wasn’t in the temple building… just within the outer walls, and it was necessary for them to provide a way for sojourners to purchase their sacrifices - but the authority of Jesus was being questioned instead of the Jewish misuse of His temple.

    Why do humans always need proof?

    My first thought is so that our pride is not pummeled by our mistaken belief in a truth that turns out to be false. So that we remain free of “blemish."

    Why is pride such a big deal to us? Why do we hate being wrong?

    Because it makes us feel foolish.

    Why do we feel foolish?

    When we do something in error, even the smallest thing, we cannot trust that another will not make fun of us, diminish us, or bring attention to our err. The blunder gives others the opportunity to scoff and belittle us so they can feel better about themselves. It could give them the chance to empathize and encourage us to try again but those instances seem far fewer than they should be.

    So, if people were more understanding and less self-promoting, we wouldn’t be so prideful?

    People wouldn’t need to see proof of our excellence if they were looking at our hearts and not the results, or lack there of. If we can trust each other with our faults and failures we can likely trust them more and with things of greater value to us. We could share our hearts without fear.

    Of all people to ask proof from, to ask the Son of God, the One who has never been wrong or had any reason to fear us, is ridiculous. He already knows us fully - our failures and successes - and still loves us. He has already given His heart to us and for us. He was the only One who could have made the call to overturn the tables. It should have been Jesus asking the Jews where their proof was for allowing their greed within the walls of His Father’s house.

    The next time we “need proof” of anything from someone, we might want to check our motives. Do they really need to prove anything to us or do we need to show more grace and understanding? Is proof more important than showing love? 

    Proof, pride, foolishness, faults, strengths, and hurt are all a part of life. 

    Love and trust are choices.