Seeking the Spectactular

Mark 8:11-12
“The more spectacular encounters with God generally go along with the
less mature levels of spiritual life. (Yet the absence of spectacular
events must not be taken as indicating great spiritual development.
Such an absence is also consistent with utter deadness.) It is well
that this should be so. The spectacular encounters are obscure in
their content and meaning, perhaps for our protection.
When children SEEK the spectacular, it is because of childness in
their personality. Children love the spectacular and show themselves
as children by actively seeking it out, running heedlessly after it.
It may sometimes be given by God–it may be necessary–because of our
denseness or our hardheartedness. However, it is never to be taken as
a mark of spiritual adulthood or superiority.”
 
Mark 8:11-12
“Although Jesus gladly used the signs of healing and feeding and later
confirmed the word of the disciples with signs, he was not glad in
this scene. He “sighed deeply.” The pharisees were seeking the
spectacular. What do you think Jesus would have preferred they
sought?”
 
Taken from Hearing God through the year by Dallas Willard. p. 143