In the Gospel today, the crowds witness Jesus driving out a demon from a man who was mute. This is an astonishing display of divine power far beyond the realm of the merely humanly possible. The miracles and teachings of Jesus were unlike anything these people had ever experienced. So how do the crowds react? With awe, reverence, gratitude, and praise? No. Some accuse him of being in league with the demons himself. Others demand further signs to prove his legitimacy. Despite the unspeakable power and love they have personally witnessed, they have closed their hearts to him. God himself has descended from the heavens to heal, comfort, and spend time with his beloved people. He has come into their very midst. But they have made themselves incapable of seeing him for what he truly is.
There is a song by singer/songwriter Nichole Nordeman, Wide Eyed, whose poetic lyrics speak eloquently to the depth of this tragedy:
Not so long ago, a man from Galilee
Fed thousands with His bread and His theology.
And the truth He spoke
Quickly became the joke
Of educated, self-inflated Pharisees like me.And they were wide eyed in disbelief and disillusion.
They were tongue tied, drawn by their conclusions.
Would I have turned and walked away
And laughed at what He had to say
And casually dismissed Him as a fraud,
Unaware that I was staring at the image of my God?
As we continue through Lent, it is worth taking some time to meditate on the Gospel readings from the perspective of an onlooker in the crowd. I often wonder whether I would have followed Christ. Would I have been able to see past my own narrow expectations? Would I have been able to let go of my pride and biases? Would I have followed him to the end? Or would I have turned and walked away?