Digging Deeper: Cynicism Hardens Hearts
6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?
Mark 2:6-8 (ESV)
CYNICISM HARDENS HEARTS
Have you ever given your all to something, just for others to not approve? Maybe it was the group project in high school or the home renovation during lockdown. You put in hard work, sweat, tears, money… all for somebody to critique your work. It can be a dejecting feeling.
In this story the friends worked so hard to get this man to Jesus. Climbing the roof, tying rope to a stretcher, lifting him up, tearing off sticks, clay and straw, lowering him down (probably on top of other people), all for the scribes and religious leaders to question what Jesus had done. They had faith that Jesus could heal this man, but Jesus did the harder thing and forgave his sins.
This made the scribes angry and Jesus (being omniscient) knew that in their hearts they were questioning him… so he called them out. They accused Jesus of blasphemy. They saw the faith of others, but instead of encouraging them in their own belief, they questioned Jesus and his intentions.
It’s easy to read a story like this and want to assume the friend role. You may think “I’m willing to do Whatever It Takes to get my friends to Jesus,” but unfortunately most of us play the role of the scribes. When our family member who seems “too far gone” begins to trust in Jesus, do we cheer them on or call them out? When we know our co-worker had a crazy weekend making bad choices, but raises their hand or comes down front on a Sunday, do we see their past sin, or do we see the power of the Savior?
Today we are marked by cynicism. The world has made us hard. We choose to blame it on our personalities, our wiring, our enneagram number, or so many other things. I wonder if the biggest miracle that day didn’t happen. For Jesus, giving a man the ability to walk was easy. Forgiving the sins of a heart that was ready to receive God’s grace was easy. I wonder if the biggest miracle was missed that day: breaking through the cynical, hardened hearts of the scribes.
For you today, will you ask God to soften your heart? Whether it’s to the relationships around you, the circumstances you’re going through, or the way you view God himself… we need soft hearts to hear clearly from God.
Sellers Hickman serves as College Pastor at NorthStar Church and loves cheering on his Ole Miss Rebels. He and his wife, Hannah, live in Dallas, Ga. with their one year old, Emery. He also serves as the chaplain for the KSU Men’s Basketball team.