What do We Want? The Power or the Person of Christ?

By David Hobbs

We have a lot of outside speakers come to our church. We are blessed with many big names and powerful ministries. Next week Paul Keith Davis, JoAnn Mcfatter, and Chuck Pierce are coming. It got me to thinking: What are we really looking for when an outside speaker comes to our church? What if the speaker came with a good message, which he delivered, then left? Would we be satisfied? I doubt it. For an outside speaker to be worth his honorarium and our attention, the message is expected, but we also want a demonstration of the supernatural. This most commonly means healing or prophecy (a prayer line with people slain in the Spirit is good too). It’s fine if you can raise someone from the dead, but that’s not required. But we’ve gotta see some people healed or hear some right-on, spine tingling, goose bump-inducing prophecies or we’ll feel we haven’t gotten our money’s worth. I mean, after all, we can always get a good message from our pastor, right!
That’s what makes Mary’s behavior in Luke 10:39 so amazing. She was sitting at Jesus’ feet, paying rapt attention to everything He said. But He wasn’t healing anybody or doing any miracles. He was just speaking, and we don’t even know what He was speaking about! But she was in His presence, where, according to Psalm 16, there is fullness of joy. And Jesus told Martha that what Mary had--being in His presence--was the best thing, and it would not be taken away from her (v. 42).
What if a speaker came just bringing the presence of Jesus—no healings, no prophecy, no manifestations of supernatural power—just the presence of the Lord? Would we be happy, or would we feel short-changed?
Reading through the Gospels, who were the ones always seeking the miraculous healings and divine manifestations anyway? How about Herod in Luke 23:8—“[F]or a long time he had been wanting to see [Jesus]. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle.” Or the Scribes and Pharisees in Mt.12:38—“Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, ‘Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.’” In fact, Jesus rebuked all the Jews in John 4:48—“Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders… you will never believe.” Even at the cross, as Jesus was dying right in front of them and shedding His blood for the whole world, what were the soldiers most interested in? They were hoping to see something supernatural! “‘Listen, he’s calling Elijah.’… ‘Leave him alone now. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.’ (Mark 15:35-36)”
I’ll never forget when missionary David Hogan came to our church about 10 years ago and the mayhem that ensued as people showedup from all over the Western U.S. hoping to see him raise someone from the dead like he’s done in Mexico. It was crazy, probably somewhat like when Jesus came to town.
So who do we identify with and whose behavior do we emulate: Jesus’ followers like Mary who were interested in Him? Or the Scribes, Pharisees, Herod and others whose only interest in Jesus was seeing something miraculous happen?
The gawkers actually hindered the miraculous moving of the Holy Spirit. Don’t believe me? Then why, when Jesus was about to have a really supernatural experience like His transfiguration, or do a miraculous work like raising the 12 year old girl from the dead, did He exclude everybody else and only allow His top 3 disciples to be present? (Mt. 17:1; Mk. 5:37, 40)
Let's examine our own hearts. Are we content to be with Jesus? Or do we have that restless spirit that’s always running after the latest experience, always seeking a new spiritual thrill? Is our concept of God like a trained dog on a leash that we’re always hoping to see perform some new trick? Or do we long to be in His presence even if He does nothing?