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days their food was spent。 Jesus would not send them away hungry； and He called upon His disciples to give them food。 Again the disciples revealed their unbelief。 At Bethsaida they had seen how； with Christ's blessing； their little store availed for the feeding of the multitude； yet they did not now bring forward their all； trusting His power to multiply it for the hungry crowds。 Moreover； those whom He fed at Bethsaida were Jews； these were Gentiles and heathen。 Jewish prejudice was still strong in the hearts of the disciples； and they answered Jesus； 〃Whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness？〃 But obedient to His word they brought Him what they had；seven loaves and two fishes。 The multitude were fed； seven large baskets of fragments remaining。 Four thousand men； besides women and children； were thus refreshed； and Jesus sent them away with glad and grateful hearts。
Then taking a boat with His disciples； He crossed the lake to Magdala； at the southern end of the plain of Gennesaret。 In the border of Tyre and Sidon His spirit had been refreshed by the confiding trust of the Syrophoenician woman。 The heathen people of Decapolis had received Him with gladness。 Now as He landed once more in Galilee； where His power had been most strikingly manifested； where most of His works of mercy had been performed； and His teaching given； He was met with contemptuous unbelief。
A deputation of Pharisees had been joined by representatives from the rich and lordly Sadducees； the party of the priests； the skeptics and aristocracy of the nation。 The two sects had been at bitter enmity。 The Sadducees courted the favor of the ruling power in order to maintain their own position and authority。 The Pharisees； on the other hand； fostered the popular hatred against the Romans； longing for the time when they could throw off the yoke of the conqueror。 But Pharisee and Sadducee now united against Christ。 Like seeks like； and evil； wherever it exists； leagues with evil for the destruction of the good。
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Now the Pharisees and Sadducees came to Christ； asking for a sign from heaven。 When in the days of Joshua Israel went out to battle with the Canaanites at Bethhoron； the sun had stood still at the leader's command until victory was gained； and many similar wonders had been manifest in their history。 Some such sign was demanded of Jesus。 But these signs were not what the Jews needed。 No mere external evidence could benefit them。 What they needed was not intellectual enlightenment； but spiritual renovation。
〃O ye hypocrites；〃 said Jesus； 〃ye can discern the face of the sky；〃by studying the sky they could foretell the weather；〃but can ye not discern the signs of the times？〃 Christ's own words； spoken with the power of the Holy Spirit that convicted them of sin； were the sign that God had given for their salvation。 And signs direct from heaven had been given to attest the mission of Christ。 The song of the angels to the shepherds； the star that guided the wise men； the dove and the voice from heaven at His baptism； were witnesses for Him。
〃And He sighed deeply in His spirit； and saith； Why doth this generation seek after a sign？〃 〃There shall no sign be given unto it； but the sign of the prophet Jonas。〃 As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale； Christ was to be the same time 〃in the heart of the earth。〃 And as the preaching of Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites； so Christ's preaching was a sign to His generation。 But what a contrast in the reception of the word！ The people of the great heathen city trembled as they heard the warning from God。 Kings and nobles humbled themselves； the high and the lowly together cried to the God of heaven； and His mercy was granted unto them。 〃The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation；〃 Christ had said； 〃and shall condemn it： because they repented at the preaching of Jonas； and； behold； a greater than Jonas is here。〃 Matt。 12：40； 41。
Every miracle that Christ performed was a sign of His divinity。 He was doing the very work that had been foretold of the Messiah； but to the Pharisees these works of mercy were a positive offense。 The Jewish leaders looked with heartless indifference on human suffering。 In many cases their selfishness and oppression had caused the affliction that Christ relieved。 Thus His miracles were to them a reproach。
That which led the Jews to reject the Saviour's work was the highest evidence of His divine character。 The greatest significance of His miracles is seen in the fact that they were for the blessing of humanity。
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The highest evidence that He came from God is that His life revealed the character of God。 He did the works and spoke the words of God。 Such a life is the greatest of all miracles。
When the message of truth is presented in our day； there are many who； like the Jews； cry； Show us a sign。 Work us a miracle。 Christ wrought no miracle at the demand of the Pharisees。 He wrought no miracle in the wilderness in answer to Satan's insinuations。 He does not impart to us power to vindicate ourselves or to satisfy the demands of unbelief and pride。 But the gospel is not without a sign of its divine origin。 Is it not a miracle that we can break from the bondage of Satan？ Enmity against Satan is not natural to the human heart； it is implanted by the grace of God。 When one who has been controlled by a stubborn； wayward will is set free； and yields himself wholeheartedly to the drawing of God's heavenly agencies； a miracle is wrought； so also when a man who has been under strong delusion comes to understand moral truth。 Every time a soul is converted； and learns to love God and keep His commandments； the promise of God is fulfilled； 〃A new heart also will I give you； and a new spirit will I put within you。〃 Ezek。 36：26。 The change in human hearts； the transformation of human characters； is a miracle that reveals an ever…living Saviour； working to rescue souls。 A consistent life in Christ is a great miracle。 In the preaching of the word of God； the sign that should be manifest now and always is the presence of the Holy Spirit； to make the word a regenerating power to those that hear。 This is God's witness before the world to the divine mission of His Son。
Those who desired a sign from Jesus had so hardened their hearts in unbelief that they did not discern in His character the likeness of God。 They would not see that His mission was in fulfillment of the Scriptures。 In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus； Jesus said to the Pharisees； 〃If they hear not Moses and the prophets； neither will they be persuaded； though one rose from the dead。〃 Luke 16：31。 No sign that could be given in heaven or earth would benefit them。
Jesus 〃sighed deeply in His spirit；〃 and； turning from the group of cavilers； re…entered the boat with His disciples。 In sorrowful silence they again crossed the lake。 They did not； however； return to the place they had left； but directed their course toward Bethsaida； near where the five thousand had been fed。 Upon reaching the farth