A Demand for a Sign (8:11–13)

I.The religious authorities

11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him.

A. Why did the Pharisees demanded a sign from Jesus?

That they simply wanted to see another miracle is not convincing. Jesus’ ability to perform miracles was not in question. The Pharisees objected to the implications of what he had just done.

When Jesus fed the five thousand and the four thousand Jewish men, there was no objection from the Pharisees. They objected to the people whom he fed.

The phrase sign from heaven may mean that they expected a miracle from heaven, not the earthly miracles Jesus had been performing. If they had just heard about the miraculous multiplication of the bread and fish, perhaps they wanted Jesus to bring down manna from heaven.

B. In their view of the world.

God would bless those Gentiles who converted to Judaism and obeyed the law. Similarly, the Gentiles who did not come to terms with God’s law could expect nothing but wrath and destruction. From their point of view Jesus was taking the children’s bread and tossing it to their dogs.

It was inconceivable to them that God would treat uncircumcised people just like the children of the covenant. They found the implications of this miracle as disturbing as anything else Jesus had done. So they demanded a sign from heaven because they wanted to examine his credentials and debate his authorization for something they found offensive.

II. Jesus sighed deeply

12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”

A. Our Lord’s response was one of deep grief and disappointment.

How tragic that the religious leaders of God’s chosen people should be so hardhearted and spiritually blind!

The first part of the verse provides another example of Mark’s willingness to describe candidly Jesus’ emotions. The word may refer to anger or to spiritual intensity.

B. Jesus would not perform signs or miracles on demand.

The result then is an emphatic denial of the request for a sign. Perhaps Jesus deliberately made an incomplete statement in order to let his hearers decide for themselves whether a sign should be given.

Jesus was already showing them who he was and that God was working through him. Therefore, Jesus refused their request for a sign and noted that they were placing inappropriate demands on God’s work, dictating what it should look like by seeking a specific indicator. The generation that saw Jesus had enough evidence to believe in him as the Messiah, the Son of God. To ask for more evidence was to manifest their unbelief.

III. Jesus’ departure.

13 And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side.

A. Jesus’ indignation was evident by His abrupt departure.

Almost certainly Mark saw in Jesus’ departure an indication of his displeasure toward the Pharisees and possibly a rejection of Judaism as the divinely approved religion.

Jesus’ rapid departure is a signal of his great indignation for these leaders. There are times when talk is useless.

B. Jesus would not bless unbelief.

He could do nothing to convince these people, so he left them to their unbelief and blindness.

True faith takes God at His Word and is satisfied with the inward witness of the Spirit.