A Sign Demanded and Denied: Mark 8:10-13

Introduce

Just last week you considered another of Jesus’s grand miracles. He feed over 4,000 people; many of them were likely gentiles. This story reminded you that Jesus satisfies starving souls. Our story this morning tells of what happened after Jesus left this satisfied crowd. It answers the vital question that seems to be at the heart of Mark’s Gospel: How should you respond to Jesus? Listen to how the story answers this question as I retell and explain it.

Retell

To start, listen to how the Savior disembarks: Mark 8:10

After satisfying and sending away the crowd, Jesus quickly got into the boat with the twelve. The term “immediately” is used by Mark often. He uses it to describe the urgent progress of Jesus’s ministry. They crossed to the west side of the Sea of Galilee, which is slightly smaller than Lake Truman. They went to the district of Dalmanutha. This region is where they disembarked, or landed. Dalmanutha, sometimes called Magadan, is an area on the west side of the Sea of Galilee near the southern end of the plain of Gennesaret. Jesus had performed several miracles in this plain, including the exorcism of the man with legion and the healing of many sick. By returning to the west side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus again entered a predominately Jewish region.

Next, listen to how a sign is demanded: Mark 8:11

The Pharisees and, according to Matthew, the Sadducees came to Jesus. These two groups hated each other, which highlights the level of mutual disdain they had for Jesus. They didn’t come to have a pleasant cup of coffee and conversation with Jesus. They came to verbally knockout the Lord Jesus. Their tactic was to demand a sign from heaven. They wanted sign identical with the Mana or fire from heaven not ones like it.

Their ill motives are revealed when Mark records that they desired “to test Him.” The greek word could also be rendered tempt. Their behavior is similar to when Israel tested the Lord in spite of the many signs He had given them (Deut 1:35; 32:5, 20; Psalm 95:1-10). The don’t have a mind to understand, ears to hear, or eyes to see (Deut 29:4; Mk 4:10-12; 7:31-37). However, both Israel of old and the Pharisees were only imitating their father the Devil, who had tempted the Lord after His baptism.

Like Israel had seen God’s miracles in Egypt, the Pharisees had heard and seen Jesus perform many signs and miracles. They include His healing the sick, freeing the demon-possessed, cleansing the unclean, raising the dead, feeding the hungry, empowering the weak, forgiving the sinner, and walking on water. Their request for a sign from Heaven from Jesus, would be similar to us asking a pitcher in the 9th inning of a perfect game to prove he can pitch, or a mother to prove she had children while they stand right next to her. Their questions reveals more about the askers than the one asked

Now, listen to how a sign is denied: Mark 8:12

In hearing their demands, Jesus “sighed deeply in his spirit.” As a man, God the Son incarnate had deep feelings resulting from such dense and hate-filled questions. The hardness of their hearts frustrated and likely saddened our Lord. Pharisees treat Jesus like Israel treated Moses in the wilderness. Jesus’s response is akin to Yahweh’s response of disgust and just wrath toward Israel after the incident of the golden calf. Look at verse 12. Jesus said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given.” Matthew gives a little more detail stating that they would only get the sign of Jonah, namely the death and resurrection of Christ. This sign will prove their foolishness and will harden many of them even more.

Within Mark Jesus exclusively talks about the generation of His day negatively (Mark 8:12, 39; 9:19). Such a negative connotation is also found in the Old Testament describing unbelieving Israel (Deut 32:5, 20; Ps 95:10). Jesus follows his question with an oath of judgment. Their demand for a sign is reflective of their unbelief.

The response of the Lord is leaving them to the consequence of their hard hearts. The same signs that softened the hearts of others hardened theirs. They hardened their hearts against the Messiah, Yahweh the Son incarnate, therefore they would not receive another sign of their desire or salvation. They would not enter His rest. Testing the Lord is like playing fire, your bound to get burnt.

To end the story, listen to how the Savior departs: Mark 8:13

After responding to the Pharisees, Jesus got into the boat with the twelve and left. They went to the other side. This is a be careful what you wish for type of situation. The Pharisees wished Jesus would be gone, and got what they thought they wanted. However, in doing this they also were left the hardness of their hearts and the eternal consequences of the sin. They didn’t want Jesus as Savior, so instead they got Him as judge.

Transition

You have listened to how the Savior disembarked, the sign was demanded, the sign was denied, and the Savior departed. Have you figured out the answer to the question I asked at the beginning: How should you respond to Jesus? The story by way of the negative example of the Pharisees teaches that you should respond to Jesus with faith. The big idea is respond to Jesus with faith. Now for applications sake consider three ways you shouldn’t respond to Jesus.

Apply

1. Respond to Jesus with faith, not debate

When I say debate, I’m not talking a formal debate with rules in which arguments are made and examined. I’m talking more about the type of debate that happened between the two presidential candidates this last week. The debate of the Pharisees with Jesus was from their standpoint laced with hate and not an honest search for the truth. 

Hatred for Jesus is a dangerous thing. A culture, society, or nation that hates Jesus and His word is setting itself up for hurt. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the only way to commune with and please God. The culture that rejects God, His Son, and His Law, is bound for self-destruction and judgement. God and His Son are inscrutable and it is foolish to debate them. 

Unbeliever, there is something fundamentally different between asking questions about Jesus and trying to undermine Him with high-handed debate. Jesus is God the Son Incarnate. He confirmed this fact with His righteousness, words, miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension. He is good, true, and worthy of faith. Don’t debate Him or argue with Him, or His Word. Instead, believe the Gospel, laying your questions at His feet and seeking answers from His Word. Just because you have questions doesn’t mean you can’t trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation. Seek Him and answers in faith. He will surely save you and give you the answers you need. 

Christ often refused to debate the Pharisees on their own terms. He unveiled the motives of their hearts. He answered more fundamental questions. Debate the Son and you're bound to get answers to questions you should ask rather than the ones you did ask. 

Respond to Jesus with faith not debate.

2. Respond to Jesus with faith, not doubt

Doubt in this instance isn’t struggling to believe the truth. Rather it is a willful unbelief in what is patently, obviously, and demonstrably true. 

It is okay to have questions or to struggle. Yet, unbeliever, you are not struggling with unbelief you are giving into it. Such unbelief is a grave offense and sin. You must repent of your unbelief and believe on Jesus for salvation and the forgiveness of sins. 

Faith consists of personal knowledge of, trust in, and rest on Christ (person and work) for the remission of sins, imputed righteousness, and eternal life. Saving faith includes the renouncing of oneself as the source of salvation (Phil 3:9), casting oneself Christ person (Song of Sol 8:5; Jn 3:23) and work (Gal 6:14; 3:25), and applying or receiving of Christ to oneself (Jn 1:12).

Christian, you mustn’t give into the temptation of unbelief. Unbelief leads to sin and despair. Jesus is who He said He was. He did what He said He would do. He was born of the virgin. He lived in perfect righteousness. He died satisfying the justice of God. He rose as testimony of God’s acceptance of His sacrifice. He ascended to God’s right hand. He presently reigns over and intercedes for His people. He sent and sends His Holy Spirit to seal, equip, and comfort them. He will return. He is with you even now in the person of the Spirit that resides in you and fellow believers. You are not alone. Your troubles may overwhelm you, but not Him. You need Jesus. The world needs Jesus. Show them He is worthy of trust by trusting in Him. 

3. Respond to Jesus with faith, not detachment

Christ is not detached. He cares about unbelief and the unbeliever. He cares for their soul and their hardness of heart effects Him to the very depths of His soul. His mixture of frustration and sadness rightly came out in a sigh. It, also, followed with truth. Truth is not opposed to grace or love. You too should care deeply about unbelief and you should should tell the truth.

Care about your lost family members. Their unbelief should make you sigh. Let your heart be troubled by their unbelief. May you be moved to pray for them and share the gospel with them. 

Care about the unbelief those in leadership of our community, state, and nation. They need Jesus more than everything. Even those you despise and disagree with over political issues desperately need Jesus. Their hardness of heart should frustrate and sadden us. Pray for them. 

 Unbeliever, Jesus and I care about your unbelief. It is frustrating and saddening. You walk on the road to destruction. A road I don’t desire you to go down. If only you turn to Christ as your savior, then you will not perish. Will you trust in the Lord Jesus today? 

Conclude

So what have you listened to day? You have listened to how the Savior disembarked, the sign was demanded, the sign was denied, and the Savior departed. How should you respond to Jesus according to the story? Respond to Jesus with faith not debate, doubt, or detachment. Yes, that is my final charge, respond to Jesus with faith. Let us go to Him now in prayer.