True Sign
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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.”
Ezekiel 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 farther side, Jesus
said, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the
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Sadducees.” The Jews had been accustomed since the days of Moses
to put away leaven from their houses at the Passover season, and they
had thus been taught to regard it as a type of sin. Yet the disciples
failed to understand Jesus. In their sudden departure from Magdala
they had forgotten to take bread, and they had with them only one loaf.
To this circumstance they understood Christ to refer, warning them
not to buy bread of a Pharisee or a Sadducee. Their lack of faith and
spiritual insight had often led them to similar misconception of His
words. Now Jesus reproved them for thinking that He who had fed
thousands with a few fishes and barley loaves could in that solemn
warning have referred merely to temporal food. There was danger that
the crafty reasoning of the Pharisees and the Sadducees would leaven
His disciples with unbelief, causing them to think lightly of the works
of Christ.