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Humble Hero
The True Evidence That Christ Came From God
What led the Jews to reject the Savior was the highest evidence of
His divine character: His miracles were for the blessing of humanity.
His life revealed the character of God. He did the works and spoke
the words of God. A life such as this is the greatest of all miracles.
Many in our day, like the Jews, say, “Show us a sign; work
a miracle.” Christ does not grant us power to prove our claims or
satisfy the demands of unbelief and pride. But is it not a miracle
that we can break from the bondage of Satan? Opposition to 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 yields to the gentle pull of God’s heavenly agencies, a miracle
has happened. So also when someone who has been under strong
delusion comes to understand moral truth. The change in human
hearts, the transformation of human characters, is a miracle that
reveals an ever-living Savior. In preaching the Word of God, the
sign that should be evident now and always is the presence of the
Holy Spirit, to make the Word a renewing power to those who hear.
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The people who asked for a sign from Jesus had hardened their
hearts. They refused to see that His mission fulfilled the Scriptures.
“If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be
persuaded though one rise from the dead.”
Luke 16:31
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Turning from the group of critics, Jesus got into the boat with His
disciples. In sorrowful silence, they again crossed the lake. When
they reached the other side, Jesus said, “Take heed and beware of
the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” The Jews had been
taught to regard leaven as a symbol of sin. In leaving Magdala so
suddenly, the disciples had forgotten to take bread. They understood
Christ to be warning them not to buy bread from a Pharisee or Sad-
ducee. Their lack of spiritual insight often led them to misunderstand
His words.
Now Jesus reprimanded them for thinking that, in that solemn
warning, He who had fed thousands with a few fish and barley loaves
could have referred to merely temporal food. There was danger that
the crafty reasoning of the Pharisees and Sadducees would leaven
His disciples with unbelief.