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Chapter 44—The True Sign
This chapter is based on
Matthew 15:29-39
;
16:1-12
;
Mark 7:31-37
;
8:1-21
.
In Decapolis, where the demoniacs of Gergesa had been healed,
the people had constrained Jesus to depart. But they had listened to
the messengers He left behind. As He came again into that region, a
crowd gathered, and a deaf, stammering man was brought to Him.
Taking him apart from the multitude, Jesus put His fingers in his ears
and touched his tongue. He sighed at thought of the ears that would
not be open to the truth, the tongues that refused to acknowledge
the Redeemer. At the word, “Be opened,” the man’s speech was
restored.
Jesus went up into a mountain, and there the multitude flocked
to Him, bringing their sick and lame. He healed them all; and the
people, heathen as they were, glorified the God of Israel. For three
days they thronged about the Saviour, sleeping at night in the open
air, and through the day pressing to hear the words of Christ and see
His works.
At the end of three days their food was spent. Jesus would not
send them away hungry, and He called on His disciples to give them
food. At Bethsaida they had seen how their little store availed for
feeding the multitude; yet they did not now bring forward their all,
trusting His power to multiply it for the hungry crowds. Again the
disciples revealed their unbelief. Those He fed at Bethsaida were
Jews; these were Gentiles and heathen. Jewish prejudice was still
strong in the hearts of the disciples. “Where are we to get bread
enough in the desert to feed so great a crowd?” RSV.
But obedient to His word they brought Him what they had—
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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.
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