Basic HTML Version
True Sign
243
The True Evidence That Christ Came From God
That which led the Jews to reject the Saviour 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. Such a life is the greatest of all
miracles.
Many in our day, like the Jews, cry, Show us a sign; work a
miracle. Christ does not impart to us power to vindicate ourselves
or satisfy the demands of unbelief and pride. But is it not a miracle
that we can break from the bondage of Satan? Enmity against 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 himself to the drawing of God’s heavenly agencies, a
miracle is wrought. So also when a man 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 Saviour. In preaching 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.
Those who desired a sign from Jesus had hardened their hearts.
They would not see that His mission was in fulfillment of the Scrip-
tures. “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be
persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
Luke 16:31
.
[274]
Turning from the group of cavilers, Jesus reentered the boat
with His disciples. In sorrowful silence they again crossed the
lake. On reaching the farther side, Jesus said, “Take heed and
beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” The
Jews had been taught to regard leaven as a type of sin. In their
sudden departure from Magdala the disciples had forgotten to take
bread. They understood Christ as warning them not to buy bread of
a Pharisee or Sadducee. Their lack of spiritual insight often led to
misconception of His words.
Now Jesus reproved them for thinking that He who had fed
thousands with a few fishes and barley loaves could have referred in
that solemn warning to merely temporal food. There was danger that