Anchor My Faith

A Demand for More Evidence

Scripture: Matthew 15:39, 16:1-4; Mark 8:10, 12

We ended the previous lesson with the feeding of the 4,000 plus women and children. ^{Mt 15:39} “And after sending away the crowds,” the disciples apparently gathered up the seven baskets of leftover food. Then ^{Mk 8:10} “[Jesus] immediately got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha, ^{Mt 15:39} to the region of Magadan.”

Mark reported that Jesus and the disciples got into the boat and travel west across the Sea of Galilee to the district of Dalmanutha. Matthew reported that they went to the “region of Magadan” or possibly Magdala. These two names may represent the same place, or they may have been so close together that the shore where Jesus landed may have belonged to either village. Today Dalmanutha is an unidentified place near the sea of Galilee and near Magadan.

Once they arrive, ^{Mt 16:1} “the Pharisees and Sadducees came, to test him, they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.” The Pharisees and Sadducees were often bitter enemies, but they saw Jesus as a threat to their power and leadership and joined forces against him. They came to Jesus, not to learn more to enhance their faith, but to test him, to try to get him to say or do something they could use against him.

^{Mt 16:2} “[Jesus] answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ ³ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”’

There seem to be certain weather conditions the Pharisees use to predict the coming weather. If the sky is red in the evening then it will be fair weather in the morning, but if the sky is red in the morning then a storm is approaching. These are signs some people still use today. Jesus then tells them that his miracles and the state of affairs in Judea are signs or indications by which they should judge but they cannot.

Because of their lack of understanding, ^{Mk 8:12} “[Jesus] sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” ^{Mt 16:4} An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”’

Because of their underlying attitude and driving demand for a sign, Jesus sighed deeply in his spirit and asked why they needed a sign. If they had an open heart to receive the divine demonstrations of Jesus authority, they would have more than enough evidence to see him as their Messiah.

Jesus describes them as evil and adulterous, seeking a sign not to increase their faith, but to find reason to discredit him and arrest him. The only sign given would be that of Jonah, who spent three days and three nights in the belly of a whale or big fish. Likewise, Jesus would spend three days and three nights in the grave.

Conclusion

If you use parts of days, and if Jesus was buried on Friday, stayed in the grave all day Saturday and then rose Sunday morning, you can count three days, but you only have two nights. Some say Jesus was crucified on Wednesday while others say it was on Thursday, so which day of the three was it? I have an opinion which I will share when we come to the resurrection of Jesus in our study.