“Show us a sign!” That’s what the Pharisees asked of Jesus in verse 11. They were putting Him to the test, trying to see if He really was a prophet, if He really could do the kinds of amazing things that Elijah and Elisha had done in Old Testament times. But no matter how many people He had healed and no matter how many demons He had cast out, they were never satisfied. Maybe that’s why Jesus said that no sign would be given to them (verse 12) – nothing He could do would ever convince them that He really was the Messiah.

But were His disciples any more faithful? For they had personally witnessed so many of His miracles. In fact, back in chapter 6, they had participated in His miraculous feeding of 5000 families by handing out the bread and fish that He had multiplied. Each of them had even carried away a basketful of leftovers, which provided a lasting reminder of His power to provide for their every need.

And yet in verse 4, the disciples looked at Jesus and wondered if anyone could feed yet another hungry crowd that gathered around them. Why didn’t they expect Him to do once again what they had already seen Him do?

Well, why don’t we? After all, how many of our own prayers has Jesus answered throughout our lives? In fact, during this Thanksgiving season, don’t we celebrate all the many ways in which Jesus has blessed us over the last year? But when the next problem emerges, when the next need arises, do we really trust Jesus to take care of us? Or do we once again descend into worry or even anxiety?

Well, the good news is that Jesus isn’t just the miracle-working prophet that the Pharisees wanted to see. And He isn’t just the powerful Messiah the disciples wanted to follow. No, much of chapters 7 and 8 demonstrate that He is the One Who Isaiah said would come. For when He cast the demon out of a girl in the region of Tyre, He turned Lebanon into a fruitful field (Mark 7: 24-30; see Isaiah 29:17). And He is the One Who went on to cause the deaf to hear the words of a book (Mark 7:32-37; see Isaiah 29:18).

Yes, by healing and feeding great crowds of people, He caused the afflicted to “increase their gladness” and the needy of mankind to “rejoice” (Isaiah 29:19). But at the same time, He was able to “cut off” the “ruthless” and the “scorners” like the Pharisees, those who tried to ensnare Him with meaningless arguments (Isaiah 29:20-21). And He could do all these things because He is none other than the Lord, the Holy One of Israel whose coming Isaiah foretold.

So, will we trust Him today, not only to provide for us but to protect us, to be our Savior and our King? Or in our faithlessness, will we go on asking for yet another miracle, yet another sign?

Mark 8:1-13 (NASB)

In those days again, when there was a great multitude and they had nothing to eat, He called His disciples and said to them,
2 “I feel compassion for the multitude because they have remained with Me now three days, and have nothing to eat;
3 and if I send them away hungry to their home, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a distance.”
4 And His disciples answered Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough to satisfy these men with bread here in a desolate place?”
5 And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.”
6 And He directed the multitude to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the multitude.
7 They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well.
8 And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces.
9 And about four thousand were there; and He sent them away.
10 And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples, and came to the district of Dalmanutha.
11 And the Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him.
12 And sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”
13 And leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side.