Greetings, saints of Christ,
Today, let us reflect on the aftermath of Jesus feeding the 4,000:
Now about four thousand were there, and He sent them away.
— Mark 8:9
After Jesus preached to the crowd for three days and fed them until they were satisfied, He sent them away. Mark makes a point to mention the number of people—4,000. However, Matthew’s account clarifies that this number only included men, excluding women and children:
And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
— Matthew 15:38
It is therefore reasonable to believe that the total crowd could have been up to 16,000 people. This emphasizes the magnitude of the miracle that took place—feeding such a large crowd with only seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. This reminds us of the extraordinary scale of Jesus’ miracles. While He sometimes performed miracles privately for individuals, here we see a public demonstration witnessed by thousands.
And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples and came to the district of Dalmanutha.
And the Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him.
— Mark 8:10–11
After sending the people away, Jesus moved to another region where He encountered the Pharisees. Their true intentions were revealed—they weren’t sincerely seeking truth, but were testing Him, demanding a sign.
Their hearts were hardened. They were not open to being convinced by what Jesus had done; they came with predetermined rejection. This is crucial because it influences how Jesus responds.
And sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
— Mark 8:12
Jesus already knew the condition of their hearts. His deep sigh shows sorrow and disappointment, knowing their request did not come from faith but from unbelief.
It’s important to note that the Pharisees weren’t ignorant of the miracles Jesus had already performed. They must have heard about the feeding of the 4,000—news like that would spread quickly. But the fact that they still asked for a sign reveals their unbelief and bad intentions.
In Matthew’s parallel account, Jesus gives a fuller response:
But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’
And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’
Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?
— Matthew 16:2–3
Jesus points out that many signs had already been given, and the Pharisees should have recognized them. He then rebukes their ignorance and unbelief:
An evil and adulterous generation eagerly seeks for a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.
— Matthew 16:4
It’s easy to look down on the Pharisees, but their attitude is not foreign to our time. Many today ignore the clear evidence God has already provided in His Word and instead chase after new signs and wonders to validate their faith. This pursuit often reveals a deeper issue: unbelief.
Such unbelief is not new. In Scripture, when Israel abandoned God for idols, it was described as spiritual adultery. This is what Jesus was referring to when He called them an “adulterous generation.”
God has already revealed Himself fully—both through general revelation (creation) and special revelation (Scripture):
Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
— Romans 1:19-20
All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness,
so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.
— 2 Timothy 3:16–17
If someone looks at creation and the Scriptures and still insists on seeing more signs before believing, it reveals a heart of unbelief.
What they truly need is not more signs. What they need is regeneration—a new heart that can believe and trust God.
And you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
— Ephesians 2:1
Signs and wonders cannot raise the spiritually dead. Only the Spirit of God can bring new life:
That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
— John 3:6–7
As we reflect on our own lives, we must be careful not to fall into the same trap as the Pharisees—demanding signs instead of placing our trust in Jesus and His finished work on the cross.
It’s not uncommon to find believers who claim faith but are quick to abandon it when they don’t see miraculous signs or when things don’t go their way. Especially during trials, some lose faith, questioning the reality of Jesus simply because their expectations of supernatural intervention weren’t met.
But Scripture tells us that trials are meant to prove and refine our faith:
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire,
may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
— 1 Peter 1:6–7
Let us examine ourselves. Is our faith in Jesus genuine? Are we trusting in Him completely for salvation? Or are we like the Pharisees—trusting only when we see signs?
Finally, Jesus gave a blessing to those who believe without seeing:
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed?
Blessed are those who did not see, and yet believed.”
— John 20:29
This is the kind of faith that pleases God—faith that comes by hearing His Word:
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
— Romans 10:17
I pray that you, dear believer, possess this kind of faith. And if not, I urge you to repent of your unbelief and run to Christ. Trust in His life, death, and resurrection for your salvation.
The only sign we need is the Cross of Jesus Christ!
Grace and peace!
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