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Today's Little Lift

    by Jim Bullington

What Sign Will You Perform (John 6:30)
Date Posted: January 31, 2023

In 1981, the rock band U2 released an album entitled October. One of the songs on this album, I Threw a Brick through a Window, contains a line which says, “No one is blinder than he who will not see.” This line is a corruption of the words of Jesus in John 9.40-41. In this passage Jesus talked about the blindness of certain Pharisees who had closed their eyes to some very obvious facts. Today’s devotional deals with other people in the ministry of Jesus who were blind of their own choosing, yet who feigned the desire to see.

The crowds had lingered long to hear the words of the Teacher from Galilee. As the close of day approached, it became obvious that there was a problem unfolding for the multitudes; they had little or nothing to eat! Some of the disciples approached Jesus saying, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them [the multitudes] away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.” (Mark 6.35-36). Jesus responded with a test of His followers’ faith saying, “You give them something to eat.” Philip was apparently one of the spokespersons for the disciples as Jesus directed His remarks toward him. Although Jesus knew that eventually He would feed the hungry crowds by multiplying the lunch of a lad, He could not pass up this teaching moment! After some discussion with His closest followers, Jesus fed the multitude of about 5000 men using only the bread and fish brought there by a small boy. Some observers saw the miracle that was involved and said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6.14).

Still others who were in the crowd of five thousand, sought to find Jesus the following day. “And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, 'Rabbi, when did You come here?' Jesus answered them and said, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.'” (John 6.25-26). The seemingly abrupt response by Jesus is worthy of our attention. Note that He clearly charged these men with carnal motives where the spiritual should have taken precedence; they sought Him because of the bread (carnal motives), and not because of the signs (spiritually significant). Notice also that they had witnessed the signs and had even eaten the food which was produced by one particular sign.

Even with this background, these men had the audacity to ask, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?” (John 6.30). It almost seems that when their hand was called by Jesus, they just had to say something in defense of their hardness of heart! Had they thought for one second before they spoke, surely they could have seen the hypocrisy in their words! After all, what more could Jesus have done? Were the miraculous healings not of an adequate magnitude to warrant their belief? And how about the meal they had eaten? This was not just a visual sleight-of-hand; they had been physically nourished as a result of the thousand-fold increase in the meager meal of a lad! Chances are good that the very food that they had eaten following the miracle was yet in their bellies – yet they asked, “What sign will you perform then?” It is no wonder that Jesus spoke so forthrightly and sternly to them. They were feigned-followers with an agenda of their own – one that did not match what Jesus was trying to accomplish.

It is true that none is so blind as he who will not see. Jesus knew this and wasted little time with those of such character. He also charged His disciples not to cast their pearls before swine, or to give that which is holy to the dogs. He spoke of people and not animals! No wonder He said to some of His faithful followers, “But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear.” (Matthew 13.16).

Questions:

1. From the events of this story, what was the apparent reason for the miracles of Jesus?

2. Although men were fed as a result of His miracles, was this a primary reason for the miracle? Explain.

3. What wrong motive for following Jesus did the men have who asked Him for a sign?

4. What would it take to open spiritual eyes that are willfully closed? Would such a person believe even if a miracle were performed just for his/her benefit? Discuss.

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Biography Information:
Jim Bullington - A Christian writer whose insight into the scriptures is reflected in practical application lessons in every article. The reader will find that the Bible speaks directly to him/her through these articles. God is always exalted and His word is treated with the utmost respect in this column.
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