These two instances in which our Lord uses saliva recall the familiar folk-lore of curing sore eyes. The use of saliva, especially of fasting saliva, for bleared eyes, still persists. The Tal- mud ascribes special efficacy to the saliva of an eldest son. Royal saliva was greatly in request for healing purposes, and an instance is recorded of Vespasian using his saliva with excellent efiect, after having first inquired of the physician if the malady were curable (Tacitus, Hist. iv. 2 ; Suetonius, Vespasian, 7). Our Lord's use of saliva, or of saliva and clay, had no connexion with
tliese as physical remedies, but may have been designed to encourage the mind of the patients, wlio were familiar with the remedy. And it is significant that all the action of Jesus was upon the psychical side. The means taken were exactly adapted to call out the response of the patient, and to evoke a real co-operation between Healer and healed. Cf. the means used in Mk S"'-", and for the deaf mute in Mk 7^'-35^ the signs employed being evidently meant for the one to be restored.
N\'e may note (1) that both Jn. and Mk. in the last two cases, give substantially the same account of the methods employed by Jesus. Considering the wide difi'erence in the standpoint of the two writers, this is most significant, and indicates clearly that both descriptions are drawn from life, and that the actual method of Jesus was remem- bered and so far understood as to be regarded as memorable. (2) The suggestive likeness between the action of Jesus and modern therapeutic methods. Not that these deeds of Jesus are ex- plained by the latter, but that the Divine life manifested in Him did not work on totally dif- ferent lines, although His method completely over- passed and overwhelmed them in essential power. See also BLINDNESS, and SEEING.
LiTERATiFRE. — Martineau, End. after the Christian Life, p. 463 ; Phillips Brooks, Candle of the Lord, p. 74 ; N. Smyth, ReaUtii of Faith (1888), 1 ; B. Wilberforce, Speaking Good of His Name (1904), 137 ; Macmillan, Ministrij of Nature, ch. xii. ; Hastings' DB, art. ' Medicine ' ; Comin. on passages referred to ; Trench and W. M. Tavlor on Miracles.
T. H. Wright.
SIGN (ffTfixetov, .lignum). — The Gospels contain many references to signs in connexion with the anticipations of Messiah's advent and with the life and work of Jesus Christ. But the various shades and degrees of significance attached to the word ' sign ' by speakers, writers, and the i^eople gener- ally, must be carefully discriminated by a close regard to the particular occasion on which it is employed. ]\Iost of all must distinction be made between the value placed upon the word by the people of our Lord's time and by our Lord Him- .self.
1. The fixed expectation of the generation into wliich Jesus was born, that signs would be associ- ated with every true prophet and reformer and supremely witli the Messiah, that marvellous events, largely of a material character, would occur in connexion with every authoritative teacher, and with every manifestation of the will of (iod, was part of the mental fabric of the Jewish people. The depth to which this expectation penetrated into the general consciousness may be judged by the traces of it in the Apostolic writers and in those trained under their influence. The A])ostles generally did not easily throw aside -Jewish prepossessions in regard to the kind of phenomena which might be expected to accompany a Mes- sianic advent or a Divine revelation. Although they lay the main emphasis on the ethical and spiritual elements of Christian authority, the lower (■oiiceptions persist, and often no clear distinction is made between the (rrifj-etov and the ripas (cf. Mt 2-4»'-. Mk l.T^f-, Lk 21"- 23, Ac 222, He 2\ 2 Co 12^2, Kev 12' 13'^ I.')' 161' 192", 2 Th 2^^-).
It is aliundantly clear that the gener.al assump- tion was made tliat credentials of a striking and material character must be demanded of the Mes- siah as a ))roof of the authority of His teaching and Person. Bepeatedly the Jews, and especially the scribes, Pliarisees, and Saddncees (see below), pressed this demand upon .Jesus. They wanted a clear convincing proof of His authority. Tiie signs they had seen Avere jwssible by collusion with the poM'ers that rule the lower world, by a compact with Beelzebub (Mk 322). Only a sign in tlie heavens would satisfy them. Clearly what they VOL. II. — 40
sought was of the nature of a prodigy, properly to be classed with the repara, with which our Lord stedfastly refused to have any part or lot. Simi- larly, Herod's desire to see Jesus was animated by his wish to .see a miracle [(T7}iJ.i~iov) i)erformed by Him. We can be sure that what Herod desired had more relation to prodigies, as most in harmony with his nature and suited to his capacity', and the word used is due to the Evangelist, who himself drew no clear line between the (r-n/xdov and the ripas (Lk 23**).
2. Oui- Lord's attitude toivard.s .signs. — Indica- tions are given that the common expectation of signs on the part of His generation was not with- out its solicitation to Jesus. One temptation in the wilderness was an urgent pressure on the noblest .side of His nature to give a sign of this character with the view of gaining a more speedy influence over the people (JNIt i^-'^, Lk 4»-i2) xhe temjitation was resisted and overcome. Our Lord would put no trust in external and magical signs for the furtherance of His work or the emphasizing and enforcing of His teaching. He knew their futility for the purpose of bringing real conviction to men (Lk 16^^). And the strenuous effort of His life was to resist these unspiritual conceptions of truth and reality.