to century. Opportunity is given to every system, to every creecJ, to every philosophy, to deal with the deep and spiritual necessities of mankind. As one attempt of human wisdom succeeds another, and as each fails in its tum, we hear in our soul within us the cry arise, suggested by human effort and by human powerlessness, "From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?" There is no answer, None has been given; none can be given. Happy are we who hear a voice, Divine alike in sweetness and authority, risiag above the plaint of the hungry, or breaking the silence of the baffled and the helpless, a.ad uttering forth the welcome declaration of pity and of love, "I a.m the Bread of life" I And happier still if, convinced of the sincerity and the power of this Divine and compassionate Benefactor, prompted by our human need, and guided by the Spirit of God, we respond, in faith and gratitude and hope, "Lord, evermore give us this Bread" I Vers. 11-13.-Si_gns. This was not an isolated case of the demands on the part of the Jewish leaders that Jesus should work some miracle which they might receive as a sign from heaven. And it was not only during our Saviour's ministry that they pre- ferred such a request. For Paul had occasion long afterwards to complain of the Jews that they "required a sign," and were dissatisfied with the doctrines and with the evidences of Christianity. I. THE REQUEST OF THE PHARISEES, These men made a point of seeing Jesus, and seem, on this as on other occasions, to have come as a deputation from his adversaries. l. What was it they asked? Not an ordinary miracle, for such Jesus had already repeatedly and publicly performed. It was a sign, not from himself, but from heaven, Any wonder he might work they would attribute to magic or to Beelzebub. But, such was their profession, if he would furnish them with some splendid celestial portent-if he would give bread from heaven or stay the sun in its course-then they would be convinclld of bis Messiabship. 2. Why did they ask such a sign? They were tempting, testing him-putting him to the proof. Had he complied with their wish, they would have seen in him the Messiah they wanted-one prepared probably to wield supernatural power for personal aggrandizement and for political dominion. Should he refuse, they would be confirmed in their rejection of his claims. II. THE REFUSAL OF CHRIST, Observe: 1. 'l.'hefeeling with which he refused. "He sighed deeply in his spirit." Had they come asking for healing, relief, assistance, he would have joyfully complied; but it grieved him to the heart that they should come thus. And he read in their conduct the sign of a widespread carnality, unspirituality, and unbelief. 2. He disapproved of the spirit in which the request had been made. He was not only pained by it, be censured and condemned it. 'l'hey who came, came to carp and criticize, and confirm themselves in their unbelief. 3. He bad already given evidence enough to justify the faith of such e.s were candid and open to con- viction. He had wrought miracles so many and of such a kind as might assure the thoughtful and spiritually susceptible that he was from God. 4. He knew that what they asked/or, if granted, would not convince them. The deficiency was not in him; it was in themselves. The principle was applicable, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets,'' etc. 6. There was one great sign yet to be given, in God's time-a sign that should surpass all granted in the olden days; a sign that should leave all unbelievers without excuse-his resurrection from the dead.
Vere. 14-21.-Misunderstanding. The evangelists have left untold much which we would fain know, and they have recorded some things which our unwisdom would have dispensed with. 'l'he incident here recorded seems trivial, and the conversation arising upon it commonplace, Yet it was not without a purpose that two evangelists were directed to preserve this passaae 0 in our Lord's ordinary life. I. 'l'HE WARNING WHICH THE msCIPLES MISUNDERSTOOD. Christ's ministry of teaching seems to have been one long protest against the current doctrines and practices of the religious leaders of the time. The Pharisees were very ::i;enerally for- malists, and the Herodians secularists, and against both tendencies our Divine Lord's opposition was unceasing and uncompromising. Using figurative language, Jesus cautioned his disciples against the leaven, i.e. the influence, of such errors as were cha- racteristic of these religious schools. Although they were so much in his society and 342 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING '1'0 ST. MARK. [on. VIIL 1-38.