Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-05

There was a sign-seeking spirit in
the world when Jesus walked in the
flesh among men; and it is quite clear
from reading the New Testament that
such temper of mind was displeasing
to Him.
To a nobleman of Capernaum, who
sought of Christ healing for an afflict-
ed son, the Master said. with tone
of disapproval, Except We see signs ana
wonders, We will not believes" (John
iv:4S.) On another occasion. certain of
the scribes and Pharisees came to Him,
saying, Master. we would see sign
from thee; and HE answered and said
unto them, An evil and adulterous gen.
Grafton seeketh after sign; and there
shall no sign be given to IT. but the
sign of the prophet Jonas" (Matthew
xii:sS,399 Later, "the Pharisees with
the Sadducees also came, and, tempt
ing Him, desired that He would show
them a sign from heaven" (Matthew
XVIII ST. Mark relates the same in
cident, and shows us how the demand
for a sign affected the Saviour with
pain and disappointment; he says that
Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and
saith, Why doth this generation seek
after a sign? Verify. 1 say unto you'
There shall no sign be given unto this
generation" Mark viii;12.) Why did
the demand for a sign so grieve the
Lord?
1t was not because He was unwilling
to work miracles; nor was it because
miracles did not show forth His super
human power. After giving us rec
ord of mighty deeds. of Christ, st. John
adds, Many other signs truly did Jesus.
in the presence of His disciples, which
are not written in this book; but these
are written, that We might believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and
that believing We. might have life
through His. name" (Iohn xx:SO,S1.)
1t is evident that miracles had a place
in His plan, and that they promoted
faith in some hearts.
But a medicine which may, be useful
under some conditions and to some pa
tients may be very hurtful under other
conditions and to other patients.
Strychnine may restore life or end life.
In like manner miracles may help or
harm men.
They, VINO came TO the SodNlOuI SSSA-
ing after a sign, said in effect that in
Himself alone He was insufficient to
command their confidence, and that
therefore He, and not they, should bear
the blame for their rejection of Him.
In minds so disposed toward Him no
amount of signs could avail to quicken
faith. Faith is not a matter of the
senses, but of the heart; and Jesus
never sought to coerce men to follow
Him by using overwhelming appeals
to the senses. He declined to employ
anv methods of coercion, whether OF
physical force or paralyzing wonders.
BY no other method could He win the
object at which He was aiming. He
was proposing to win back to God the
alienated hearts of men-"to seek and
to save the lost" But hearts can not
be won by force of any sort.
The Pharisees desired a Messiah for
purposes of political deliverance,-a
sphere in which force is all that men
can rely upon. The. credentials of such
a Messiahship were. therefore, most
naturally signs of force. But Jesus was
undertaking the mission of a Messiah
who proposed the establishment of
spiritual kingdom; and if He offered
the credentials of a political Messiah,
He would have renowned in effect His
spiritual character and purposes. No