Pharisees asked a miraculous sign, but Jesus refused it. Why?

Pharisees asked a miraculous sign, but Jesus refused it. Why?

 

The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it." (Mark 8:11~12)

 

This phrases says that Pharisees asked Jesus a miraculous sign from heaven. Isn’t it odd? Jesus had shown various miracles so far. He healed all who were ill with various diseases, suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, etc. He showed miracles routinely. If so, why did they ask a miracle and Jesus refuse it?

 

We can analogize it from the preceding part of the book. Mark wrote a miracle that Jesus fed 4,000 men with seven loaves of bread. It was happen when the Lord asked disciples to feed people who had followed him for 3 days. It is, absolutely, a miracle. Pharisees asked a miracle, even though Jesus already showed them a lot of miracles and, to my surprise, Jesus refused the request.

 

If Pharisees accepted the occurrence providing 4,000 men with seven loaves as a miracle, then the next story could not be formed. To the contrary, if the next story Pharisees asked Jesus a miracle, is accepted as a sincere request then the miracle can not be a miracle at all. Or Pharisees did not consider it as a miracle. What happened?

 

It might not be a miracle for the Pharisees who were powerful and rich that the poors could get food free of charge. No, it was not a miracle, it was a nightmare for them. The miracle they want might be a rebellion to the Roman Empire with heavenly army and getting back power. The miracle they possess the political and economic power exclusively! The miracle that the rent of their houses or land goes up several times! But the poor had enough food! Nonsense!

 

It could not be a miracle for them that there were seven basketfuls of pieces even though the poors got enough bread. So Pharisees still asked a miracle. And we are sure, our Lord Jesus refused that kind of miracle. And Jesus, I am sure, is refusing stubbornly to give a miracle of economic growth that making people unstable by mass producing temporary workers with low salary, because it is not a justice God want.