They had not, like the multitude earlier in the year, assembled for the purpose of going up to Jerusalem to keep the Passover, and their scanty provisions failing them, could only retire to their mountain-homes through the passes by which they had followed the Lord[351]. The compassionate Redeemer had no wish that they should return only _to faint by the way_ (Mk. viii. 3), and enquired of the disciples how many loaves they had with them. To this they replied, _Seven, and a few small fishes_ (Mtt. xv. 34), and were thereupon commanded to make the men sit down[352], when their scanty supply in the hands of Him, who was the true Bread from heaven, proved sufficient for the hungry multitude: they did eat and were filled, _and took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets[353] full_ (Mtt. xv. 37). Having dismissed the recipients of His bounty, the Lord immediately entered with His disciples into a ship[354], and crossed over, according to St Matthew, _into the coasts of Magdala_[355] (xv. 39), according to St Mark, _into the parts of Dalmanutha_[356] (viii. 10), a village close by. Here, however, His stay was of no long duration, for certain Pharisees, now for the first time combined with the Sadducees, approached (Mtt. xvi. 1) with a demand that He would shew them _a sign from heaven_. This request, already twice preferred[357], and now urged in explicit terms, He, who knew the hearts of those who claimed it, would not gratify. _Sighing deeply in His spirit_ (Mk. viii. 12), and grieved at their continued unbelief, He denounced them as hypocrites, who could _discern the face of the sky_, but not _discern the signs of the times_ (Mtt. xvi. 3), and refusing to give them any other sign than that of _the prophet Jonah_ (Mtt. xvi. 4), straightway entered the vessel, in which He had come (Mk. viii. 13), and made for the other side. Warning His disciples during the voyage against the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees (Mtt. xvi. 5–12; Mk. viii. 14–21), he reached the eastern shore of the lake and the neighbourhood of Bethsaida-Julias (Mk. viii. 22). Here a blind man was brought to Him, with a petition that He would touch him. Taking him, like the deaf and dumb man spoken of above, outside the village, the Lord anointed his eyes with the moisture from His own mouth, and laying His hands upon him enquired whether he saw aught? To this the sufferer looking up replied that he _saw men, as trees, walking_ (Mk. viii. 24). Thereupon the Redeemer laid His hands again upon his eyes, and his sight was completely restored.