Following the feeding of the four thousand, Jesus and the disciples cross to the west side of the Sea of Galilee, landing at Dalmanutha (8:10). This is the lone reference in all ancient literature to Dalmanutha, the location of which is uncertain. The implication of the story, however, is that it was either near to or identical with Magadan (Matt. 15:39), about three miles north of Tiberias. At Dalmanutha the Pharisees ask Jesus “for a sign from heaven” (8:11)—that is, for an outward and compelling proof of his authority. Several words in verses 11–12 (“dispute” [NIV “question”], “seek to control” [NIV “asked”], “attempt to discredit” [NIV “test”], and “sighed in exasperation” [NIV “sighed deeply”]) indicate the antagonism of the Pharisees. For Mark, the demand for a sign is an undisguise…