John 2:18

The spokesmen for the Jews present in the courtyard wanted Jesus to perform some miraculous sign (Gr. semeion, cf. John 2:11). They wanted Him to indicate that He possessed divine authority to do what He did (cf. Exodus 4:1-9; Matthew 12:38; Matthew 16:1; Mark 8:11; Luke 11:16; 1 Corinthians 1:22). The sin of these Jewish leaders is apparent in that they did not deal with the question of the justice of Jesus’ criticism. They only inquired about His authority to act as He did.