Read Mark 8
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand
1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”
4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied.
6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9 About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
“Twelve,” they replied.
20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
They answered, “Seven.”
21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida
22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
Jesus Predicts His Death
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
The Way of the Cross
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
Go Deeper
In Mark 8, we read that “another large crowd gathered.” Interesting to note that in all but two chapters in Mark, a crowd is mentioned. People from all different backgrounds wanted to be near Jesus. Some wanted healing. Some wanted signs. Others wanted to kill him. Still others wanted a king. Remarkably, Jesus was aware of everyone’s condition and need. He knew the sacrifices made by more than 4,000 people so that they could be in His presence. He was mindful of the distracted disciples and their concern for their hunger more than their concern for their hearts. Jesus knew a blind man would need his hand held by Jesus so that Jesus could move the man into a position for healing. And, Jesus was keenly aware that those who wanted to follow Him would need to deny themselves and lose their lives for the sake of the gospel.
So many people. So many different needs. So many different circumstances. Each time, Jesus moves towards people, not away. He isn’t scared off by need or insufficiencies. Compassion. Provision. Healing. Teaching. Rebuking. The markers of Jesus’s ministry. Still, some of the ones closest to Him, in His presence the most, were blind to it all. In verse 18, He says, “Do you have eyes, but fail to see?” Yet, others who are in His presence for a brief moment see the most clearly: “his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly” (vs. 25).
Jesus is still in the process of revealing Himself to His followers so that His followers can reveal who He is to a world in need. He wants us to see Him as the sacrificial lamb who died in our place. The Savior who laid down His life so we could find ours. He is mindful of our condition and moves toward us. May we ask Him to open our eyes to see Him as Lord so that when He asks us, “Who do you say I am?” we can confidently and without hesitation reply, “You are the Messiah. Savior of the world.”
Questions
What is the first thing that stands out to you about the character of Jesus in today’s reading?
In Mark 8:2, we read Jesus’s words: “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.” Jesus was aware of the sacrifices people made to be in His presence and He had compassion. Is there a situation you are facing in which you feel like you are sacrificing for the gospel? Knowing that Jesus is aware of your condition and is moved by compassion, how does this change your attitude and mindset?
We see that Jesus’s healing of the blind man happened gradually, rather than instantly. Sometimes restoration and healing is all of a sudden. Sometimes it’s a process. Take some time and thank God for the restorative work He is doing in your life and relationships. Ask Him to give you grace and patience for the process.
Did You Know?
Each time Jesus spoke of His impending death, like He does in 8:31, He would also speak of His impending resurrection. Despite His many reminders, the disciples still had difficulty understanding what was to come.
3 thoughts on “Mark 8”
As the commentator mentions so well, Jesus is always moving towards people. He is always ministering via Compassion. Provision. Healing. Teaching. Rebuking. I/we should be doing so as well in discipling one one another in community & life. Am I doing this…?
Dear Father, please help me to see and move toward those needs you would have me step into. Please help me to see the spiritual true need through the physical/worldly weeds that tangle and attempt to confuse my way.
Thank You Lord Jesus,
“Who do people say I man,” Jesus asked his disciples (v.27). A range of opinions were given. All passed Jesus off as a prophet or holy man.
Little has changed in the last two millennia. Theologians and the public at large still paint Jesus as a sage or revolutionary. “But what about you?” Jesus asks Peter (v. 29(). “Who do you say I am?” “You are the Messiah,” Peter declared. in response to this the crux of it all.
What about you? Who do you say Jesus is when He asks you this question?
1. Jesus is a God of compassion, but he also is jealous about us. He wants us to spend time devoted to him not to the things of this world. He wants us to hunger after him not after our flesh. But I also see that he is a healer and a provider.
2. I don’t really, a lot of the time like I’m sacrificing for the gospel, and I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing. I always have these constant thoughts racing through my mind like I’m not doing enough, but I know it’s not by own works or power that I’ve obtained anything it’s only through HIM. But yet these thoughts still persist in my head, and I just keep praying everyday God helps me to get rid of this doubt and anxiety. I want to fully be surrendered and sacrificed to him. I want to be truly obedient to him. I want to know the deeper things of him. Sorry, maybe I’m getting too deep. But I just want to know him and know him truly. I don’t want religion I just want him.
3. Jesus is the Savior and the Messiah of the world. He came to save everyone no matter who you are or what you’ve done. He wants a genuine relationship with you. He wants to know you and for you to know him. He’s God in the flesh who died for everyone, who bore the sin of the world, so that we could have new life. It’s up to us to accept him and his Word, and my prayer is that you will accept HIM and REPENT of your sins, in Jesus’ name, Amen.