Mark 8

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

1 During those days another large crowd gathered. They had nothing to eat. So Jesus called for his disciples to come to him. He said,

2 "I feel deep concern for these people. They have already been with me three days. They don't have anything to eat.

3 If I send them away hungry, they will become too weak on their way home. Some of them have come from far away."

4 His disciples answered him. "There is nothing here," they said. "Where 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. He took the seven loaves and gave thanks to God. Then he broke them and gave them to his disciples. They set the loaves down in front of the people.

7 The disciples also had a few small fish. Jesus gave thanks for them too. He told the disciples to pass them around.

8 The people ate and were satisfied. After that, the disciples picked up seven baskets of leftover pieces.

9 About 4,000 men were there. Jesus sent them away.

10 Then he got into a boat with his disciples. He went to the area of Dalmanutha.

11 The Pharisees came and began to ask Jesus questions. They wanted to put him to the test. So they asked him for a miraculous sign from heaven.

12 He sighed deeply. He said, "Why do you people ask for a sign? What I'm about to tell you is true. No sign will be given to you."

13 Then he left them. He got back into the boat and crossed to the other side of the lake.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread. They had only one loaf with them in the boat.

15 "Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. And watch out for the yeast of Herod."

16 They talked about this with each other. They said, "He must be saying this because we don't have any bread."

17 Jesus knew what they were saying. So he asked them, "Why are you talking about having no bread? Why can't you see or understand? Are you stubborn?

18 Do you have eyes and still don't see? Do you have ears and still don't hear? And don't you remember?

19 Earlier I broke five loaves for the 5,000. How many baskets of pieces did you pick up?" "Twelve," they replied.

20 "Later I broke seven loaves for the 4,000. How many baskets of pieces did you pick up?" "Seven," they answered.

21 He said to them, "Can't you understand yet?"

Jesus Heals a Blind Man

22 Jesus and his disciples came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man. They begged Jesus to touch him.

23 He took the blind man by the hand. Then he led him outside the village. He spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him. "Do you see anything?" Jesus asked.

24 The man looked up. He 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 so that he could see again. He saw everything clearly.

26 Jesus sent him home. He told him, "Don't go into the village."

Peter Says That Jesus Is the Christ

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. Still others say one of the prophets."

29 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Tells About His Coming Death

31 Jesus then began to teach his disciples. He taught them that the Son of Man must suffer many things. He taught them that the elders would not accept him. The chief priests and the teachers of the law would not accept him either. He must be killed and after three days rise again.

32 He spoke clearly about this. Peter took Jesus to one side and began to scold him.

33 Jesus turned and looked at his disciples. He scolded Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You are not thinking about the things of God. Instead, you are thinking about human things."

34 Jesus called the crowd to him along with his disciples. He said, "If anyone wants to come after me, he must say no to himself. He must pick up his cross and follow me.

35 If he wants to save his life, he will lose it. But if he loses his life for me and for the good news, he will save it.

36 What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses his soul?

37 Or what can anyone trade for his soul?

38 "Suppose you are ashamed of me and my words among these adulterous and sinful people. Then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Mark 8 Commentary

Chapter 8

Four thousand fed by a miracle. (1-10) Christ cautions against the Pharisees and Herodians. (11-21) A blind man healed. (22-26) Peter's testimony to Christ. (27-33) Christ must be followed. (34-38)

Verses 1-10 Our Lord Jesus encouraged the meanest to come to him for life and grace. Christ knows and considers our frames. The bounty of Christ is always ready; to show that, he repeated this miracle. His favours are renewed, as our wants and necessities are. And those need not fear want, who have Christ to live upon by faith, and do so with thanksgiving.

Verses 11-21 Obstinate unbelief will have something to say, though ever so unreasonable. Christ refused to answer their demand. If they will not be convinced, they shall not. Alas! what cause we have to lament for those around us, who destroy themselves and others by their perverse and obstinate unbelief, and enmity to the gospel! When we forget the works of God, and distrust him, we should chide ourselves severely, as Christ here reproves his disciples. How is it that we so often mistake his meaning, disregard his warnings, and distrust his providence?

Verses 22-26 Here is a blind man brought to Christ by his friends. Therein appeared the faith of those that brought him. If those who are spiritually blind, do not pray for themselves, yet their friends and relations should pray for them, that Christ would be pleased to touch them. The cure was wrought gradually, which was not usual in our Lord's miracles. Christ showed in what method those commonly are healed by his grace, who by nature are spiritually blind. At first, their knowledge is confused; but, like the light of the morning, it shines more and more to the perfect day, and then they see all things clearly. Slighting Christ's favours is forfeiting them; and he will make those who do so know the worth of privileges by the want of them.

Verses 27-33 These things are written, that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. These miracles of our Lord assure us that he was not conquered, but a Conqueror. Now the disciples are convinced that Jesus is the Christ; they may bear to hear of his sufferings, of which Christ here begins to give them notice. He sees that amiss in what we say and do, of which we ourselves are not aware, and knows what manner of spirit we are of, when we ourselves do not. The wisdom of man is folly, when it pretends to limit the Divine counsels. Peter did not rightly understand the nature of Christ's kingdom.

Verses 34-38 Frequent notice is taken of the great flocking there was to Christ for help in various cases. All are concerned to know this, if they expect him to heal their souls. They must not indulge the ease of the body. As the happiness of heaven with Christ, is enough to make up for the loss of life itself for him, so the gain of all the world in sin, will not make up for the ruin of the soul by sin. And there is a day coming, when the cause of Christ will appear as glorious, as some now think it mean and contemptible. May we think of that season, and view every earthly object as we shall do at that great day.