Mark 8:11-30

The Demand for a Sign

11 Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, testing Him by demanding from Him a sign from heaven. ¹

12 Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

13 And He left them, got back into the boat, and crossed to the other side.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. ²

15 “Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.”

16 So they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.

17 Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts?

18 ‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’ ^[a] And do you not remember?

19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Twelve,” they answered.

20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said.

21 Then He asked them, “Do you still not understand?”

The Blind Man at Bethsaida

22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.

23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked.

24 The man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.”

25 Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly.

26 Jesus sent him home and said, “Do not go back into the village.” ^[b]

Peter’s Confession of Christ

27 Then Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say I am?” ³

28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

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

30 And Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him.

Cross References

• 1. (Matthew 16:1–4; Luke 12:54–56)
• 2. (Matthew 16:5–12; Luke 12:1–3)
• 3. (Matthew 16:13–20; Luke 9:18–20; John 6:67–71)

Footnotes

• [a]. See Deuteronomy 29:4, Isaiah 42:20, Jeremiah 5:21, and Ezekiel 12:2.
• [b]. BYZ and TR “Do not go and tell anyone in the village.”