Sometimes We Just Don’t Get It!

Repetition is a wonderful and effective teacher. Sometimes on the first, second, and even third attempt, we just don’t get it. If you are a slow learner like me, it may be on the eleventh try that a valuable lesson finally sinks in. Take heart. We are in good company! The apostles were just like us.

Mark 8:1-30 parallels 6:30-7:37. We have similar events recorded in the same order.

1. Feeding of a great multitude. 6:30-44 || 8:1-9 2. A boat trip 6:45-56 || 8:10
2. Confrontation with the Pharisees 7:1-23 || 8:11-13
3. 165A conversation about bread 7:24-30 || 8:14-21
4. A miraculous healing 7:31-36 || 8:22-26
5. A significant confession 7:37 || 8:27-29

These events likely happened this way in terms of their history. I also believe Mark recorded them in this order for the purpose of theology, especially as it relates to discipleship. Remembering what we have seen our Lord do in the past should help us trust Him in the present. Unfortunately, we are sometimes forgetful and even hard-hearted (8:17). In spite of seeing the Lord work in our past, we are not sure He can handle our present. We just don’t get it. Four events in Mark 8:1-26 will prepare us for the great confession of Peter in 8:29. They, in a sense, bring us to the end of the first part of this, the shortest of the Gospels.

Jesus Always Has a Plan, but We May Only See a Problem

Mark 8:1-10

“In those days” informs us that the miracle of the feeding of four thousand people probably took place in the region of Decapolis (7:31) as an extension of the Lord’s mission to the Gentiles—though some Jews may also have been present.

Some skeptics have denied there were two feedings, arguing that the author of Mark somehow got the tradition confused. However, there is no confusion; there are clear differences:

FEEDING THE 5, 000	FEEDING THE 4, 000
5, 000 men (15, 000-20, 000 people)	4, 000 people total
5 loaves and 2 fish	7 loaves and a few small fish
1 day in the wilderness	3 days in the wilderness
springtime/North of Galilee	no mention of time/SE of Galilee
12 basketfulls of leftovers	7 basketfulls of leftovers
one prayer	two prayers
mostly Jews	mostly Gentiles

Further, and most decisively, Jesus clearly states there were two feedings in 8:19-20.

Jesus has a plan. He wants us to see His love and concern for Gentiles as well as Jews. Yes, He is the long-expected Jewish Messiah. He is also the Savior of the world (John 3:16).

Jesus Cares (Mark 8:1-3)

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In 6:34, Mark said Jesus had compassion because He acted compassionately. Now Jesus Himself says He has compassion.

Jesus emphasizes that the crowd has nothing to eat. He also says, “If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a long distance.” What careful attention to their situation! He saw their need just as He sees yours and mine!

Jesus Provides (Mark 8:4-7)

Once again Jesus involves His disciples in the problem. This is another teachable moment. So He calls them to Himself (v. 1), shares His heart (v. 2), and explains the situation (vv. 2-3).

The Twelve respond with a question. It is not one of unbelief as much as it is of their bad location and lack of resources (v. 4). The implication is, “We can do nothing. What then will You do? Jesus, You are the only hope!” Good!

Jesus quickly moves into action. First, He finds out just what is available. Second, He seats the crowd, blesses the bread, and gives it to the disciples to distribute. Third, a few sardines are discovered. He blesses these and the newly created dead fish that are perfectly edible (!), and He has the Twelve pass those out as well. Twice He has taught the people to thank God for their daily provision and to trust Him as their sole and sufficient resource to give them what they need. This miracle also “foreshadows the gathering together of those from every nation under heaven to the heavenly feeding of God’s people” (Ferguson, Mark, 119).

Jesus Satisfies (Mark 8:8-10)

“They ate and were filled.” They gathered the leftovers and filled “seven large baskets,” not small baskets like before (cf. 6:43). Jesus could now send them on their way home.

Just another normal day in the life of Messiah Jesus, who satisfies all who follow Him. A little can become a lot in the hands of the Creator God. This is a sign of the inbreaking of God’s kingdom. However, some still just don’t get it. Time to move to act 2.

Unbelievers Will Demand a Sign but Reject One When They See It

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Mark 8:11-13

Mark abruptly introduces another conflict with the religious Gestapo—the Pharisees. We have been here before (2:6-7, 16, 18, 24; 3:1-6, 22; 7:1-5). In spite of His numerous miracles and teachings that give evidence that He is the Messiah, they reject what they see and hear, and they raise the stakes in their confrontation with Jesus. “My mind is made up about this fellow Jesus. Let’s not let the facts get in the way.”

They Test the Lord (Mark 8:11)

Mark says they began to argue with Him. Perhaps this is a resumption of the conflict in 3:22-30 and 7:1-5. They ask for “a sign from heaven,” something that would demonstrate what He is doing, something they amazingly do not deny is truly of God. Their motive was “to test Him.” Their goal is again to discredit Him before the people, not to test Him with a view of authenticating His ministry. It is one thing to put the Lord to a test in faith. It is another thing to test Him in unbelief.

They Grieve the Lord (Mark 8:12)

For the second time in two chapters, our Lord “sighs” with deep emotion. This time His anguish was directed at minds that refused the evidence, hearts that remained hard, eyes that refused to see, and ears that refused to hear (cf. 8:17-18). In effect He said, “You want a sign? Read the Scriptures! Listen to My words. See what I do! Beyond that, ‘No sign will be given to this generation!’ If you cannot see God at work in Me, no evidence will convince you otherwise. Your demand is just an expression of unbelief. I will not play your evil and wicked game.”

They Lose the Lord (Mark 8:13)

Nothing more can be said. Abruptly, as if a sign of divine judgment, Jesus leaves them. These religious zealots were physically so close to our Lord, but they had never been further away where it really mattered: in their hearts. They have lost Him. Not long from now they will crucify Him. Unbelief is evil and tragic when it says no to the gospel and God’s Son.

Disciples Will See Great Works but Fail to Fully Understand

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Mark 8:14-21

The Pharisees were not the only ones who did not understand, who had hardened hearts and did not spiritually see or hear. However, unlike the unbelieving Pharisees who were moving in the wrong direction, the disciples were making progress, slow though it was. They still had a ways to go, as verses 14-21 and also 32-34 so plainly testify.

We Still May Misunderstand Our Lord’s Words (Mark 8:14-16)

They got in the boat with only “one loaf of bread.” It is amazing that with seven large basketfulls, this is all they snagged. They began to discuss their predicament, perhaps even blaming one another. They failed to see the irony of the situation, and they forgot who was in the boat and what He could do! Jesus used the visual aid at hand to teach them. He cautioned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” A small amount of leaven will permeate a whole batch of bread dough. The leaven of unbelief has gripped the hearts of the Pharisees and Herod and has taken control of their entire lives. Watch out! Don’t let unbelief take you down and away from the divine truth you see and hear in Me.

They don’t get it, and they begin again to talk about having only one loaf of bread. Jesus is speaking of spiritual matters, but their minds are stuck on the mundane.

We Still May Misunderstand Our Lord’s Work (Mark 8:17-21)

Jesus steps in with a series of questions:

1. “Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread?” Uh ... (v. 17).
2. “Don’t you understand or comprehend?” Sadly, no (v. 17).
3. “Is your heart hardened?” Sadly, yes (v. 17).
4. “Do you have eyes, and not see?” Sadly, yes (v. 18).
5. “Do you have ears, and not hear?” Sadly, yes (v. 18).
6. “Do you not remember?” Apparently not (v. 18).
7. “When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfulls of pieces of bread did you collect?” Uh, twelve (v. 19).
8. “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many large basketfulls of pieces of bread did you collect?” Uh, seven (v. 20).
9. “Don’t you understand yet?” Again, apparently not (v. 21)!

169These questions are not intended to shame but to instruct. For sure, they are slow learners, but then, so are we. How hesitant we are to embrace the truth of Luke 1:37 (“For nothing will be impossible with God.”), of Philippians 4:12-13 (“I both know how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.”), and of Philippians 4:19 (“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”). Like the 12 apostles, we often see our Lord’s great works in our lives but still fail to fully understand and trust Him.

The Blind May See, but It May Come Gradually

Mark 8:22-26

These verses constitute a visual parable that, though historically true, also symbolizes the spiritual pilgrimage of the disciples. Mark purposely sandwiches it between 8:14-21 and 8:27-38. The two-step healing Jesus uses is intentional. It is meant to portray the gradual, step-by-step understanding of the disciples.

Jesus could have healed this man instantly. That He doesn’t is pedagogical. The disciples are slowly coming to see and understand that Jesus is the Messiah. However, even after Peter’s great confession in 8:29, they still have only partial sight and understanding. He is not the kind of Messiah they expected. Only after the cross and resurrection do they finally get it. They are just like this blind man who received his sight gradually.

We Can Bring the Hurting to Jesus (Mark 8:22)

They arrive at Bethsaida on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee (cf. 6:45). They are immediately met by a delegation who “brought a blind man to Him and begged Him to touch him” (cf. 7:32). No doubt they have heard of His compassion (6:34; 8:2) and what He is capable of. They believed “He has done everything well” (7:37) and are hopeful He will do something good for their friend. We will never be disappointed when we bring our friends to Jesus, and neither were they!

We Can Trust the Hurting to Jesus (Mark 8:23-26)

Jesus is again tender in His treatment of this blind man as He had been with the deaf man in 7:31-37. (1) He took the blind by the hand; (2) He led him away for privacy; (3) He spit on his eyes and asked, “Do you see anything?”170 The Son of God did not expect complete healing at this point. He was not surprised.

The man responds, “I see some, more than ever before, but I still don’t see clearly.” Jesus then proceeded to heal his eyes perfectly.

What is the significance of this? Was it that this man was a particularly “difficult case” for Jesus? Hardly! Was this miracle then—like others—a sign? Yes! But to whom? To the man? No!—to the disciples. And this is confirmed by the fact that Jesus had already asked them about their vision of Him (v. 18). He was now leading them by the hand to the point at which their sight would become much clearer, and Peter would confess “You are the Christ” (v. 29). Their spiritual understanding did not come instantaneously, but gradually. They, too, needed the second touch from the hands of their Master. (Ferguson, Mark, 125)

As before, Jesus sent him home with a command not to enter the village. No need for a show. No desire to make him a spectacle. This miracle was for his physical eyes, and it was for the disciples’ spiritual eyes. That it accomplished those two purposes was enough.

Amazing grace how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now I’m found,

Was blind but now I see. (Newton, “Amazing Grace”)

That was true for this blind man. It was true for the Twelve. It was certainly true for me. Now, what about you?

Reflect and Discuss

1. Which subjects did you enjoy in school? Which subjects required a lot of instruction and assistance before you “got it”?
2. How would you respond to someone who claimed the feeding of the five thousand (6:35-44) and the feeding of the four thousand (8:1-9) are really the same event reported twice by Mark (and Matthew)?
3. What is the significance of this feeding taking place in Gentile territory?
4. How is Jesus’ compassion and concern for the physical needs of the Gentile crowd indicative of His concern for our spiritual state?
5. When we are faced with an impossible situation and we want to turn it over to God, how do we go about doing that?
6. How do these miraculous feeding episodes serve as a sign of the inbreaking of the kingdom of God?
7. What is the difference between testing God in faith and testing Him in unbelief?
8. 171Have you ever encountered someone who wouldn’t accept your explanation of Christianity even if you used sound logic? What would it take to get through to such a person?
9. As we face new challenges, how can we increase the chances that we will remember God’s mighty works from the past and His words of encouragement?
10. How was Jesus’ method of healing this blind man an encouragement for His disciples? How is it encouraging for you?