Mark Chapter Eight
Jesus Feeds Four Thousand
[Text parallels Matthew 15:32-38]
8:1 In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” 4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” 5 And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” 6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. 8 And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
Mark does not record exactly when this event took place, other than it occurred “In those days,” referring to being near the time of the healing of the deaf man while in the Decapolis region. Jesus had been ministering to a large crowd for three days, He now calls His disciples together and tells them that He doesn’t want to send the people away hungry, as they are in a desolate and remote place. The disciples ask Jesus how can they feed them? A strange question as they had seen Him feed the 5,000 men before, however, they were likely answering in response that they personally could not provide enough food. Jesus ask them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, ‘Seven’. Jesus then has the crowd sit down and took the loaves of bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave the pieces to His disciples to distribute to the people. They also had a few small fish, Jesus blessed the fish and had His disciples distribute the fish to the people as well. There was enough food for everyone to eat and be satisfied. When everyone had finished eating they picked up the leftover pieces of bread which filled seven baskets. When they sent the people away, Jesus and His disciples got back into the boat and went to the district of Dalmanutha, a village near Magdala on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
The Pharisees Demand a Sign
[Text parallels Matthew 15:39-16:4]
8:11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.
Even though they witnessed several miracles and healings, the Pharisees desired more evidence that Jesus was sent by God. While it sounds like an innocent request for reassurance, Jesus knew that even after offering sign after sign, they would never accept Him because they were only interested in justifying their own beliefs. They would accept a sign only if it aligned with their own understanding of theology, which was based on self-righteousness, the opposite of what Jesus taught. Undoubtedly saddened and exasperated as they touted to be godly men, Jesus sighed and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Jesus then left them and got into the boat and went to the other side of the lake.
Considerations
Most of the Jewish leadership at this time were like-minded, each seeking signs from God that would align and justify their own understanding of God. Which included what He required from followers and their interpretation of Scripture. So, they ‘hung on’ to their beliefs instead of listening to Jesus and taking the time to examine God’s Word to learn the truth. While that generation was seeking vindication, as Jesus pointed out, that generation was not alone. Today, we see people surrounded by evidence of God’s creation and yet choose to believe in evolution. Or see suffering in the world and refuse to understand that sin is the cause of all corruption, and that God offers redemption from that sin through HIs Son Jesus. Today people also demand evidence of the existence of God, but only if that evidence aligns with their own ideas and beliefs, their presuppositions. Jesus is standing right in front of them, but they do not recognize who He is, just like the Pharisees, blinded from the truth.
Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod
[Text parallels Matthew 16:5-12]
8:14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
While on the boat traveling to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, Mark records that they forgot to bring more bread for the journey as they only had one loaf. Jesus began to teach them and employed the often-used metaphor of ‘leaven’ for sin and corruption in Scripture.[1] Apparently prior to Jesus’ instruction the disciples had been discussing the bread shortage and the topic was still on their minds, as they thought Jesus was referring to actual bread. Jesus being aware of their misunderstanding asked them why they were discussing the bread problem. Jesus rebukes them by further asking, “Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?” The rebuke undoubtedly stung somewhat, especially after He reminds them about the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000 and what was left over. They still did not understand that they were in the presence of God, and that food would never be a problem while He was with them. Matthew records that the disciples finally understood that Jesus was using the word ‘leaven’ as He did in the parable of the hidden leaven (see Matthew 13:33), referring to the Pharisees’ and Herod’s corrupt and false beliefs and teaching.
Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida
8:22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”
This is the second of two events exclusively recorded in the book of Mark (see Mark 4:26-29 for the first event). They arrive at Bethsaida[2] and a blind man was brought to Jesus. Taking the blind man by the hand, Jesus led him out of the village. Jesus then put some saliva on the man’s eyes and laid hands on him.[3] Jesus asked if the man could see anything and the man after looking up said that he could see but not that well. Jesus then laid His hand on the man’s eyes again and when he opened his eyes, his sight was fully restored. Jesus told him to go home and not to enter the village, probably to avoid the crowds.
There are a number of view points as to why Jesus healed this man in stages as opposed to healing him with one touch. Some modern-day ‘healers’ refer to this verse as justification for partial healing. That would be an incorrect interpretation, as Jesus’ healing was always complete, even here in this event. Some say that a rapid healing would have been more harmful, while others believe the man’s faith was not strong enough. None of these are likely as Jesus, the Creator, did the healing, and that, as noted before, He always fully healed people. Seeking explanations is an important part of Bible study, however, when the text does not offer sufficient information, Christians need to prevent themselves from accepting speculation.
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
[Text parallels Matthew 16:13-20 and Luke 9:18-21]
8:27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
Jesus and His disciples travel approximately 25 miles north to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, a region near where the Jordan River begins at the foot of Mount Hermon.[4] While en route Jesus asks them, “Who do people say that I am?” They said some believe He is John the Baptist resurrected, some thought maybe Elijah (see Malachi 4:5-6), or possibly another one of the Old Testament prophets. Then He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” Matthew records that Peter’s response came as the result of Jesus’ Father revealing the truth to him (See Matthew 16:17). Jesus tells them not tell to reveal His identity to anyone.
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
[Text parallels Matthew 16:21-27 and Luke 9:22-26]
8:31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Jesus then told His disciples what was going to happen to Him in the not-so-distant future. That He would suffer greatly and be rejected by the Jewish leaders who will have Him killed. But after three days He would rise from the dead. Mark notes that Jesus said this plainly, it was not a parable that required deciphering. Peter then took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him.[5] Jesus turned towards the disciples and rebuked Peter saying, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” The disciples undoubtedly thought that Jesus would always be around to lead and teach, and that the idea of Him leaving, let alone suffering and dying was unthinkable. Peter apparently felt comfortable enough to take Jesus aside to rebuke Him, a good indication that he may not have fully understood who Jesus was.[6]
8:34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Jesus calls the crowd, along with His disciples, to come and listen to Him as He offers instructions on what they need to do to as His followers. First, they must deny themselves, they must stop making their personal needs and desires a priority. Secondly, they must take up their cross and follow Him. The cross represented persecution and death, as an instrument of death used by the Romans, it would have been fully understood by those listening. Death by crucifixion was a extremely painful way to die (the English word ‘excruciating’ is derived from the word ‘crucifixion’). Jesus’ illustration clearly teaches that death to oneself along with one’s full attention on Him was required to be a follower. Jesus then clarifies this by saying that whoever desires to save their own life (focus on their needs, position in life, health, and well being, etc.) will lose it, but those that lose their life for His sake and the gospel message, will save it. That by pursuing personal priorities and embracing those things of the world they would forfeit their soul, since humanity is not able on their own to redeem their own souls. Jesus adds that anyone who is ashamed of Him or His words in this adulterous and sinful generation (Greek ‘genea’,[7] can also mean any time period) that He will be ashamed of them when He comes back in the glory of His Father with the holy angels (referring to the Second Coming). Essentially their lives are no longer theirs, but God’s.
Considerations
This familiar phrase is followed by a powerful and very profound warning, “For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” This short statement identifies the key issue that affects every Christian, the allowance of the things of man to be accepted and practiced. By embracing man’s knowledge instead of God’s, Christians are no longer guided by God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. There cannot be any ‘mixture’ or compromise allowed, Scripture should never be interpreted by only human understanding, as it will eventually “water down” the truth. Christians need to be aware that, just as Jesus sternly rebuked Peter, these efforts come from Satan. To understand and grow in God’s Word, the Holy Spirit must be the only guide, making prayer an essential element of any Bible study, and of course, the formation of everyone’s thinking (their worldviews).[8]
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[1] See commentary under Matthew 13:33 regarding ‘leaven’.
[2] See commentary under Matthew 11:20-21 regarding ‘Bethsaida’.
[3] See commentary under Mark 7:31-37 regarding the use of saliva.
[4] See also commentary under Matthew 16:13-20 regarding Caesarea Philippi and its pagan history.
[5] Matthew records Peter’s rebuke, see Matthew 16:22.
[6] See also commentary under Matthew 16:21-23.
[7] Strong’s Greek 1074.
[8] See Considerations under Matthew 18:5-6 "What is a Wordview?"