Mark — Chapter 8

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1In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,

2I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

3And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

4And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

5And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

6And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.

7And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

8So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

9And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

10And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

11And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

12And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

13And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

14Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

15And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

16And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

17And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

18Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

19When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

20And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

21And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

22And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

23And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

24And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

25After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

26And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

27And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

28And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

29And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

30And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

31And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

32And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

33But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

38Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

1In those days, when there was again a great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them,

2I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat:

3and if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way; and some of them are come from far.

4And his disciples answered him, Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?

5And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

6And he commandeth the multitude to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he brake, and gave to his disciples, to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.

7And they had a few small fishes: and having blessed them, he commanded to set these also before them.

8And they ate, and were filled: and they took up, of broken pieces that remained over, seven baskets.

9And they were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

10And straightway he entered into the boat with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

11And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, trying him.

12And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

13And he left them, and again entering into [the boat] departed to the other side.

14And they forgot to take bread; and they had not in the boat with them more than one loaf.

15And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.

16And they reasoned one with another, saying, We have no bread.

17And Jesus perceiving it saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? do ye not yet perceive, neither understand? have ye your heart hardened?

18Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

19When I brake the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

20And when the seven among the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces took ye up? And they say unto him, Seven.

21And he said unto them, Do ye not yet understand?

22And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him.

23And he took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, Seest thou aught?

24And he looked up, and said, I see men; for I behold [them] as trees, walking.

25Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked stedfastly, and was restored, and saw all things clearly.

26And he sent him away to his home, saying, Do not even enter into the village.

27And Jesus went forth, and his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi: and on the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Who do men say that I am?

28And they told him, saying, John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but others, One of the prophets.

29And he asked them, But who say ye that I am? Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

30And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

31And 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.

32And he spake the saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

33But he turning about, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and saith, Get thee behind me, Satan; for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.

34And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

35For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel`s shall save it.

36For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?

37For what should a man give in exchange for his life?

38For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man also shall be ashamed of him, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

1In those days there was another large crowd with nothing to eat. So Jesus called his disciples and said to them,

2“I have compassion on the crowd because they have already been here with me three days, and they have nothing to eat.

3If I send them home hungry, they will faint on the way, and some of them have come from a great distance.”

4His disciples answered him, “Where can someone get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy these people?”

5He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.”

6Then he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. After he took the seven loaves and gave thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples to serve. So they served the crowd.

7They also had a few small fish. After giving thanks for these, he told them to serve these as well.

8Everyone ate and was satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.

9There were about 4,000 who ate. Then he dismissed them.

10Immediately he got into a boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

11Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, asking for a sign from heaven to test him.

12Sighing deeply in his spirit he said, “Why does this generation look for a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to this generation.”

13Then he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side.

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

15And Jesus ordered them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!”

16So they began to discuss with one another about having no bread.

17When he learned of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Have your hearts been hardened?

18Though you have eyes, don’t you see? And though you have ears, can’t you hear? Don’t you remember?

19When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied, “Twelve.”

20“When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied, “Seven.”

21Then he said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

22Then they came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to Jesus and asked him to touch him.

23He took the blind man by the hand and brought him outside of the village. Then he spit on his eyes, placed his hands on his eyes and asked, “Do you see anything?”

24Regaining his sight he said, “I see people, but they look like trees walking.”

25Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again. And he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

26Jesus sent him home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.”

27Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

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

29He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”

30Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

31Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

32He spoke openly about this. So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33But after turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”

34Then Jesus called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and because of the gospel will save it.

36For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life?

37What can a person give in exchange for his life?

38For if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

1In those days, when there was a very great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to himself, and said to them,

2“I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days, and have nothing to eat.

3If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way.”

4His disciples answered him, “From where could one satisfy these people with bread here in a deserted place?”

5He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.”

6He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves. Having given thanks, he broke them, and gave them to his disciples to serve, and they served the multitude.

7They had a few small fish. Having blessed them, he said to serve these also.

8They ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets of broken pieces that were left over.

9Those who had eaten were about four thousand. Then he sent them away.

10Immediately he entered into the boat with his disciples, and came into the region of Dalmanutha.

11The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing him.

12He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

13He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side.

14They forgot to take bread; and they didn’t have more than one loaf in the boat with them.

15He warned them, saying, “Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”

16They reasoned with one another, saying, “It’s because we have no bread.”

17Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why do you reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened?

18Having eyes, don’t you see? Having ears, don’t you hear? Don’t you remember?

19When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Twelve.”

20“When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Seven.”

21He asked them, “Don’t you understand yet?”

22He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him.

23He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spat on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything.

24He looked up, and said, “I see men; for I see them like trees walking.”

25Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly.

26He sent him away to his house, saying, “Don’t enter into the village, nor tell anyone in the village.”

27Jesus went out, with his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”

28They told him, “John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others: one of the prophets.”

29He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

30He commanded them that they should tell no one about him.

31He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

32He spoke to them openly. Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

33But he, turning around, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men.”

34He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it.

36For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?

37For what will a man give in exchange for his life?

38For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in his Father’s glory, with the holy angels.”

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

Jesus feeds four thousand, warns against the leaven of the Pharisees, heals a blind man in stages, and draws Peter's great confession — then stuns His disciples with the first prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection.

Authorship & Background

Author: John Mark (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 8 is the turning point of Mark's Gospel. It contains the feeding of the 4,000 (vv.1-9), the Pharisees demanding a sign (vv.10-13), the leaven warning (vv.14-21), the two-stage healing of a blind man (vv.22-26), Peter's confession (vv.27-30), the first passion prediction (vv.31-33), and the cost of discipleship (vv.34-38). From this point forward, Jesus turns toward Jerusalem and the cross.
The Two-Stage Healing (vv.22-26): Unique to Mark. Jesus heals a blind man in two stages — first partial sight ("I see men as trees, walking"), then full sight. This is likely a parable-in-action about the disciples: they have partial understanding of who Jesus is (Peter's confession follows immediately), but full understanding will come only after the cross and resurrection.
Peter's Confession (vv.27-30): The central confession of Mark's Gospel — "Thou art the Christ" (v.29). But immediately after, Peter rebukes Jesus for predicting His death. Jesus' response — "Get thee behind me, Satan" — shows that a correct confession without a correct understanding of the cross is dangerous.
The Cost of Discipleship (vv.34-38): Jesus' most direct statement about what following Him requires: deny yourself, take up your cross, follow Him. The cross is not a metaphor for inconvenience — it is an instrument of death. Jesus is saying: be willing to die.

Map & Geography

  • Dalmanutha/Magadan (v.10): A town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
  • Bethsaida (v.22): A fishing village on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus healed the blind man here in two stages.
  • Caesarea Philippi (v.27): A pagan city at the base of Mount Hermon, 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. Peter's great confession occurred here — far from Jerusalem's religious establishment.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the feeding of the 4,000, the disciples' hardened hearts, the two-stage healing as a parable of understanding, Peter's confession, and the cost of discipleship.
  • Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "What Shall It Profit?" on v.36 (MTP Vol. 10, No. 592) "What shall it profit a man — suppose he gains the whole world. Every kingdom, every treasure, every pleasure, every honor — all of it. And loses his own soul. What has he gained? Nothing. Less than nothing. He has made the worst trade in the history of the universe." Sermon: "The Cross and Self-Denial" on v.34 (MTP Vol. 22, No. 1326) "Deny himself — not deny himself things, but deny HIMSELF. Say no to the self that wants to be first, that wants to be comfortable, that wants to avoid suffering. Take up his cross — not choose his cross, not admire the cross — take it up and carry it."

Reflection

  • 1. The disciples had seen Jesus feed 5,000 and still worried about bread (vv.14-21). Jesus asked "Do ye not remember?" How quickly we forget God's past faithfulness. What has God done for you in the past that you need to remember right now?
  • 2. Peter confessed "Thou art the Christ" (v.29) and then immediately rebuked Jesus for predicting the cross (v.32). Right theology without accepting God's methods is dangerous. Where are you confessing Christ as Lord but resisting His plan because it involves suffering?
  • 3. "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (v.36). Every man is trading his life for something. What are you trading yours for? Is it worth your soul?
  • 4. "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me" (v.38). In your workplace, your social circle, your family — are you ashamed of Jesus? Do people know you follow Him? What would it cost you to be more open?
  • 5. The blind man was healed in two stages (vv.23-25). Spiritual understanding often comes progressively, not instantly. Where is your understanding of Christ still partial? What "second touch" do you need from Him?
  • 6. Jesus asked "Whom do men say that I am?" then "Whom say YE?" (vv.27,29). Public opinion is irrelevant — what matters is your personal answer. Who do YOU say Jesus is? Not what you've been taught — what do you believe?
  • 7. Peter went from divine revelation to satanic influence in minutes (vv.29,33). How quickly we can move from spiritual insight to spiritual blindness. What guards do you have against pride after moments of clarity?
  • 8. "Deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me" (v.34). Three commands: say no to self, accept suffering, follow Christ. Which of these three is hardest for you right now? Why?
  • 9. "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it" (v.35). The man who plays it safe loses everything. The man who risks everything for Christ gains everything. Where are you playing it too safe?