SCRIPTURE: MARK 8
JESUS FEEDS THE FOUR THOUSAND (vs. 1-13)
A large crowd had been with Jesus and his disciples for three days and have nothing to eat. Jesus had compassion for them and told his disciples to give them something to eat. They had only seven loaves with few small fish. So Jesus told the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves, gave thanks, broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. The people ate and were satisfied. The disciples picked up leftovers of seven basketfuls of broken pieces. About four thousand men were present. Having sent the crowd away, they got into the boat and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
The Pharisees came and questioned Jesus. They asked him for a sign from heaven to test him. But Jesus refused and got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
THE YEAST OF THE PHARISEES AND HEROD (vs. 14-26)
The disciples brought only one loaf of bread. And Jesus warned them: “Be careful, watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” (v. 15) The disciples were thinking about not bringing enough bread. So Jesus reminded them about the miracle of feeding the five thousand with twelve basketfuls of leftovers and the feeding of four thousand with seven basketfuls of leftovers.
THE HEALING OF A BLIND MAN AT BETHSAIDA (vs. 22-26)
Upon reaching Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by hand and led him outside the village. Then he spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him twice and the man saw everything clearly. Jesus told the man to go home.
PETER’S CONFESSION OF CHRIST (vs. 27-30)
On the way to the villages around Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples: “Who do people say I am?” (v. 25) They replied: “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah, and still others, one of the prophets.” (v. 28) . Then Jesus asked: “What about you? Who do you say I am?” (v. 29) Peter answered, “You are the Christ” (v. 29)
JESUS PREDICTS HIS DEATH (vs. 31-37)
Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the laws, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. When Peter heard it , he took him aside and began to rebuke him. But Jesus turned and rebuked Peter saying: “Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (v.33)
Then Jesus said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he come in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.
THOUGHTS:
Jesus knew that the crowd was hungry and need to be fed. When He told His disciples to feed them, they question the possibility because they had forgotten that Jesus had fed the five thousand before. Sometimes, we also forget the impossible things that God has done for us. We should keep a long memory of his mercy so that we can trust Him to help us solve the next problem. Remember, God is always aware of our needs.
Jesus told his disciples to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod. The yeast that Jesus was talking symbolized evil. Just as a small amount of yeast can make a batch of bread rise, the evil heart of religious and political leaders could permeate and contaminate the entire society to rise up against Jesus.
The Pharisees demanded a sign from heaven but Jesus refused because he knew no matter how many miracles they will see, they had already decided not to believe.
Jesus touched the man twice to show the disciples that some healing would be gradual rather than instantaneous. It also demonstrates that spiritual truth is not always perceived clearly at first.
Jesus asked the disciples who others think he was. Then he also asked them the same question. It is not enough to know what other people think about who Jesus is. What is important is what you know who Jesus is.
The Son of Man refers to Jesus or the Messiah representing man who is the human agent of God.
Why was Jesus angry with Peter when he was preventing and protecting him from going to the cross? Because Peter was not considering God’s purpose but only natural human desires and testimony. He did not want Jesus to be persecuted nor suffer on the cross. He failed to focus on the good that God can bring out of his death – Salvation for mankind.
Jesus had to carry the cross to illustrate his ultimate submission to His Father. He set an example for us to follow him and to do His will even when the work is difficult or burdensome. He wants us to make the pursuit of God more important than selfish pursuit.
Jesus said: “If any one would come after me, he must deny himself and take up the cross and follow me”. Oftentimes, we spend our energy in seeking worldliness – possessions, position and power. But whatever we have on earth is only temporary. If we follow Jesus, we can have eternal life in the future.
God gives us a choice. If we reject Jesus now, He will reject us in His second coming. But if we accept Him now, He will also accept us then. Rejecting Christ may help us escape shame on earth but it will guarantee an eternity of shame later.