[:en]SCRIPTURE: MARK 8
Bible Verses:
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34-35)
“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Mark 8:36-37)
“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38)
JESUS FEEDS THE FOUR THOUSAND (vs. 1-13)
Jesus had compassion to the needy multitudes. He fed the four thousand with seven loaves and having 7 basketful of leftovers.
COMPARISON OF THE FEEDING OF 5000 AND 4000:
- The people of 5000 were mostly Jews while the people of 4000 were mostly Gentiles.
- The 5000 were with Jesus one day while the 4000 were with Jesus 3 days.
- The 5000 took place in Galilee while the 4000 took place near the Decapolis
- The 5000 had 4 loaves and 2 fish while the 4000 had 7 loaves
- The 5000 had 12 basketful of leftovers while the 4000 had 7 basketful of leftovers.
The Pharisees wanted more signs from Jesus despite of the fact that they had seen him performed many miracles. Jesus left them because he did not want people who depend on signs and wonders.
THE YEAST OF THE PHARISEES AND HEROD (vs. 14-21)
Jesus used the example of bread to warn His disciples about false teachings. He compared false teachings to yeasts which is small but powerful and can spread quickly. The yeast of the Pharisees is hypocrisy and the yeast of Herod is worldly compromise. The 12 disciples could not understand and thought that Jesus was talking about the bread that they forgot to bring and had nothing to eat. Jesus reminded them about the feeding of 5000 with 5 loaves with 12 basketful of leftovers and the feeding of 4000 with 7 loaves with 7 basketful of leftovers.
THE HEALING OF A BLIND MAN AT BETHSAIDA (VS. 22-26)
A blind man was brought to Jesus at Bethsaida begging Jesus to heal him. Jesus took him and lead him outside the village. He spit and touched his eyes and his sight was restored. Jesus told him not to return to the village because he wanted to avoid publicity.
PETER’S CONFESSION OF CHRIST (vs. 27-30)
While Jesus and His disciples were on the way to Caesarea Philippi, He asked them: “Who do people say I am? (v. 27). They replied: “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah and still others, one of the prophets” (v. 28). When Jesus asked Peter, Peter said: “You are Christ” (v, 29).
JESUS PREDICTS HIS DEATH (vs. 31-38)
Jesus clearly told His disciples that He was going to die and be raised from the dead. PEter did not want that to happen but Jesus rebuked him for having in mind the things of men and not of God. For the mind of men see the cross as shame and defeat, but Jesus saw it as glory and victory.
REFLECTION:
- The disciples did not know how to get enough bread to feed the hungry crowd. They had totally forgotten how Jesus fed the 5000 before. Have you forgotten what God had done for you?
- He disciples had a fective understanding of what Jesus was talking about the yeast. Do you have the spiritual insight to understand God’s ways.
- Jesus took the blind man away from the crowd to heal him. Do you need publicity when doing God’s work?
- Peter’s devotion to Jesus was defective because he did not understand the doctrine of the cross. Do you know that taking up the cross means denying self and bearing suffering for Christ?
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