Chapter 8
Feeding the Four Thousand
8 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 a long way.”
Jesus shows concern for the people, like a shepherd. We are about to have a similar miracle as before, but the difference is that now this is taking place in Gentile territory.
4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these men with bread here in the desert?”
This very question echoes not only the previous feeding of the multitude, but the feeding of the children of Israel with the manna in the desert.
5 And he asked them, “How many loaves have you?” They said, “Seven.”
This is the number of completeness, but also of universality. For example, the creation account lasts seven days.
6 And he commanded 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.
Here we have the same set of actions: “took…[gave] thanks…broke…gave”. Mark is wanting us to hear the echo from the last feeding miracle and to prepare us for the Eucharist.
7 And they had a few small fish; and having blessed them, he commanded that these also should be set before them.
The fish are of less significance.
8 And they ate, and were satisfied; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.
They were not only feed, but satisfied. The number of baskets left over has the same significance as the number of loaves.
9 And there were about four thousand people.
…not including women and children.
10 And he sent them away; and immediately he got into the boat with his disciples, and went to the district of Dalmanu′tha.
The Demand for a Sign
11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, to test him.
They still want a sign?! After everything?
12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”
Jesus isn’t a performing magician.
13 And he left them, and getting into the boat again he departed to the other side.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod
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, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
Jesus is referring to the exclusive nationalism which corrupted the Pharisees and Herod and limited their outlook to the Mosaic covenant.
16 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “We have no bread.”
The disciples get the wrong end of the stick.
17 And being aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why do you discuss 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?
Jesus gets frustrated.
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.”
This was a sign of God’s provision for the twelve tribes of Israel.
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.”
This was a sign of God’s provision for all humanity.
21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
No.
Jesus Cures a Blind Man at Bethsaida
22 And they came to Beth-sa′ida. 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; …
Jesus does it on the quiet again.
…and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men; but they look like trees, walking.”
The healing is only partial.
25 Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and saw everything clearly.
The healing is then completed.
26 And he sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”
Jesus does what he can to keep this quiet.
Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
27 And Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of Caesare′a Philippi; …
This is Gentile territory.
…and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”
Jesus asks for the prevailing opinions about him.
28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Eli′jah; and others one of the prophets.”
The disciples give the answers they have heard.
29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Jesus asks for their own opinion.
Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”
Peter speaks up and get it right.
We get no more praise of Peter which, if this Gospel is Peter’s own preaching, shows that Peter has learnt a little more humility!
30 And he charged them to tell no one about him.
Jesus still wants to keep this quiet.
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
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.
Jesus begins the first of three predictions of His suffering and death.
And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
Peter doesn’t understand and tries to give Jesus some advice!
33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men.”
Jesus rebukes Peter. He calls him “Satan” because, like in the temptations in the desert, Peter is trying to offer Jesus an easy way out that avoids suffering and ultimately, the cross.
34 And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Jesus has told us the way of the King, so He now outlines the way you enter into this kingdom.
35 For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Jesus presents a paradox where you receive by giving everything away.
36 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?
The answer to this rhetorical question is “Nothing”.
I’m reminded of the line from “A Man for All Seasons” where St. Thomas says “…it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world…but Wales?”
37 For what can a man give in return for his life?
The answer to this rhetorical question is “Nothing”.
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 promises reciprocity.