July 13, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Mark? Here’s today’s reading:
Mark 8 (NIV)
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand
1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”…..Continue Reading
It’s interesting that Jesus said to “take up the cross and follow me.” I didn’t pick up on the fact that Jesus is alive here and talking about bearing his cross. I wonder what the disciples thought of his use of that term at that moment.
A couple of things stood out to me in this chapter and first is Jesus’ usage of food and teaching together. Obviously when you have a large crowd for a long time food is a necessity but in reality we are driven by physical needs and it made me think how He was feeding both physically and spiritually so they walked away full. He draws connections to the two things often because the reality is that is the way we get it. People that walked away hungry may focus on that and forget His words but He knew that and He showed us that He is a provider of ALL things when we have faith.
The other thing was a conviction of sorts….Peter’s words used by Satan! How many times do we allow ourselves to be used by Satan when we are quick to speak and are not letting our words be guided by God. We need to guard ourselves against hasty words that can hurt or discourage and be sure to have God always on our hearts and mind to guide our tongue.
Mark 8
Jesus’ teaching with the disciples after feeding the four thousand is eye opening so to speak. Jesus with the question, “Do you still not understand?” I think the disciples got the idea that He was not talking about bread. We are further encouraged a little later in the chapter when Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah. However, Peter’s conception of the Messiah and his mission is about to be challenged.
“…the Son of Man ….comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” I didn’t miss the warning but keep my eyes on Christ and God’s kingdom. His Grace is a beautiful thing.
As we discussed last night at point men. How many billionaires are struggling without peace of mind or joy. What good is it to gain the whole world. Yet forfeit your soul. To have the richest in this world is Pennies compared to the eternal riches we have in Christ
Mark 8 Jesus feeds the four thousand he realized the need of these people who had been following him for three days with no food, just as he takes care of our needs today he made sure to take care of his followers with him then so Jesus took seven loaves of bread and and some fish and was able to feed everyone, another miracle he performed.
Jesus reprimands the disciples because after seeing all they have seen they are still questioning, we aren’t much different sometimes in our walk with Jesus, sometimes it’s right in front of us and we let an opportunity slip by that was meant for us to share Jesus with others or for us to get closer to him.
Mark 8 Jesus predicts his Death, Jesus was teaching the disciples about the suffering that he would endure. Jesus rebukes Peter because he was coming from his own human desires and feelings, because he didn’t want to hear that Jesus would have to suffer I’m sure we would had felt like Peter too. Jesus goes on to explain that we should be willing to lose our lives because of what we have to gain with Jesus.
What a great way to follow up the feeding of the 5,000 with the feeding of 4,000 (and more because we can imagine men had at least some family with them). But it also shows that Jesus is not unaware of human need and when He sees it and it is right, He meets it. Some do say the events are the same, but certain details are different and in the conversation that follows, Jesus distinguishes the 2. And soon after this miracle, Jesus shows the ugly side of miracles when they become a thing unto themselves or a side show rather building genuine faith. Jesus will not participate in miracles that do not have a godly end.
And boy does avoiding the yeast of the Pharisees have nothing to do with bread. By coming to that conclusion the apostles again show their hard hearts that cannot asses things along spiritual lines. But what is the yeast of the Pharisees? It might start with the manipulative and deceptive way they conduct themselves to try to trick Jesus, like they just did. But it is mostly about the legalism that they live by and promote and the judgmental attitude that goes with it.
And Jesus heals the blind man. Of all the people Jesus has healed even just at this point of His ministry, you do wonder why certain ones are highlighted. Once again Jesus uses physical means, contact to accomplish the miracle. I do believe that is for the sake of the one healed to have a greater awareness and impact of what is happening. But here it is almost as if Jesus is regulating His power. If he used all His power, what might that look like? So let me try this level, what do you see? Oh ok, I guess you need a little more. Once again, probably more about having the blind man appreciate more the world of sight that Jesus is bringing him into, but it is interesting conjecture to consider if something else is going on.
And as we have seen Jesus point out the disciples lack of faith or hard hearts, He does so because it takes spiritual eyes to recognize who Jesus is and also to accept that He has come for the great purpose of dyeing for sin. So there will come a time when things will go very bad for Jesus in earthly terms. And isn’t it interesting that the same one to whom God revealed who Jesus is, is also the one who Jesus corrects for having the viewpoint of satan. That’s how quickly things can change in the human heart and that is why we always have to be on guard. And something else I thought. If Mark is dependent on Peter for his insight into things, isn’t it interesting that the whole Peter is the rock and supposedly made pope with the keys to the kingdom, yadda yadda, is not mentioned here. It’s a good indication that Peter did not internalize the situation like that and didn’t think it necessary to make sure others understood that Jesus was going to build His church on him.
And as Renee shared, isn’t it interesting that Jesus uses the cross as an object lesson before He goes to the cross….and asks them to carry theirs technically before He carries His. How much more meaningful this picture became after His crucifixion. But powerful and convicting words they are, especially as the world gets more adulterous and sinful and more people are convinced that that is the right way. Let’s choose not to be ashamed and speak when it is time to speak…to pray for open doors for the gospel (and maybe turn some knobs as well) and take advantage of the opportunities that come before us.
Mark 8
Now there was a great multitude of people and Jesus showed compassion upon them. He asked His disciples how many loaves did they have. As in the previous feeding of the 5,000 He is now with seven loaves and a few small fishes and all about 4,000 people were feed and filled. In this feeding it says the multitude but not men as in the 5,000. These two feedings are two different feedings. Jesus refers to these feedings as two different feedings.[ Mark 8;19–21 ] Then Jesus does another healing. This time it is a blind man. He brings the man out of town and heals him. This time He uses a different way. He spits on his eyes and then applies His hands upon the blind man. He does it in stages and again places His hands upon the blind man. At first the man could make out what appeared as trees walking. When Jesus did it the second time he could fully see. Jesus told him not to go into town or tell anyone in the town what just happened. And finally when Jesus asked His disciples who do men say He is. And then asking His disciples who He is. Peter`s response is that [ Thou art the Christ.] As Pastor said Mark who got his information from Peter makes no reference to Peter building any church. Jesus is our rock not Peter. In Matthew 16;18 is the statement that the Roman Catholics use that Peter is the rock. Jesus was referring to their faith in Christ such as Peter acknowledging that Jesus is the Messiah. The Rock is Jesus. 1 Corinthians 10;4b [ for they drank of that spiritual drink that followed them and that Rock was Christ.] Also Mark brings up the part that when Jesus rebuked Peter He said get behind me Satan. Peter was also a married man Jesus earlier had healed Peter`s mother in law. Jesus taught here that He would die and after three days would rise again from the dead. Jesus called the people and His disciples over to Him to teach them that [ Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.] [ For 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.] [ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul/] These are hard sayings but as always Jesus speaks the truth for He is the truth. We can`t come away from these scriptures without evaluating our own lives with Jesus. May we look to Him as we live our lives in Christ Jesus.
Jesus says that that generation would not be given a sign from heaven, but I think they have already really been given a sign. When the dove descended on Jesus at His baptism, but I suppose that wasn’t something everyone saw. In Matthew, Jesus says that no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah.
Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. 12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”
I was thinking it is interesting that Paul later says: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: · But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. Faith is really the key. No signs, no wisdom (apologetics?), but just Christ crucified. When the Anti-Christ comes, he will do signs and wonders to convince the Jews. We must be careful that we are not fooled.
Good connection, Amy!
As disciples of Jesus, we must strive to move towards the things of God, put aside our will for things that are worldly and seek to do those things that God purposed for us.
Whoever lives only for the gratifications of this life, will lose their soul and whoever lives for the things of God, will save it. Being proccupied with power, prestige, wealth and fame will keep us from experiencing the saving grace of God.