The Gospels · Chapter 8 of 16

Mark 8

Jesus feeds four thousand in the wilderness, then refuses the Pharisees' demand for a sign and warns of their leaven. He heals a blind man in two stages at Bethsaida. At Caesarea Philippi, Peter confesses him as the Christ. Jesus then foretells his suffering, rebukes Peter, and calls all who follow him to deny themselves and take up the cross.

What happens in Mark 8

Having compassion on a hungry multitude, Jesus feeds four thousand from seven loaves, with seven baskets left. The Pharisees seek a sign, and he sighs and refuses. Crossing the sea, he warns of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, but the disciples think he means forgotten bread, and he reproves their dull hearts. At Bethsaida he heals a blind man in two stages, first blurred, then clear. Near Caesarea Philippi he asks who men say he is, then who they say.

Peter answers, Thou art the Christ. Jesus charges them to tell no one and begins to teach that the Son of man must suffer, be killed, and rise again. Peter rebukes him, and Jesus rebukes Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan. He then teaches the crowd that whoever will follow must deny himself and take up his cross, for saving one's life loses it, and losing it for his sake saves it.

Mark 8 in context

This chapter is the hinge of Mark's Gospel. Up to now the question has been who Jesus is; Peter's confession answers it. From here Jesus turns toward Jerusalem and the cross, teaching plainly for the first time that Messiah must suffer.

The two-stage healing of the blind man mirrors the disciples, who see partly and need a second touch to grasp what kind of Christ he is.

Main themes of Mark 8

Mark 8 (KJV)

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.

Verses to carry from Mark 8

“And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.”Mark 8:29

“And 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.”Mark 8:34

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”Mark 8:36

Reflection

Peter saw who Jesus was but not yet what it would cost. Ask whether you want a Christ who fits your hopes or the true one who bears a cross. Then consider what it means today to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow, trusting that life given away to him is life saved.

A prayer from Mark 8