Mark 8

1 In those days, when there was again a great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them,2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat:3 and if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way; and some of them are come from far.4 And his disciples answered him, Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.6 And he commandeth the multitude to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he brake, and gave to his disciples, to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.7 And they had a few small fishes: and having blessed them, he commanded to set these also before them.8 And they ate, and were filled: and they took up, of broken pieces that remained over, seven baskets.9 And they were about four thousand: and he sent them away.10 And straightway he entered into the boat with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, trying him.12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.13 And he left them, and again entering into the boat departed to the other side.14 And they forgot to take bread; and they had not in the boat with them more than one loaf.15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.16 And they reasoned one with another, saying, We have no bread.17 And Jesus perceiving it saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? do ye not yet perceive, neither understand? have ye your heart hardened?18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?19 When I brake the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.20 And when the seven among the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces took ye up? And they say unto him, Seven.21 And he said unto them, Do ye not yet understand?22 And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him.23 And he took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, Seest thou aught?24 And he looked up, and said, I see men; for I behold them as trees, walking.25 Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked stedfastly, and was restored, and saw all things clearly.26 And he sent him away to his home, saying, Do not even enter into the village.27 And Jesus went forth, and his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi: and on the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Who do men say that I am?28 And they told him, saying, John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but others, One of the prophets.29 And he asked them, But who say ye that I am? Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.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 spake the saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.33 But he turning about, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and saith, Get thee behind me, Satan; for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.34 And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.35 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s shall save it.36 For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?37 For what should a man give in exchange for his life?38 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man also shall be ashamed of him, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Mark 8

Jesus Feeds 4,000 People

(Mt 15.32–39)

1 Not long afterwards another large crowd came together. When the people had nothing left to eat, Jesus called the disciples to him and said, 2 “I feel sorry for these people, because they have been with me for three days and now have nothing to eat.

3 If I send them home without feeding them, they will faint as they go, because some of them have come a long way.”

4 His disciples asked him, “Where in this desert can anyone find enough food to feed all these people?”

5  “How much bread have you got?” Jesus asked.
“Seven loaves,” they answered.
6 He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, gave thanks to God, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the crowd; and the disciples did so. 7 They also had a few small fish. Jesus gave thanks for these and told the disciples to distribute them too. 8-9 Everybody ate and had enough — there were about 4,000 people. Then the disciples took up seven baskets full of pieces left over. Jesus sent the people away

10 and at once got into a boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

The Pharisees Ask for a Miracle

(Mt 12.38–42; 16.1–4)

12 But Jesus gave a deep groan and said, “Why do the people of this day ask for a miracle? No, I tell you! No such proof will be given to these people!”t

13 He left them, got back into the boat, and started across to the other side of the lake.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod

(Mt 16.5–12)

15 “Take care,” Jesus warned them, “and be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”t

16 They started discussing among themselves: “He says this because we haven't any bread.”
17 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he asked them, “Why are you discussing about not having any bread? Don't you know or understand yet? Are your minds so dull? 18 You have eyes — can't you see? You have ears — can't you hear? Don't you remembert

19 when I broke the five loaves for the 5,000 people? How many baskets full of leftover pieces did you take up?”
“Twelve,” they answered.

20  “And when I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000 people,” asked Jesus, “how many baskets full of leftover pieces did you take up?”
“Seven,” they answered.

21  “And you still don't understand?” he asked them.

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

23 Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. After spitting on the man's eyes, Jesus placed his hands on him and asked him, “Can you see anything?”

24 The man looked up and said, “Yes, I can see people, but they look like trees walking about.”
25 Jesus again placed his hands on the man's eyes. This time the man looked intently, his eyesight returned, and he saw everything clearly.

26 Jesus then sent him home with the order, “Don't go back into the village.”

Peter's Declaration about Jesus

(Mt 16.13–20; Lk 9.18–21)

27 Then Jesus and his disciples went away to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Tell me, who do people say I am?”

28 “Some say that you are John the Baptist,” they answered; “others say that you are Elijah, while others say that you are one of the prophets.”t

29 “What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?”t
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

30 Then Jesus ordered them, “Do not tell anyone about me.”

Jesus Speaks about his Suffering and Death

(Mt 16.21–28; Lk 9.22–27)

33 But Jesus turned round, looked at his disciples, and rebuked Peter. “Get away from me, Satan,” he said. “Your thoughts don't come from God but from human nature!”
34 Then Jesus called the crowd and his disciples to him. “If anyone wants to come with me,” he told them, “he must forget self, carry his cross, and follow me.t 35 For whoever wants to save his own life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.t 36 Do people gain anything if they win the whole world but lose their life? Of course not! 37 There is nothing they can give to regain their life. 38 If a person is ashamed of me and of my teaching in this godless and wicked day, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”