Mark 8

Jesus feeds four thousand people

1 In those days there was another large crowd with nothing to eat. Jesus called his disciples and told them,2 "I feel sorry for the crowd because they have been with me for three days and have nothing to eat.

3 If I send them away hungry to their homes, they won’t have enough strength to travel, for some have come a long distance."

4 His disciples responded, "How can anyone get enough food in this wilderness to satisfy these people?"

5 Jesus asked, "How much bread do you have?"
They said, "Seven loaves."
6 He told the crowd to sit on the ground. He took the seven loaves, gave thanks, broke them apart, and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they gave the bread to the crowd.7 They also had a few fish. He said a blessing over them, then gave them to the disciples to hand out also.8 They ate until they were full. They collected seven baskets full of leftovers.9 This was a crowd of about four thousand people! Jesus sent them away,

10 then got into a boat with his disciples and went over to the region of Dalmanutha.

Looking for proof

11 The Pharisees showed up and began to argue with Jesus. To test him, they asked for a sign from heaven.12 With an impatient sigh, Jesus said, "Why does this generation look for a sign? I assure you that no sign will be given to it."

13 Leaving them, he got back in the boat and crossed to the other side of the lake.

Understanding about the bread

14 Jesus’ disciples had forgotten to bring any bread, so they had only one loaf with them in the boat.

15 He gave them strict orders: "Watch out and be on your guard for the yeast of the Pharisees as well as the yeast of Herod."

16 The disciples discussed this among themselves, "He said this because we have no bread."
17 Jesus knew what they were discussing and said, "Why are you talking about the fact that you don’t have any bread? Don’t you grasp what has happened? Don’t you understand? Are your hearts so resistant to what God is doing?18 Don’t you have eyes? Why can’t you see? Don’t you have ears? Why can’t you hear? Don’t you remember?

19 When I broke five loaves of bread for those five thousand people, how many baskets full of leftovers did you gather?"
They answered, "Twelve."

20 "And when I broke seven loaves of bread for those four thousand people, how many baskets full of leftovers did you gather?"
They answered, "Seven."

21 Jesus said to them, "And you still don’t understand?"

A blind man is healed

22 Jesus and his disciples came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch and heal him.

23 Taking the blind man’s hand, Jesus led him out of the village. After spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on the man, he asked him, "Do you see anything?"

24 The man looked up and said, "I see people. They look like trees, only they are walking around."
25 Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again. He looked with his eyes wide open, his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly.

26 Then Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don’t go into the village!"

Jesus predicts his death

27 Jesus and his disciples went into the villages near Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"

28 They told him, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others one of the prophets."

29 He asked them, "And what about you? Who do you say that I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

30 Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
31 Then Jesus began to teach his disciples: "The Human Onet must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and the legal experts, and be killed, and then, after three days, rise from the dead."32 He said this plainly. But Peter took hold of Jesus and, scolding him, began to correct him.

33 Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, then sternly corrected Peter: "Get behind me, Satan. You are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts."
34 After calling the crowd together with his disciples, Jesus said to them, "All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.35 All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me and because of the good news will save them.36 Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives?37 What will people give in exchange for their lives?

38 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Human Onet will be ashamed of that person when he comes in the Father’s glory with the holy angels."

Mark 8

The Feeding of the Four Thousand

1 In those days there was another large crowd with nothing to eat. Sot Jesust called his disciples and said to them,2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have already been here with me three days, and they have nothing to eat.3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint on the way, and some of them have come from a great distance.”4 His disciples answered him, “Where can someone get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy these people?”5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.”6 Thent he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. After he took the seven loaves and gave thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples to serve. Sot they served the crowd.7 They also had a few small fish. After giving thanks for these, he told them to serve these as well.8 Everyonet ate and was satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.9 There were about four thousands who ate.t Then he dismissed them.s

10 Immediately he got into a boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.s

The Demand for a Sign

11 Then the Phariseess came and began to argue with Jesus, asking fort a sign from heavens to test him.12 Sighing deeply in his spirit he said, “Why does this generation look for a sign? I tell you the truth,t no sign will be given to this generation.”

13 Thent he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

14 Nowt they had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.15 And Jesust ordered them,t “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Phariseess and the yeast of Herod!”16 So they began to discuss with one another about having no bread.t17 When he learned of this,t Jesus said to them, “Why are you arguingt about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Have your hearts been hardened?18 Though you have eyes, don’t you see? And though you have ears, can’t you hear?t Don’t you remember?19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied, “Twelve.”20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied,s “Seven.”

21 Thent he said to them, “Do you still not understand?”s

A Two-stage Healing

22 Thent they came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to Jesust and asked him to touch him.23 He took the blind man by the hand and brought him outside of the village. Thent he spit on his eyes, placed his hands on his eyest and asked, “Do you see anything?”24 Regaining his sightt he said, “I see people, but they look like trees walking.”25 Then Jesust placed his hands on the man’st eyes again. And he opened his eyes,t his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

26 Jesust sent him home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.”s

Peter’s Confession

27 Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages of Caesarea Philippi.s On the way he asked his disciples,t “Who do people say that I am?”28 They said,t “John the Baptist, others say Elijah,s and still others, one of the prophets.”29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him,t “You are the Christ.”ts

30 Thent he warned them not to tell anyone about him.s

First Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection

31 Thent Jesust began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffers many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law,t and be killed, and after three days rise again.32 He spoke openly about this. Sot Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But after turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”t
34 Thent Jesust called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower,t he must denyt himself, take up his cross,s and follow me.35 For whoever wants to save his lifet will lose it,s but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.36 For what benefit is it for a persont to gain the whole world, yett forfeit his life?37 What can a person give in exchange for his life?38 For if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of hims when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”