Day 36 – Wednesday, February 19, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Mark 8

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Four Thousand are Fed

Matt. 15:32–38

1 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, ² “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. ³ And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.”⁴ Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?”⁵ He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”And they said, “Seven.”⁶ So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. ⁷ They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. ⁸ So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. ⁹ Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away, ¹⁰ immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 8:1–10.

Points to Ponder:

• Again, paralleling Matthew 15, this passage describes the other opportunity for Jesus to miraculously feed a large crowd. They had followed Jesus for three days and were without food. There was nowhere to buy enough food to feed them all.
• Jesus asked what food was present. They had seven loaves and a few small fish. Jesus blessed them and broke them, and fed the entire crowd of 4,000. They were all filled. After they were fed, Jesus sent them away and got into the boat heading to Dalmanutha.
• This story includes Jesus departure and destination, unlike the Matthean passage.

Pharisees Seek a Sign

Matt. 15:39–16:4

¹¹ 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.”¹³ And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 8:11–13.

Points to Ponder:

• This passage parallels a passage that spans Matthew 15 & 16.
• The Pharisees ask for a sign from Jesus to prove He is who He claims to be. He refuses to give them a sign, and gets in the boat and leaves.
• Whereas the Matthew passage refers to the sign of Jonah, Mark does not include that part of Jesus’ response.

Disciples Do Not Understand

Matt. 16:5–12

¹⁴ Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. ¹⁵ Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”¹⁶ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.”¹⁷ But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? ¹⁸ Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?”They said to Him, “Twelve.”²⁰ “Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?”And they said, “Seven.”²¹ So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 8:14–21.

Points to Ponder:

• When they were traveling across the Sea, the disciples realized that they had not brought bread for the journey. Jesus told them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod. This is almost identical to the account shared in Matthew 16.
• They thought He referenced their lack of bread, but He meant something totally different. He reminded them that He had created bread and could do it again if needed.
• He then scolded them for not understanding what He meant. Matthew includes a detailed explanation, but Mark does not.

A Blind Man is Healed

²² Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. ²³ So 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 on him, He asked him if he saw anything.²⁴ And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”²⁵ Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. ²⁶ Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 8:22–26.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus went on into Bethsaida, and encountered a blind man whose friends asked Jesus to heal him.
• He took the man by the hand and led Him away from the crowd, even out of town. He spit on the man’s eyes and then laid His hands on Him.
• When Jesus asked the man what he saw, the man said he saw men that looked like trees walking around.
• Jesus put His hands on the man’s eyes again, and the man saw clearly. Jesus sent Him away and told Him not to even go into town, and to be quiet about what happened.
• When you pray, and the answer does not show up like you wanted, don’t give up. Keep believing. God is listening and He will answer in time.

Peter’s Confession of Christ

Matt. 16:13–23; Luke 9:18–22

²⁷ Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?”²⁸ So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”²⁹ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”³⁰ Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.³¹ And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³² He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. ³³ But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 8:27–33.

Points to Ponder:

• In a parallel to another passage in Matthew 16, Jesus and His entourage went to Caesarea Philippi. While in route, Jesus asked who men thought He was. They gave various answers that they had heard.
• Then He asked who they thought He was. Peter answered with a clear thought that was somewhat amazing and pensive. You are the Christ (Messiah). Jesus told them to keep this word to themselves.
• He then taught His disciples that He would suffer and be rejected and crucified, and rise again after three days.
• Peter rebuked Him for this thought, and Jesus rebuked Him by saying, “Get behind me, Satan!”
• Don’t think to correct God when He speaks. No man had that type of authority.

Cost of Discipleship

Matt. 16:24–27; Luke 9:22–26

³⁴ When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ³⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. ³⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? ³⁷ Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 8:34–38.

Points to Ponder:

• To finish this chapter, Jesus tells all the people, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
• He explains that eternal blessings and a permanent home far outweigh the value of the whole world. Don’t make the trade!
• Jesus has so much more to offer than this world. Do not be ashamed of Him and His glory.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page.