Mark 8:1-21
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.”
For context, we are still in Mark’s section of Jesus in Gentile territory.
We have learned about what defiles a person, Jesus with the Syrophoenician woman, Jesus and the deaf/mute man. Now it’s time to see Jesus feeding a crowd of four thousand.
We have seen something similar before! Recall Mark 6. But, what is the difference in this story?
This whole section in Mark is trying to teach us that Christ has come for both Jews and Gentiles.
When was the last time you had compassion on someone?
Compassion = to suffer with
In recent years, there have plenty of conversations around “empathy vs sympathy.”
Empathy = to feel with/as someone / critique = there is grounding for help/improvement
Sympathy = to feel for someone / critique = cold and distant
The Scriptures show us that Christ came into the world to suffer with/as one of us. He had pity on us. He rescues us from sin and death so that we may do that unto others.
We are called to suffer with those who suffer.
We are called to bring them the gospel and aid.
4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied.
Unlike in Mark 6, there are not no nearby towns for them to even think about getting food for the people.
They seem to forget what Jesus did for the other crowd a few chapters ago.
The unbelief of the disciples is a main motif in this section of Mark.
So Jesus has to take matters into own hands.
6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9 About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
He repeats the same formula from chapter six.
They sit, he gives thanks, breaks the bread, gives it to the disciples, and they distribute it.
Despite their lack of faith, Jesus still involves them in His ministry work as an invitation to trust in Him more.
The disciples picked up 7 full baskets. In chapter six, it was 12.
Then Jesus goes on to another town. Dalmanutha.
The exact location of this town and its history is unknown. But it probably refers to Magadan (as recorded in Matt 15:39), the city of Mary Magdalene.
11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
Another main motif of this section (and the gospel of Mark) is the opposition of the Pharisees to Jesus’ ministry.
They come test Him. To make Him stumble. To have something to accuse Him of.
Why would Jesus sigh if He was to visit us?
Jesus does something fascinating. He chooses to not engage with the Pharisees.
There are more important things to do than to engage in endless and useless debates.
He goes on to take this as a teaching opportunity for his disciples.
14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
As Jesus and his disciples get on boat, we learn that they had forgotten to bring bread. They only had one loaf of bread with them. So Jesus uses this as a teaching moment. Hoping that they won’t be as stubborn as the Pharisees.
Then He goes on to tell them to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.
What does this mean?
16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” 17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. 20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.”
In an almost comedic way, the disciples think the Jesus is talking
So Jesus, already fed up with the Pharisees, engages in conversation with the disciples.
Remember Mark 4!
Jesus is trying to help his disciples understand what the Pharisees and Herod don’t want to see. That if He’s doing all this signs is because He is the Christ.
But they fail to perceive them, at least in this passage.
21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
This scene ends with this question from Jesus.
We are led to believe that they couldn’t understand what He’s teaching them.
Read Matt 16.