Mar 8 | BSB | STEP | In those days [the] crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. [Jesus] called the disciples {to Him} [and] said,

‏ Mark 8

The Feeding of the Four Thousand

1 In those days [the] crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. [Jesus] called the disciples {to Him} [and] said, 2 “I have compassion for [this] crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.” 4 His disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could anyone [find enough] bread to feed all these [people] ?” 5 “How many loaves do you have?” [Jesus] asked. “Seven,” they replied. 6 And He directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks [and] broke [them] , and gave [them] to His disciples to set before [the people] . And they distributed [them] to the crowd. 7 They also had a few small fish, and [Jesus] blessed them [and] ordered that these be set before [them] as well. 8 [The people] ate and were satisfied, and [the disciples] picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9 And about four thousand [men] ^{▼▼men is implied here; that is, in addition to women and children. See Matthew 15:38.} were [ present ] . As soon as [Jesus] had dismissed [the crowd] , 10 He got into the boat with His disciples [and] went to the district of Dalmanutha.

The Demand for a Sign

11 Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with [Jesus] , testing Him [by] demanding from Him a sign from heaven. 12 [Jesus] sighed deeply in His spirit [and] said, “Why {does] this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And He left them, got back into the boat, [and] crossed to the other side.

The Leaven to Beware

14 Now [the disciples] had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.” 16 [So] they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 Aware of [their conversation] , [Jesus] asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts? 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 basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Twelve,” they answered. 20 “And when [I broke] the seven [loaves] for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said. 21 Then He asked them, “vvv Do you still not understand?”

The Blind Man at Bethsaida

22 [When] they arrived at Bethsaida, [some people] brought a blind [man] and begged [Jesus] to touch him. 23 So He took the blind [man] by the hand [and] led him out of the village. Then He spit on [the man’s] eyes [and] placed [His] hands on him. “vvv Can you see anything?” He asked. 24 [The man] looked up [and] said, “I can see the people, [but] they look like trees walking around.” 25 Once again [Jesus] placed [His] hands on [the man’s] eyes, and when he opened them [his sight] was restored, and he could see everything clearly. 26 [Jesus] sent him home [and] said, “vvv Do not go back into the village.” ^{▼▼BYZ and TR Do not go and tell anyone in the village}

Peter's Confession of Christ

27 Then Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, He questioned His disciples: “Who {do} people say I am?” 28 They replied, “ [Some say] John the Baptist; others [say] Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But [what about] you?” [Jesus] asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” 30 And [Jesus] warned them not to tell anyone about Him.

Christ's Passion Foretold

31 Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and [that] He must be killed and after three days rise [again] . 32 He spoke [this] message quite frankly, and Peter took Him aside [and] began to rebuke Him. 33 Turning and looking at His disciples, [Jesus] rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Take up Your Cross

34 Then [Jesus] called the crowd {to Him} along with His disciples, [and] He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it. 36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what {can} a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.”