Mark 8:1-21

Summary
In this chapter, we see Jesus meeting the needs of four thousand people who were with him in the wilderness for three days. Jesus was prompted by compassion to feed these listeners, even though his disciples did not foresee the miracle, he took the seven loaves of bread, gave thanks, blessed it and multiplied it. The people were fed and there were seven large baskets of leftovers. He later dispatched the crowd after which he encountered the Pharisees who asked him for a sign. Jesus however used this opportunity to warn his disciples to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and, lest they be wrongly influenced. The disciples however taught he was talking about bread, Jesus scolded them saying he just wrought miracles before them, where he fed thousands, the disciples did not understand that he meant that they should be weary of Pharisees who have refused to realize that the kingdom of God is right before them, yet still seek a sign.

Life application
This text reveals to us that GOD cares about our needs, we see God’s compassion in action. God is requiring us to trust him to provide for our daily needs. We can see from the manifestation of God’s power that he supernaturally provided for four thousand people. Jesus who fed thousands is still the bread of life today and will meet every need in our lives.

Personal declaration
My need is abundantly supplied by God and I will continually put my trust in God day by day.

Reading – Mark 8:1-21

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

8 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.”

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.

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.

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.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

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.”

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.”

²¹ He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

All scriptural passages are taken from the NIV version of the bible.