Interesting enough today is all about opening eyes and ears. So, let’s begin, Mark chapter 8;1 and it reads.
Mar.8:1] In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,
[2] I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
[3] And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
Jesus always with compassion, for those that follow him.
Mar.8:4] And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?
[5] And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.
Jesus is the “Bread of Life”.
Mar.8:6] And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.
Always with discipline and order, never with chaos or unruly people.
Mar.8:7] And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
[8] So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
This time we have 7 baskets, the last time they had 12 baskets. These will be false teachings they have heard from the pharisees. You have to clean them before you can fill them with truth. Just a note for those who want to plant a seed.
Mar.8:9] And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
[10] And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
Dalmanutha means “cold fountain”.
Mar.8:11] And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
[12] And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
At another time He would tell them “No sign but Jonah”. Mat.16:4. But here he doesn’t bother. He sighs because He knows there is no faith here and will leave.
Mar.8:13] And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.
[14] Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
[15] And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
Jesus will tell them while they worry about bread, beware of the leaven (sin) of the pharisees because that was false doctrine.
Mar.8:16] And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
[17] And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
[18] Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
Are they not “chosen,” they should know this. And now God can open our eyes to his word by their example.
Mar.8:19] When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.
[20] And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
[21] And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
[22] And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
Not a coincidence that a blind man would come to him now, after his disciples could not get that last lesson. But for our sakes this will happen, that we may understand.
Mar.8:23] And 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 upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
[24] And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
Jesus is “The tree of Life”. The LORD calls his children “trees” a lot in the Old Testament. But these trees are walking. As if they are walking after Christ, and planting the seeds as they go.
Mar.8:25] After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
[26] And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
First Jesus opened his spiritual eyes then his flesh eyes. His eyes were opened. And he could see truth that no man could lie to him again, the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Now we can understand what his disciples could not.
Mar.8:27] And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
[28] And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
Elias is Elijah. From Greek to Hebrew.
Mar.8:29] And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
[30] And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
If they told anyone He was the Christ, then they would stone him immediately. And the word of God would be compromised. All in due time.
Mar.8:31] And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Now Jesus just gave them a truth that should have comforted them, that He would rise again on the third day. But they can’t hear now either? Blind and deaf, just in a short time with this gospel. Jesus is teaching us and they sound like they are having problems understanding, but they are chosen for a reason that may not be clear to us now.
Mar.8:32] And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
[33] But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
Peter loved the Lord, and the Lord loved Peter. The lesson is, it is written, and it shall all come to pass. It was written long ago in Psalms 22, the crucifixion. A very hard lesson Peter had to learn. Let’s go to Rev.3:19 and it reads.
Rev.3:19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Back to Mark and 34 reads.
Mar.8:34] And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
[35] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
And for the gospel’s sake. For teaching the word of God. Check out this word “cross”. G4716 saved for the most violent or worse people to be tortured on.
Mar.8:36] For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
[37] Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Eze.18:4, Behold, all souls are mine…
Mar.8:38] Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
If you forsake Him, then He will forsake you. If you deny Him, He will deny you to the LORD. Let us go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and Savior. We ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible