Today’s titles are; Verses 1-10 Jesus feeds four thousand. Verses 11-13 The demand for a sign. Verses 14-21 The leaven of the Pharisees. Verses 22-26 Jesus heals a blind man. Verses 27-30 Peter’s confession. Verses 31-38 Jesus foretells his death. Mark 8 and verse 1 reads.
Mark 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:
We have read about the feeding of the five thousand in Mark 6 and Matthew 14 and here we have four thousand more, will his disciples ever learn. Well yes, they do in Matthew 16 finally. What you and I need to know is what Jesus is talking about when they pick up the baskets. Let’s go to Matthew 16 and verse 8 reads.
Mat.16:8] Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
[9] Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
Twelve baskets. Governmental perfection, twelve disciples, twelve tribes.
Mat.16:10] Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
Seven baskets. Spiritual perfection, completeness.
Mat.16:11] How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
[12] Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
We must remove all false doctrine of the false teachers within our churches before the Truth of God’s Word can be taught. Now, let’s read about these four thousand being fed the Word of God by his disciples (That’s you and me today) after bringing order to the multitude. Back to Mark 8 and verse 3 reads.
Mark 8:3] And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
[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.
The loaves of bread are symbolic for the body of Christ, the church.
Mark 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.
With Order they taught. Notice that the disciples do the feeding.
Mark 8:7] And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
Fish or Ichthys (Ichthus in Greek) is an acronym for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.
Mark 8:8] So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
Notice the meat is broken. Let’s go to Matthew 5 and verse 6 reads.
Mat.5:6] Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Filled with the Word of God, the Truth. Seven in biblical numeric is Spiritual Completeness. The baskets represent the false doctrine. Back to Mark 8 and verse 9 reads.
Mark 8:9] And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
Four thousand, plus their families is about 15,000 total. Four in biblical numeric is worldly.
Mark 8:10] And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
Dalmanutha is a small town in Magdala province. Dalmanutha (G1148) means; Slow Firebrand. Magdala (G3093) means; A Tower. I say all this because in Matthew 15:39 it says he came to Magdala, there is no controversy here, but let’s look at their meanings. Slow firebrand here in Mark, meaning they were slow alright in being a firebrand for the LORD. And in Mat.15:39 they were supposed to be the Watch Tower for Judah, again they were lacking in not watching.
Mark 8:11] And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
So here in Dalmanutha they had a synagogue, and the Pharisees came out to tempt the Lord looking for a sign. Jesus will not find any faith in these Pharisees, knowing that their lies are great among the people, he will give them no sign.
Mark 8:12] 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.
The fact that Jesus sighed gives this generation a specific detail in the Strongs’, it is G1074 and means; 1. esp. in a bad sense, a perverse nation. Jesus is speaking to the Kenites that had perverted the synagogue at that time. Now, we know that the sign for the times was Jonah in the belly of the fish, as Jesus would be in the tomb for three days and three nights. These Pharisees should have known scripture. Let’s go to Zechariah 9 and verse 9 reads.
Zec.9:9] Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Prophesied that the Messiah would come. And in Proverbs 30 and verse 11 reads.
Prov.30:11] There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
[12] There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
[13] There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
[14] There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
And in Isaiah 65 and verse 5 reads.
Isa.65:5] Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
These Kenites, pretending to be priests of God, perverse the very synagogues and the Temple of God. Back to Mark 8 and verse 13 reads.
Mark 8:13] And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.
They leave and go back to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
Mark 8:14] 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.
[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?
Did I not open your eyes to the truth, do you not have spiritual eyes.
Mark 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?
Jesus tells them about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees and how it was their false doctrine that was the reason for the baskets. Matthew 16:8-12. This is why we study all of God’s Word, not just the book that we are in, but checking the other books gives us a full perspective of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Back to Mark 8 and verse 22 continues.
Mark 8:22] And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
We will see the compassion in Jesus as he leads him by the hand outside of town, Jesus always heals where there are no unbelievers for the believer’s sake.
Mark 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 heals his spiritual eyes first. He had the Tree of Life standing before him. In Hosea 14:8 God says; I AM a green fir tree. There are many places in God’s Word where he refers to men as trees.
Mark 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.
Now Jesus heals his fleshly eyes. But that he sees every man clearly, means he has the blessing of spiritual eyes to see the spirits of men.
Mark 8:26] And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
There were no people of faith in that town, or Jesus would not have led him out to heal him.
Mark 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?
Notice Jesus uses his holy name, I Am.
Mark 8:28] And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
Some say, not all, Elias, which is Elijah, or some other prophets.
Mark 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.
Again, he uses his holy name I Am. And Peter says “Thou art the Christ” or Messiah. Christ means; The Anointed One. In another place (Mat.16:16) Peter says Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. It is important that we understand this, it is the statement of Baptism. After Philip taught the Eunuch about Jesus in Acts 8, verse 36 reads.
Acts 8:36] And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
[37] And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Back to Mark 8 and verse 30 reads.
Mark 8:30] And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
Now we come to the reason Jesus tells them tell no man he is the Christ.
Mark 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.
The reason is Jesus knows after they (The Pharisees and chief priest) learn who He is, they will crucify him, but lets them know he will be resurrected on the third day. His job is not finished yet, but soon it will be. All in his time.
Mark 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.
This sounds harsh, but said for our sakes in these end times. When Jesus says, get behind me Satan, he means his evil spirit. So, think spiritually here, Peter is not thinking of God’s Word coming to pass exactly as written, but of his love for Jesus. Let’s go to 1Corinthians 10 and verse 11 reads.
1Cor.10:11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
In Psalms 22 the crucifixion is told very specifically, Peter must remember that all things written will happen. Back to Mark 8 and verse 34 reads.
Mark 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.
Pick up your cross means they will persecute you also, even until death. Are you willing? Do not forget that we will be delivered up to Death in these end times, it is our destiny. Let’s go to Mark 13 and verse 11 reads.
Mark 13:11] But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
This would be the unpardonable sin, to not let the Holy Spirit speak through you.
Mark 13:12] Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
Let’s go to Hebrews 2 and verse 14 reads.
Heb.2:14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
We see here that Death is another name for Satan. Back to Mark 13 and verse 13 reads.
Mark 13:13] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
[14] But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Our jobs are to Stand against Satan with the gospel armor on in these end times. Back to Mark 8 and verse 35 reads.
Mark 8:35] 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.
Peter’s problem above was he was worried about the flesh and not the spirit. No man can save his own life. But Jesus says not only does he save it for you, but we are to be willing to lose our life for him. After all, he gave his life for you. This is what it means to pick up your cross and follow him.
Mark 8:36] For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
We are not of this world, but chosen out of this world. Let’s go to John 15 and verse 18 reads.
John 15:18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
[19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
[20] Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
[21] But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
His name’s sake, Christ men, Christians. Back to Mark 8 and verse 37 reads.
Mark 8:37] Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Do you think you can sell your soul? Let’s go to Ezekiel 18 and verse 4 reads.
Eze.18:4] Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
All souls belong to the Father. Jesus asked what can a man give for his soul? The answer is your love. Let’s go to Hosea 6 and verse 6 reads.
Hos.6:6] For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Not burnt offerings, but your mercy, your love. Back to Mark 8 and verse 38 reads.
Mark 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.
Notice he says, Me and my Words, teach the Word of God without apology and with boldness. Never be ashamed to teach Jesus Christ crucified. Meaning who crucified him, the Kenites. Let’s go to Romans, where Paul taught, Romans 1 and verse 16 reads.
Rom.1:16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
[17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Great study today, let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and 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