Mark 8

The miracle of Jesus feeding the multitude happened a second time when the people followed Him for three days into the desert to hear his teaching. Jesus, having compassion on them because He knew they would faint on the way if He had sent them home, asked His disciples how much food they had available, and they said seven loaves and a few fish. He commanded the multitude to sit on the ground, then took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, blessed the fish, and gave these to His disciples to set before the people, and they were filled. Four thousand ate, and seven baskets of leftovers were taken up. 

Afterward, He sent them away and He went over to Dalmanutha, where He was confronted by the Pharisees, asking Him for a sign that they may test Him. He "sighed deeply in His spirit" and told them no sign would be given to this generation, and He left them and went over to the other side of the sea.

On the boat, the disciples realized that they had only one loaf of bread left to eat, and Jesus told them, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." They reasoned among themselves that Jesus warned them because they had no bread. Jesus was aware of their thoughts and He asked them if they still did not understand, if their hearts were hardened, and did they not remember? After all, they were with Him when He fed the multitude.

When they came to Bethsaida, a blind man begged to touch him. Jesus took the man out of the city and spat on his eyes and put hands on him and asked him what he saw. He could partially see. Then Jesus put hands on him again and his sight was fully restored. Then He sent the man home and told him not to tell anyone.

Later, Jesus asked His disciples who did men say He was. Some said John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others say a prophet. Jesus asked them who they thought He was, and Peter, speaking for all, said, "You are the Christ." Jesus warned them to tell no one. 

But now that they knew the truth, He told them that "the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and after three day rise again." However, Peter rebuked him for say such things, and Jesus replied, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

Lastly, Jesus told the people and His disciples:

Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world , and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. 

COMMENTARY 

Mark wrote about two separate miracles where Jesus fed the multitude. The first miracle, the people were with Jesus for one day; but the second miracle, the people were with Him for three days.

The first, the disciples had to find out how much food was available; the second, they were prepared and told Jesus immediately.

The first, there were five loaves and two fish; the second, there were seven loaves, and a few fish.

The first, the multitude sat on grass; the second, they sat on the ground.

The first, the Lord blessed the loaves; the second, he gave thanks.

The first, twelve baskets of leftovers remained; the second, seven baskets of leftovers. 

The first, five thousand men were present (not including women and children); the second, four thousand.

ABOUT THE LEAVEN

Leaven represents wrong or evil teaching. Leaven is what makes bread taste good; therefore, when a pastor adds a little leaven to his sermon, he is making it palatable to his unsaved church members. Jesus was warning His disciples of the false teaching of the Pharisees.

Also, how soon they forgot about Jesus multiplying the bread and fish. But they did not ask Him, and instead worried. Are we not like them? How soon we forget what Jesus has done for us, over and over again. 

ABOUT THE BLIND MAN

Jesus could have healed the blind man in the easiest way, but by doing it in stages, it represents our spiritual sight. First we are blind and cannot see or understand. When we are saved, and we have a partial sight. Right now we may feel like and believe that we know enough or we know everything; however, that is not the case. When we are with the Lord we will have perfect sight. 

THE GOSPEL

When Jesus finally revealed what would happen to Him on the cross, Peter did not want to believe it, and He rebuked the Lord. Jesus attributed Peter's unbelief with Satan because "Satan denies the value of the death of Jesus," and that was why Jesus came to earth. 

Furthermore, the reason Jesus told His disciples not to reveal this to anyone was because it had not happened, yet. Only when it was completed and was finished on the cross, then they would be able to share the gospel of the cross. 

credit: Bible.com