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,
This is another feeding of a multitude.
2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
As the crowd has been growing, many haven't eaten for days.
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.
If He sends them away, they may pass out before they get home.
4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?
Doubt is satan trying his best to separate us from The Truth. After all the things they have witnessed, they still lack faith in Christ.
5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.
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.
7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
If you remember we went over this in Mark 6:38 "Fish" aGreek cipher, "iota" spelling out "ichthus" = "Jesus Christ Son of God Savior".
8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
Look how far the meat went. Christ The living bread feeds us the meat of His Word and when we accept it, it will fill us with a lot more left over. 7 = spiritual completeness †
9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
Christ sent them away to digest what they had taken in. We should always meditate on The Word we have taken.
10 And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
This is known as the West Bank today.
11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
If you give these people a sign, they'll still refuse it. No difference in the world today.
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.
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.
Leaven will corrupt the whole thing. If someone puts a little lie in The Word, it will change the whole Truth.
16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
They're not getting it. It's about false doctrines being put into God's Word. Traditions replacing Truth and people partaking of it. Even today, people reject The Truth for things that sound better to them. They want an escape when things get tough, they want to ignore what God hates and say "He doesn't hate; everyone goes to heaven", They have thrown out most of The Word for feel good messages of "love and understanding". True love is sometimes tough love, even if you don't like what is said.
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?
We shouldn't ignore the things Christ says and does.
18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
All the things He has done right before their eyes and all the things He had said right into their ears.
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?
There is a hunger for The Truth and it's up to each of us to study His
Word leaving out the leaven = false doctrines taught today. Amos 8:11-12 11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord
God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst
for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the
north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord,
and shall not find it. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth.
22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
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.
Notice this isn't for a show. Christ led him out of the center of town away from those that knew him.
24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
He could make out their trunks and limbs swaying as they walk.
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.
Only in Christ, can we see clearly what is going on in the world. If you don't take the time to study His Word, you'll never understand The Way to go.
26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
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.
The people believe Christ to be anyone but who He Is.
29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
"Thou art The Anointed One, The Messiah"
30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
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.
32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
Peter is ready to put up a fight to defend Christ from death, but these things must come to pass. Hebrews 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.
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 reaction of Peter is the same I feel about the things happening around the world right now. The hatred I have for what people do, but I must keep in mind God's will. These things must happen to bring about the end of the age. Mark 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
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.
We must follow Christ example not ourselves or what we want things to be. He showed us the power over all things and He is it. We must stand against the tricks of satan, accepting what he wants you to believe and follow. It sounds great to someone without Truth. A wonderful speech with hope and prosperity, but will drag you into darkness further than you are now if you're refusing Christ. Some don't even know they walk in darkness because they refuse The Light.
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.
It's not about money or fame, it's about your soul. Do you live for today or what's to come? You had better be thinking about your soul!
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Sports, jobs, drugs, sex, TV, etc. So many things can consume the mind taking you away from where your focus should be. Where will those things take you in the end?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Are you willing to risk 10 seconds of pleasure for the death of your soul? This life is to see who loves God. THAT'S IT!
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.
What do you live for? The world and satan or Christ Jesus flowing from your lips and hands.