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Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand(A)(B)(C)

During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people;(D) they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”

“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied.

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. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.(E) The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.(F) 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.(G) 12 He sighed deeply(H) 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(I) of the Pharisees(J) and that of Herod.”(K)

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?(L) 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,”(M) 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.”(N)

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

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

22 They came to Bethsaida,(P) and some people brought a blind man(Q) and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit(R) on the man’s eyes and put his hands on(S) him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into[a] the village.”

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah(T)

27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist;(U) others say Elijah;(V) and still others, one of the prophets.”

29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”(W)

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.(X)

Jesus Predicts His Death(Y)

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man(Z) must suffer many things(AA) and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law,(AB) and that he must be killed(AC) and after three days(AD) rise again.(AE) 32 He spoke plainly(AF) about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!”(AG) he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

The Way of the Cross

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.(AH) 35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.(AI) 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man(AJ) will be ashamed of them(AK) when he comes(AL) in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 8:26 Some manuscripts go and tell anyone in
  2. Mark 8:35 The Greek word means either life or soul; also in verses 36 and 37.

Jesus Feeds Four Thousand(A)

About that time there was once again a large crowd with nothing to eat. Jesus called his disciples and said to them, “I feel sorry for the people. They have been with me three days now and have nothing to eat. If I send them home before they’ve eaten, they will become exhausted on the road. Some of them have come a long distance.”

His disciples asked him, “Where could anyone get enough bread to feed these people in this place where no one lives?”

Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?”

They answered, “Seven.”

He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves and gave thanks to God. Then he broke the bread and gave it to his disciples to serve to the people. They also had a few small fish. He blessed them and said that the fish should also be served to the people. The people ate as much as they wanted. The disciples picked up the leftover pieces and filled seven large baskets. About four thousand people were there. Then he sent the people on their way.

10 After that, Jesus and his disciples got into a boat and went into the region of Dalmanutha.

The Pharisees Ask for a Sign from Heaven(B)

11 The Pharisees went to Jesus and began to argue with him. They tested him by demanding that he perform a miraculous sign from heaven.

12 With a deep sigh he asked, “Why do these people demand a sign? I can guarantee this truth: If these people are given a sign, it will be far different than what they want!”

13 Then he left them there.

The Yeast of the Pharisees(C)

He got into a boat again and crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. 14 The disciples had forgotten to take any bread along and had only one loaf with them in the boat.

15 Jesus warned them, “Be careful! Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!”

16 They had been discussing with one another that they didn’t have any bread.

17 Jesus knew what they were saying and asked them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you don’t have any bread? Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you catch on? Are your minds closed? 18 Are you blind and deaf? Don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?”

They told him, “Twelve.”

20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many large baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?”

They answered him, “Seven.”

21 He asked them, “Don’t you catch on yet?”

Jesus Gives Sight to a Blind Man

22 As they came to Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus. They begged Jesus to touch him. 23 Jesus took the blind man’s hand and led him out of the village. He spit into the man’s eyes and placed his hands on him. Jesus asked him, “Can you see anything?”

24 The man looked up and said, “I see people. They look like trees walking around.”

25 Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes a second time, and the man saw clearly. His sight was normal again. He could see everything clearly even at a distance. 26 Jesus told him when he sent him home, “Don’t go into the village.”

Peter Declares His Belief about Jesus(D)

27 Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They answered him, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.”

29 He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah!”

30 He ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life(E)

31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man would have to suffer a lot. He taught them that he would be rejected by the leaders, the chief priests, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. He would be killed, but after three days he would come back to life. 32 He told them very clearly what he meant.

Peter took him aside and objected to this. 33 Jesus turned, looked at his disciples, and objected to what Peter said. Jesus said, “Get out of my way, Satan! You aren’t thinking the way God thinks but the way humans think.”

What It Means to Follow Jesus(F)

34 Then Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples. He said to them, “Those who want to follow me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me. 35 Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me and for the Good News will save them. 36 What good does it do for people to win the whole world yet lose their lives? 37 Or what should a person give in exchange for life? 38 If people are ashamed of me and what I say in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of those people when he comes with the holy angels in his Father’s glory.”

More than Four Thousand People Fed(A)

·Another time [About this time] there was ·a [another] great crowd with Jesus that had nothing to eat. So Jesus called his ·followers [disciples] and said, “I ·feel sorry [have compassion] for these people, because they have already been with me for three days, and they have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will ·faint [collapse] on the way. Some of them ·live a long way from here [have come from far away].”

Jesus’ ·followers [disciples] answered, “·How [L From where] can ·we [L anyone] get enough bread in this ·remote place [desolate place; desert] to feed them?”

Jesus asked, “How many loaves of bread do you have?”

They answered, “Seven.”

Jesus told the people to ·sit [recline] on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, gave thanks to God, and ·divided [broke] the bread. He gave the pieces to his ·followers [disciples] to give to the people, and they did so. ·The followers [L They] also had a few small fish. After Jesus ·gave thanks for [blessed] the fish, he told his ·followers [disciples] to give them to the people also. All the people ate and were satisfied. Then ·his followers [L they] filled seven ·baskets [large baskets; C a different word than in the feeding of the 5,000; 6:43] with the leftover pieces of food. There were about four thousand people who ate. After they had eaten, Jesus ·sent them home [dismissed them]. 10 Then ·right away [immediately] he got into a boat with his ·followers [disciples] and went to the area of Dalmanutha. [C This place is unknown; it was probably on the western shore of Lake Galilee.]

The Leaders Ask for a Miracle(B)

11 The Pharisees came to Jesus and began to ·ask him questions [argue/dispute with him]. ·Hoping to trap [Trying to test] him, they asked Jesus for a ·miracle [sign] from ·God [L heaven; C possibly a sign in the sky, but more likely a Jewish way of saying “from God”]. 12 Jesus ·sighed [groaned] deeply and said, “Why ·do you people [L does this generation] ask for a miracle as a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to ·you [this generation].” 13 Then Jesus left the Pharisees and went in the boat to the other side of the lake.

Guard Against Wrong Teachings(C)

14 His ·followers [disciples] had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat; they had forgotten to bring more. 15 Jesus warned them, “·Be careful [Watch out]! Beware of the ·yeast [leaven] of the Pharisees and the ·yeast [leaven] of Herod [C yeast or leaven refers here to the dangerous permeating power of their influence].”

16 They discussed the meaning of this, saying, “He said this because we have no bread.”

17 Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, “Why are you ·talking [discussing; arguing] about not having bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your ·minds closed [hearts hardened]? 18 ·You have eyes, but you don’t really see. You have ears, but you don’t really listen [Jer. 5:21; Ezek. 12:2]. ·Remember [L Don’t you remember] when 19 I ·divided [broke] five loaves of bread for the five thousand? How many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food?”

They answered, “Twelve.”

20 “And when I ·divided [broke] seven loaves of bread for the four thousand, how many [large] baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food?”

They answered, “Seven.”

21 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”

Jesus Heals a Blind Man

22 Jesus and his followers came to Bethsaida [6:45]. There some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch the man. 23 So Jesus took the blind man’s hand and led him out of the village. Then he spit on the man’s eyes [see 7:33] and ·put [laid] his hands on the man and asked, “Can you see [anything] now?”

24 The man looked up and said, “Yes, I see people, but they look like trees walking around.”

25 Again Jesus ·put [laid] his hands on the man’s eyes. Then the man ·opened his eyes wide [stared intently] and ·they were healed [his sight was restored], and he was able to see everything clearly. 26 Jesus told him to go home, saying, “Don’t go into the town.”[a] [C Jesus wanted to avoid the publicity that the healing would produce.]

Peter Says Jesus Is the Christ(D)

27 Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] went to the towns around Caesarea Philippi [C a city about 25 miles north of Lake Galilee]. While they were traveling, Jesus asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptist. Others say you are Elijah [a great prophet (1 Kin. 17), who was expected to return in the end times (Mal. 4:5); see 6:15], and others say you are one of the prophets.”

29 Then Jesus asked, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the ·Christ [Messiah].”

30 Jesus [strongly] warned them not to tell anyone who he was.

31 Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man [Dan. 7:13–14] must suffer many things and that he would be rejected by the Jewish elders, the ·leading [T chief] priests, and the ·teachers of the law [scribes]. He told them that the Son of Man must be killed and then rise from the dead after three days. 32 Jesus told them ·plainly [boldly; openly] what would happen. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to ·reprimand [rebuke] him. 33 But Jesus turned and looked at his ·followers [disciples]. Then he ·reprimanded [rebuked] Peter. He said, “·Go away from me [L Get behind me], Satan [C Jesus accuses Peter of doing Satan’s work by obstructing God’s plan]! You ·don’t care about [are not setting your mind on/thinking about] the things of God, but only ·about things people think are important [on/about human concerns].”

34 Then Jesus called the crowd to him, along with his ·followers [disciples]. He said, “If ·people [L anyone wants] want to follow me, they must ·give up the things they want [deny themselves; set aside their own interests]. They must ·be willing even to give up their lives to [L take up their cross and] follow me. 35 Those who want to save their lives will ·give up true life [L lose their life/soul; C Greek psychē can mean “life” or “soul,” producing this play on words]. But those who ·give up [lose; sacrifice] their lives for ·me [my sake] and for the ·Good News [Gospel] will ·have true life [save their lives/souls]. 36 ·It is worthless [What good/profit/benefit is it…?] to ·have [gain] the whole world if they ·lose [forfeit] their souls. 37 ·They could never pay enough [L Or what could they give…?] ·to buy back [in exchange for] their souls. 38 If people of this ·sinful and evil time [adulterous and sinful generation] are ashamed of me and my ·teaching [words; message], the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he ·comes [returns] with his Father’s glory and with the holy angels [Dan. 7:13–14].”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 8:26 town Some Greek copies continue, “Don’t even go and tell anyone in the town.”

耶稣使四千人吃饱(A)

那时,又有一大群人聚集,没有什么吃的。耶稣叫门徒来,说: “我怜悯这群人,因为他们同我在这里已经三天,没有吃的东西了。 我若叫他们饿着回家,他们会在路上饿昏,因为其中有从远处来的。” 门徒回答:“在这野地,从哪里能得饼使这些人吃饱呢?” 耶稣问他们:“你们有多少饼?”他们说:“七个。” 他吩咐众人坐在地上,就拿着这七个饼祝谢了,擘开,递给门徒,叫他们摆开,门徒就摆在众人面前。 他们还有几条小鱼;耶稣祝谢了,就吩咐也摆在众人面前。 他们都吃,并且吃饱了,收拾剩下的碎屑,有七筐子。 人数约有四千。耶稣打发他们走了, 10 随即同门徒上船,来到大玛努他境内。

法利赛人求神迹(B)

11 法利赛人出来盘问耶稣,要求他从天上显个神迹给他们看,想要试探他。 12 耶稣心里深深叹息,说:“这世代为什么求神迹呢?我实在告诉你们,没有神迹给这世代看。” 13 他就离开他们,又上船往海的对岸去了。

防备法利赛人和希律的酵(C)

14 门徒忘了带饼,在船上除了一个饼,没有别的食物。 15 耶稣嘱咐他们说:“你们要谨慎,要防备法利赛人的酵和希律的酵。” 16 他们彼此议论说:“这是因为我们没有饼吧。” 17 耶稣知道了,就说:“你们为什么因为没有饼就议论呢?你们还不领悟,还不明白吗?你们的心还是愚顽吗? 18 你们有眼睛,看不见吗?有耳朵,听不到吗?也不记得吗? 19 我擘开那五个饼分给五千人,你们收拾的碎屑装满了多少个篮子呢?”他们说:“十二个。” 20 “又擘开那七个饼分给四千人,你们收拾的碎屑装满了多少个筐子呢?”他们说:“七个。” 21 耶稣说:“你们还不明白吗?”

治好伯赛大的盲人

22 他们来到伯赛大,有人带一个盲人来,求耶稣摸他。 23 耶稣拉着盲人的手,领他到村外,就吐唾沫在他眼睛上,为他按手,问他:“你看见什么?” 24 他抬头一看,说:“我看见人,他们好像树木,并且行走。” 25 随后耶稣又按手在他眼睛上,他定睛一看,就复原了,样样都看得清楚了。 26 耶稣打发他回家,说:“连这村子你也不要进去。”

彼得认耶稣为基督(D)

27 耶稣和门徒出去,往凯撒利亚‧腓立比附近的村庄去。在路上,他问门徒:“人们说我是谁?” 28 他们对他说:“是施洗的约翰;有人说是以利亚;又有人说是先知中的一位。” 29 他又问他们:“你们说我是谁?”彼得回答他:“你是基督。” 30 于是耶稣切切地嘱咐他们不可对任何人说起他。

耶稣预言受难和复活(E)

31 从此,他教导他们说:“人子必须受许多的苦,被长老、祭司长和文士弃绝,并且被杀,三天后复活。” 32 耶稣明白地说了这话,彼得就拉着他,责备他。 33 耶稣转过来看着门徒,斥责彼得说:“撒但,退到我后边去!因为你不体会 神的心意,而是体会人的意思。” 34 于是他叫众人和门徒来,对他们说:“若有人要跟从我,就当舍己,背起自己的十字架来跟从我。 35 因为凡要救自己生命的,必丧失生命;凡为我和福音丧失生命的,必救自己的生命。 36 人就是赚得全世界,赔上自己的生命,有什么益处呢? 37 人还能拿什么换生命呢? 38 凡在这淫乱罪恶的世代,把我和我的道当作可耻的,人子在他父的荣耀里与圣天使一同来临的时候,也要把那人当作可耻的。”

Jesus gives food to 4,000 people

At that time, another large crowd had come to hear Jesus. The people had nothing to eat. Jesus asked his disciples to come to him. He said to them, ‘I feel sorry for this crowd. They have been here with me now for three days and they do not have any food. I do not want to send them back to their homes while they are hungry. They might fall down during their journey because they are weak. Some of them have travelled a long way to come here.’

The disciples replied, ‘This place is far from any houses. We cannot get enough bread to feed all these people.’

‘How many loaves of bread do you have?’ Jesus asked. ‘We have seven loaves,’ they replied.

Jesus told the crowd that they should sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves in his hands and he thanked God for them. Then he broke the bread and he gave the pieces to his disciples. The disciples gave the bread to the people. The disciples also had a few small fish, so Jesus thanked God for these. Then he told his disciples to give the fish to the people too. The people ate, and they all had enough food. After the people had eaten, there were still lots of small pieces of food. Jesus' disciples filled seven baskets with these pieces. About 4,000 people were there and ate the food. Then Jesus sent the people away. 10 Immediately, he got into the boat with his disciples. They all returned to the part of the country called Dalmanutha.[a]

11 Some Pharisees came to Jesus. They began to argue with him. They wanted to see him do something powerful. That would show them that God had really sent him. 12 Jesus cried with a low, sad sound. He said, ‘People who are alive today want God to show them something powerful. But I tell you this: God will not do the powerful thing for them that they want.’ 13 Then Jesus left those Pharisees. He got back into the boat to go to the other side of the lake.

Jesus talks about the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod

14 Jesus' disciples had forgotten to take bread with them. They only had one loaf in the boat. 15 Jesus said to them, ‘Be careful. Do not accept the yeast of the Pharisees or the yeast of Herod.’[b]

16 The disciples began to say to each other, ‘Jesus is saying that because we do not have any bread.’

17 Jesus knew what they were talking about. So he said to them, ‘You should not be arguing about the bread. You still do not understand my teaching. You seem unable to learn. 18 You are like people who have eyes but they cannot see with them. You are like people who have ears but they cannot hear with them. 19 Remember that I used five loaves of bread to feed 5,000 men. How many baskets did you fill with pieces of food that were left?’

‘There were 12 baskets,’ they replied.

20 Jesus asked them, ‘I also used seven loaves to feed 4,000 people. That time, how many baskets did you fill with pieces of food?’

‘There were seven baskets,’ they replied.

21 ‘You really should understand about me now,’ he said to them.

Jesus makes a blind man able to see

22 Jesus and his disciples came to a village called Bethsaida. Some people led a blind man to Jesus. They asked Jesus to touch the man. 23 Jesus took the blind man's hand and he led the man out of the village. Jesus put water from his own mouth on the man's eyes. And he put his hands on the man. ‘Can you see anything?’ Jesus asked.

24 The man looked up. He said, ‘I can see people. But they look like trees that are walking about.’

25 So Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes again. The man looked carefully and then his eyes were completely well. Now he could see everything clearly. 26 Jesus told the man that he must go back to his home. Jesus said, ‘Do not even go into the village.’

Peter says who Jesus is

27 Then Jesus and his disciples went to visit some villages. They were near to the town of Caesarea Philippi. On the way, Jesus asked his disciples, ‘When people talk about me, who do they say that I am?’

28 They replied, ‘Some people say that you are John the Baptist. Other people say that you are Elijah. And some other people say that you are one of God's prophets.’[c]

29 Jesus asked them, ‘But what do you think? Who do you say that I am?’

Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’[d]

30 Then Jesus warned his disciples that they must not tell anyone about him.

Jesus tells his disciples how he will die

31 Then Jesus began to teach his disciples about the things that must happen to the Son of Man.[e] He would have to suffer in many ways. The important Jews, the leaders of the priests and the teachers of God's Law would turn against him. People would kill him. But after three days, he would become alive again.

32 What Jesus said was very clear. Then Peter took Jesus away from the other disciples. Peter began to tell Jesus that he must not say things like that.

33 Jesus turned round and he looked at his disciples. He said that Peter was not saying good things. He said to Peter, ‘Satan, go away from me![f] Your thoughts do not come from God. Instead, you are thinking like men think.’

34 Then Jesus asked the crowd and his disciples to come to him. He said to them, ‘A person who wants to come with me must not think about himself. He must decide that his own life is not important. He must be like someone who carries his own cross to go and die. Then he may come with me as my disciple. 35 Whoever wants to keep his own life safe will lose it. But whoever gives his life to serve me and God's good news will have true life. 36 A person may get everything in the whole world for himself. But if he loses his life, it will not be any good for him. 37 There is nothing that a person can give to get back his life.

38 People who are living today do not obey God. They are very bad. But you must not be ashamed of me or of my words. If you are, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you. One day he will return and God's holy angels will be with him. He will have the bright glory of his Father. He will be ashamed of you on that day if you are ashamed of him now.’

Footnotes

  1. 8:10 Dalmanutha is on the west shore of Lake Galilee. It is south of the flat part of the country called Gennesaret.
  2. 8:15 People put yeast into flour and water when they want to make bread. The yeast causes the flour to grow bigger and become a loaf of bread. Jesus was talking about the things that the Pharisees taught people. These things could grow and hurt people. See Matthew 16:12.
  3. 8:28 This is the same report that people told King Herod in Matthew 6:14-16.
  4. 8:29 The people were waiting for God to send someone special to them. They called this person the Messiah or the Christ. Jesus knew that the people had wrong ideas about this person. They thought that this person would save them from the Roman government. They thought that he would be a great soldier. So Jesus wanted to teach the people what he, the Messiah, had come to do.
  5. 8:31 Before this time, Jesus had not told anyone so clearly what would happen to him.
  6. 8:33 Peter did not understand that God wanted Jesus to die for us. Satan wanted Peter to stop Jesus, so that Jesus would not obey God. That is why Jesus called Peter ‘Satan’.