Mark Chapter 8

Mark Chapter 8

Well by now, Jesus has collected quite a number of followers and they've been hanging with him for three whole days without food, so these kids are HUNGRY! JC is afraid that if he tells them to go home and get some food they'll faint on their way because so many have come from all over the place.

JC's disciples seem to suffer from some form of memory loss because they ask him how they'll be able to feed them way out there in the wild. Jesus goes through the same thing as the last time he had a giant group that wanted to stay for dinner. He asks his disciples what they have for food. As it happens this time they have seven loaves of bread and a few little fishies. Well, wouldn't you know, Jesus does the same trick blessing the food and breaking it up and this time he's able to feed about four thousand people. After they eat he sends them home and heads off on this ship to some part of Dalmanutha.

The Pharisees greet him as usual with some skepticism. This time they'd like him to provide a sign from heaven so that they may know him as a true profit. Apparently this is a tempting proposition for him. But here's a line I really like, if you didn't believe me in Chapter Seven that JC was growing weary of everyone constantly beleaguring him with their problems, doubting his word and so then explain this line to me... "And he sighed deeply in his spirit...", now that is one worn out dude. Anyway, he tells that that there will be no sign for their generation, and asks them why they should need it anyone?

I'll take a stab at it for the Pharisees... well, back in the day God seemed to be all about signs, so if you're trying to tell us that you're really the son of god, you'd think he'd let us know. I mean, healing people is great, and driving out spirits is super, but we've seen that kind of thing before. We're looking for a little more proof so that we know you're not the devil trying to lead us astray.
That's my take anyway, in the gospel the Pharisees don't reply.

Jesus heads off to his ship and crosses the sea of Galilee for like the nine millionth time. His silly disciples forgot to take bread for the voyage so they only had one loaf. Jesus warns them to beware of the "leaven" of the Pharisees and of Herod (I'm not sure, but I'm thinking maybe that means he doesn't want them taking charity or bread from them. I can't be sure why you would need to beware of anyone's "leaven"). His disciples are like... uh, we have no bread. Now I imagine Jesus rolled his eyes all the way to the back of his skull when he heard them say this again. How many times does someone have to perform a miracle before people are going to understand what happens? He asks them if they've missed what he's been up to over the past few days and reminds them that he was able to feed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and four thousand people with seven, so he's not quite sure what these brainiacs are missing. One loaf among thirteen people should be plenty.

They arrive in Bethsaida and a blind man is brought to him. JC takes him out of town and put spit on his eyes then put his hands on him. At first the man only sees kind of shadowy people. Jesus then puts his hands on his eyes again and when he removed them the man was able to see clearly. Just as in the last chapter, Jesus no longer wants everyone to go around telling all they know about the wonderful things he can do. He tells the cured man no to tell anyone in his own town or any other about his miracle.

JC and his friends head into the towns of Caesarea and Philippi when Jesus curiously asks them what people are saying about him, particularly who they are saying he is. They tell him that most people think that he's John the Baptist, but some think Elias and others think one of the prophets. Jesus asks who his disciples think he is.

Peter (formerly known as Simon) speaks for everyone and says, "Thou are the Christ."

JC tells them not to tell any one.

Then he began to teach them the he must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, priests, and scribes. He tells them that he will be killed and after three days will rise. Peter started to argue with him about this. But, "he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan; for thous savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men." That sounds a lot like he's calling Peter, Satan, but that doesn't seem right.

Anyway, he calls together a bunch of people and tells them that if they really believe in him they should expect to suffer, but that it will be worth it. He says that if they try to save themselves then their eternal life will be lost. But, if they lose their life for his and the gospel's sake then they will be saved, presumably be going to heaven. He asks what good is it to a man if he gains everything in the world, but loses his own soul. What will a man give in exchange for his soul? He says that if you are ashamed of him in this "adulterous and sinful generation" then he will be ashamed of you when you are in front of his father and the angels.

Wow, the end seems to be nigh. JC seems to be turning from an arrogant and dogmatic man to someone who is quickly coming to terms with just what kind of punishment he's looking at from the local government. With all the moving about I can only imagine that the poor guy has people chasing him looking to arrest him so that he can suffer a similar fate to my dear friend the locust eater. My sympathy is more and more with Jesus.