What I Noticed Today (Mark 8-9)
Mark 8
In verses 1-10, (See also Matthew 15:32-39), while Jesus was still in the region of Decapolis, another large crowd formed around Him who had been with Him for three days. Jesus had compassion for them and wanted to feed them. The disciples said they had only seven loaves of bread a few small fish. Jesus told the people to sit in groups. He gave thanks to the Father and broke the bread. They fed the entire crowd of 4,000 men (probably 16,000 in total) and had seven baskets of food left over.
Note: Given the region, the crowd was likely composed of both Jews and Gentiles.
After they finished feeding the people, Jesus and the disciples got into a boat and went to Dalmanutha.
Note: Matthew identifies Dalmanutha as Magadan, near Tiberius on the western side of the Sea of Galilee.
In verses 11-13, (See also Matthew 16:1-4), before he left, Pharisees came out to question Jesus, demanding a sign from heaven, but Jesus said no sign would be given to this generation.
In verses 14-21, (See also Matthew 16:5-12), in their haste to depart, the disciples brought only one loaf of bread. Jesus warned them to avoid the yeast of the Pharisees or of Herod Antipas. They failed to understand; their hearts were hardened, they had eyes but did not see, and ears but could not hear.
Note: Jesus is warning the disciples to be on guard against the corruption of the Pharisees and of Herod that spread in their society. Yeast was a common metaphor for something that spread into and affected whatever it was mixed with.
Jesus reminded the disciples of the two feeding miracles (the 5,000 and the 4,000) they had witnessed, yet they still didn’t understand who He really was.
In verses 22-26, as they entered Bethsaida, the people brought a blind man to Jesus. Jesus took him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying hands on him, Jesus healed him. Jesus warned the man not to go to the village but to go straight home.
Note: The fact that Jesus took the man out of the village to heal him privately and then asked him not to go to the village is an indication that Jesus wanted this healing to remain private to not interfere with His planned ministry.
In verses 27-30, (See also Matthew 16:13-20), Jesus and the disciples were walking on their way to Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking, Jesus asked who do people say I am. The disciples answered, John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. Jesus then asked, but who do you say I am. Peter answered, you are the Messiah. Jesus warned them not to tell anyone who He really was.
Note: Up until this point in Mark’s gospel, only God and the demons understood and proclaimed who Jesus was. Peter was the first disciple to proclaim this truth.
In verses 31-33, (See also Matthew 16:21-23), Jesus told the disciples that he would suffer and be rejected by the chief priests, scribes, and elders. He would be killed and rise after three days. Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked Him, but Jesus warned Peter he was thinking about man’s plans, not God’s.
Note: Jesus' reference to Satan suggests that Satan influenced Peter’s thoughts causing him to focus on man rather than God.
In verses 34-38, (See also Matthew 16:24-28), Jesus summoned the disciples and the crowd to teach them. He said if anyone desired to follow Him, they must:
- Deny themselves (their selfish interest).
- Take up his cross (public submission to God).
- Follow Me (an imperative that means to keep following all your life).
Jesus said whoever is ashamed of Him and His Word in this world, and He will deny when He returns as the Son of Man.
Mark 9
Verse 1 continues from Mark 8:38. Jesus said some of the people He was speaking to would not taste death before they saw the power of God.
Note: There are several interpretations of Mark 9:1 among scholars as to what display of power Jesus is referring to 1) Jesus’ transfiguration, 2) His resurrection and ascension, 3) the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the spread of Christianity in the early church, 4) the destruction of the temple or, 5) Jesus’ second coming. Given the very next passage in Mark’s gospel relates to Jesus’ transfiguration, I think this is the power that Jesus is likely referring to.
In verses 2-13, (See also Matthew 17:1-13), after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a high mountain where He was transfigured.
Note: Mark does not say which of the several nearby mountains they went to, but the “high mountain” description fits well with Mount Herman.
Elijah and Moses appeared with the transfigured Jesus. The voice of God came from a cloud that was overheard, saying, “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him” (see Deuteronomy 18:15).
Note: The literal translation of “Listen to Him," is “Be obedient to Him.”
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus warned them not to say anything about what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept discussing what was meant by “rising from the dead.”
Note: Of the three times Mark records Jesus telling the disciples to be silent, this is the only instance in which he indicated a time limit on their silence.
Note: Jews believed in a future resurrection, but Jesus confused the disciples by speaking of His resurrection after three days.
In verses 14-29, (See also Matthew 17:14-21), as Jesus and the three disciples returned, they were met by a large crowd and some scribes. A father had brought his demon-possessed son to the disciples to be healed, but they had failed to drive out the demon. When the demon saw Jesus, it threw the boy into a violent seizure. The father begged Jesus, if you can do anything, please help. Jesus answered everything is possible for one who believes. The boy’s father responded, I believe, help me with my unbelief. Jesus rebuked the spirit, and it left the boy.
The disciples asked why they had not been able to drive out the spirit, and Jesus answered this type of spirit could only be driven out by prayer.
Note: It seems the disciples had not prayerfully asked God to heal the boy. Perhaps they assumed because they had cast out demons before they could do it again on their own power.
In verses 30-32, (See also Matthew 17:22-23), Jesus and the disciples left that place, and as they were walking through Galilee, He told them again that He would be betrayed, killed, and rise again after three days.
In verses 33-37, (See also Matthew 18:1-5), Jesus and the disciples arrived in Capernaum and settled into a house. Jesus asked them what they had been arguing about on the way. They said nothing because they were discussing who was the greatest. Jesus said he who would be first must be last and servant of all. Whoever welcomes a child in Jesus’ name welcomes Him.
In verses 38-50, (See also Matthew 18:7-9), John said they had seen someone driving out demons in His name, and they stopped him because he was not with them. Jesus said, do not stop him because no one who performs a miracle in My name can deny Me later. Whoever is not against us is for us. Whoever even gives you a cup of water because of Me will never lose his reward.
But, Jesus warned anyone who causes a little one who believes in Jesus to stumble will face judgment.
Note: The little ones referred to in this verse are immature believers, people young in their faith. The reference to stumble means to turn away from their faith in Jesus.
Jesus uses three examples to convey the seriousness of the judgment:
- It is better to cut off a hand than face the fires of hell.
- It is better to cut off a foot than face the fires of hell.
- It is better to gouge out an eye than face the fires of hell.
Jesus said salt is good but worthless if it loses its flavor. Therefore, keep salt among yourselves.
Note: The common source of salt in the region was the Dead Sea. But this salt was impure and could lose its saltiness, making it worthless.
Some points for further consideration:
- The disciples did not grasp where the power came from that gave Jesus the ability to perform miracles. As a result, they didn’t understand who Jesus really was.
- When the disciples did attempt to perform a miracle while Jesus was away, they failed because they had neglected their own spiritual discipline.
- The disciples were concerned for prestige and greatness in human terms. They failed to see that greatness in God’s economy comes from service to Him.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
