Mark 8

Mark’s account of Jesus’ ministry and miracles has demonstrated once and for all that Jesus is God: He is Lord over all – He feeds the hungry, heals the sick, raises the dead, and rules nature. Chapter 8 opens with more miracles, then Jesus suddenly reveals His coming death. This isn’t what His disciples anticipated! Will they follow Him now?

Jesus feeds the 4000 (1-10) 
 
 Jesus warns of the ‘leaven of the Pharisees’ (11-21) 
 
 Jesus heals a blind man (22-26) 
 
 Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” (27-30) 
 
 Jesus reveals His coming death (31-33) 
 
 Jesus calls for followers (34-38) 
 
 “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Jesus, Mark 8:34 
  
For Further Study

1. Mark 8 opens with an account of the feeding of the 4000. We all know about the feeding of the 5000 (see Mark 6), but forget this feeding. Read both accounts. What is different? What is the similar? What lessons can we learn from these events?

2. What is ironic in the Pharisees’ demand for Jesus to give them a “sign from heaven” (11)? (What had Jesus been doing for the previous months?!) A little later, Jesus warns the disciples to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees” (15). Leaven refers to sin that is invisible, but pervasive. What is the Pharisees’ sin?

3. In a somewhat humorous misunderstanding, the disciples think Jesus’ reference to leaven was because they didn’t have enough bread (14-16). They need to believe in Jesus! To what does Jesus point in order to strengthen their faith (17-21). What are some things in your life which can strengthen your faith?

4. Jesus’ healing of the blind man (22-26) is unique; it happens in two stages. Obviously, Jesus could have healed the man all at once. Why do you think He gave him partial sight, then finally full sight? How does this serve as a ‘parable’ of how we gain ‘spiritual sight’?

5. Peter’s great confession (29) is followed immediately by Jesus’ announcement of His coming death (31). Why would this news have seemed so bizarre to His disciples, so that Peter rebukes Jesus for saying it (32)? What did they expect the Messiah to do? What had they overlooked in Old Testament prophecies? (See Isaiah 52:13-53:12!)

6. Mark 8:34-38 is often wrongly applied to salvation – as though Jesus is saying that for us to be saved, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. The issue here, of course, is what we do with our lives, not whether or not we believe in Jesus. What will it be like for the Christian who is ashamed of Jesus, when Jesus returns? (See also 1 John 2:28!)

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