Hey there people, well I hope this finds you well and not too busy with the lead up to Christmas. I’ve spent my day doing Christmas shopping and it was so busy. It’s so easy to get caught up in the commercialised Christmas and forget that its actually something so much bigger..the birth of our Saviour! This leads me nicely into Mark 8.

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand - Mark 8: v1-13

Jesus performs another ‘feeding’ miracle, not dissimilar to feeding of the 5,000…or is it? When I began reading this I began to question why Mark decided to include this…surely its repetitive and unnecessary? As I studied it more closely I realised that I was wrong. This miracle shows Jesus demonstrating his compassion for the people again:

“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat” Mark 8:v2

The disciples, despite having seen Jesus feed 5,000 hungry people, question how the needs of the people will be met:

“But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” Mark 8:v4

Do you see a pattern? The disciples still haven’t understood in their hearts who Jesus is and again they’ve doubted that He’ll be able to provide what they need. Jesus never fails them and he never fails us. Reading this encouraged me greatly, because it highlights the disciples weaknesses (similar to mine) and Jesus’ power, love and amazing patience. So when we just don’t get it, be encouraged that Jesus gets us and will be there for us and provide what we need.

Mark 8:v14-21 The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

Here Jesus warns the disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees:

“Be careful, Jesus warned them. Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod” Mark 8:v15

Jesus here is warning them of having the Pharisees viewpoint on life, but the disciples still don’t get it (I’m feeling sorry for them now). Jesus doesn’t want them to get caught up in things of the world and miss the truth about life and spirituality. So here’s the link with Christmas shopping, the yeast of the Pharisees could be said to be influencing the world’s take on Christmas. We’ve lost all sense of its meaning and its easy to just follow the crowd. Jesus was warning the disciples and us, and its something that I often need reminding of.

Mark 8:v22-26 The Healing of a Blind Man

Jesus is asked to heal a blind man, who has been bought to him by his friends. Jesus puts his spittle on the man’s eyes which I thought was a bit odd. Why did he use spit? Surely it wasn’t about the spit? Actually the spit was used to aid the man’s understanding and to aid his faith.

Mark 8:v31-38 Jesus Predicts His Death

This is where Mark begins to change and we can see where Jesus’ journey is leading…to the cross. Jesus turns his focus from the crowd to the disciples and preparing them for what is going to happen to him and them:

“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again” Mark 8:v31

This is the beginning of the cost.