Mark 8 | The Wolfe Notes

In 2025, we're working our way through the gospels and invite you to join us as we seek to learn from Jesus. Find all our notes, from this year and past years, at the Faith Food tab. And if you'd like ideas for suggested pacing, download our June calendar. Welcome, friends, we're so glad you're journeying with us. Let's grow together!

Our notes on Mark 8 include:

1. An Overview: Topic, Themes, and Summary.
2. An Outline Of our thoughts and questions.
3. Research into picking up our crosses.
4. A Reflection on two-part miracles.
5. An Invitation to Respond to God's faithfulness.

Mark 8

Thrown Stone by Tove85 at Pixabay

Overview

General Topic

The world is different than God's Kingdom.

Key Themes

Invitation. Caution. Surrender. 

Summary

Jesus exhorts us to concern ourselves with things of heaven instead of earth. He feeds the 4,000 Gentiles, demonstrating that heaven, and its abundant provision, is available to all. He denies the Pharisees a sign, encouraging us to trust Him in our hearts and to be cautious of enemies of the Kingdom. He privately heals a blind man, modeling the caution we're to show. He asks His disciples to speak to His identity but to keep what they know secret, emphasizing that we must know in our hearts He is Lord even though the world will not agree. He foretells God's plan for His impending death, forcing us to accept that God's ways are not our ways. He scolds Peter for questioning God's plan, reminding us we're either with Jesus or against Him; there is no middle ground. The chapter ends with Jesus outlining expectations and rewards for anyone who wants to be His disciple, communicating that the price is high but the reward is eternally worth it.

Thoughts, Questions, and Connections

? Denotes a question, * a personal thought, x a cross reference, and ! a connection. Researched answers are in italics. Behold requires our attention; it marks our partnership with God.

On Feeding the Crowd (Mark 8:1-13)

Read Matthew 15:32-39 for another perspective. (See our Matthew 15 notes.)

1. Jesus mentions the need to feed the gathered crowd.
1. * What compassion Jesus shows.
2. 🎵Break my heart for what breaks Yours / Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause🎶"Hosanna" performed by Hillsong 
2. The disciples note a lack of food.
3. Jesus takes the seven loaves and few fish that the disciples provide. 
1. *Perhaps this is the disciples' own food. And what a lesson to learn, to share what little you do have with people you have been raised to despise.
4. He blesses, breaks, and distributes the food so that all may eat.
1. *Unlike in the feeding of the 5,000, the fish and bread are blessed separately. (See Matthew 14:19 and our Matthew 14 notes.)
5. Everyone ate and was satisfied. 
6. Seven baskets of food remain after feeding 4,000 people.
1. 4,000 people altogether, instead of just men at the feeding of the 5,000. (See Matthew 14:21 and our Matthew 14 notes.)
7. Then, Jesus and the 12 depart by boat to Dalmanutha.
8. They are greeted by Pharisees who demand Jesus give them a sign that He is the Messiah.
9. Annoyed, Jesus denies their request, gets back in the boat and goes to the other side of the lake.

On Protecting the Gospel for Everyone (Mark 8:14-21)

Read Matthew 16:1-12 for another perspective. (See our Matthew 16 notes.)

1. Back on the boat, the disciples realize they have no bread.
2. Jesus, still annoyed by the Pharisees' request, tells the disciples to be weary of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.
1. *Jesus' mind was on the frustrating Pharisees who build obstacles to God's Kingdom, while the disciples' mind was on their stomachs.
3. The disciples, confused, think He is reprimanding them for forgetting bread.
4. Jesus is shocked that they still do not understand what concerns Him. 
1. x Our fight is not against human beings. It is against the rulers, the authorities and the powers of this dark world. It is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly world. Ephesians 6:12 NIRV
2. x So don't worry. Don't say, 'What will we eat?' Or, 'What will we drink?' Or, 'What will we wear?' People who are ungodly run after all those things. Your Father who is in heaven knows that you need them. But put God's kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all those things will also be given to you. So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:31-34 NIRV
5. Did they not just see that when He fed 5,000 men there were 12 baskets full of food leftover?
6. And when he fed 4,000 people there were 7 baskets of food remaining.
7. How do they still not get what He is trying to teach them?
1. *Surely, they should get by now that God takes care of all people. Herod and the Pharisees are trying to pollute His message, and He needs the disciples to understand so that they can bring people into the Kingdom of God.

On Two-Step Healing (Mark 8:22-26)

1. Back in Jewish territory, a blind man is brought to Jesus for healing.
1. Bethsaida was essentially homebase. Peter, Andrew, Philip and likely James and John all lived here. The Voice
2. Jesus brings him to a secluded spot.
3. Initially, his sight is only partially healed.
1. ? Why only offer a partial healing initially? *It's good to note that miracles weren't always instantaneous.
2. Bethsaida was formerly criticized for its lack of faith. Miracles are proportionate to the amount of faith shown. This is the only recorded miracle that is not instant. Perhaps, Jesus is trying to show the disciples that their inability to see His purpose can also be cured. The Voice
4. Only after Jesus places His hand on the blind man's eyes again, then is His vision completely restored.
5. Jesus sent the blind man directly home.
1. x I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as wise as snakes and as harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16 NIRV
2. *There are many people conspiring against Jesus which only slows His work.

On Knowing Jesus' Identity (Mark 8:27-30)

Read Matthew 16:13-16 for another perspective. (See our Matthew 16 notes.)

1. On the way to Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks the disciples how people identify Him.
2. People say that Jesus is John the Baptist, Elijah, or some other prophet.
3. Jesus then asks who they say that He is.
4. Peter identifies Jesus as the Messiah.
5. Jesus commands them to not tell anyone.
1. *Perhaps Jesus was not ready for the general population to know that He is the Messiah. Because they have false expectations of who the Messiah is supposed to be, they'd speak against Him and there would be even more trouble form the Pharisees.

On Honoring God's Ways (Mark 8:31-38)

Read Matthew 16:21-28 for another perspective. (See our Matthew 16 notes.)

1. Jesus then tells the disciples that He will suffer because many people won't accept Him and He will be killed. It must happen. But, He will rise again in three days.
1. x Our fight is not against human beings. It is against the rulers, the authorities and the powers of this dark world. It is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly world. Ephesians 6:12 NIRV
2. Peter scolded Jesus for saying such things.
1. This was a serious breach of protocol. NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible *Almost like being complimented went to his head and Peter felt like he could speak his mind.
3. Jesus looked at His disciples, then scolded Peter. Saying, "Get behind me, Satan." Peter was thinking from a human mindset, instead of what God cares about.
1. He was rebuked for seeing with his own eyes. From "Illusion of Sight" by Shane Wood.
2. x Hymenaeus and Alexander are among them. I have handed them over to Satan. That will teach them not to speak evil things against God. I Timothy 1:20 NIRV. Handing over to Satan means excluding them from the church. In the hopes that they will repent and come back. From "Yay! Church Discipline!" at the Clearly Podcast.
3. x "Anyone who is not with me is against me. Anyone who does not gather sheep with me scatters them." Matthew 12:30 NIRV (See our Matthew 12 notes.)
4. *If you don't care about what God cares about, you're on Satan's side.
4. Jesus beckons to the crowd, challenging them with what it takes to be His disciple.
5. Jesus' disciples be willing to suffer persecution for His sake.
1. ? What does that mean, to pick up your cross? *To be prepared to suffer blame, rejection, and hardship because of the tension between the world and Jesus? *R
6. They must trade their ways for His ways.
1. ! They turn everything upside down. How silly they are to think that potters are like the clay they work with! Can what is made say to the one who made it, "You didn't make me"? Can the pot say to the potter, "You don't know anything"? Isaiah 29:16 NIRV
7. Jesus assures them it's worth the price: they'll save their soul.
1. ! Browse our All Souls' Day post for more thoughts on souls.
   
8. Then, He warns them against peer pressure. If they are ashamed of God because of the people they are around, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He returns with the angels.
1. x Jesus said to them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own town. He doesn't receive any honor among his relatives or in his own home.' Mark 6:4 NIRV
2. x The people will run away through that mountain valley. It will reach all the way to Azel. They'll run away just as they ran from the earthquake when Uzziah was king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come. All the holy ones will come with him. Zechariah 14:5 NIRV
3. x "In my vision I saw one who looked like a son of man. He was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Eternal God. He was led right up to him. Daniel 7:13 NIRV

Research

What does it mean to "pick up your cross"? At this time, Jesus was not yet crucified. Wouldn't Jesus saying this have been confusing? Or was it an idiom of the time?

Verse of Reference

Jesus called the crowd to him along with his disciples. He said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must say no to themselves. They must pick up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34 NIRV (See also Matthew 16:24-28 and our Matthew 16 notes.)

Implication

• Jesus was a failure. In the eyes of the world, that's exactly what a cross implied. 
• We are to be failures, too. As we follow Jesus as the standard-bearer, the cross being His standard, we are to expect the world to see us as failures too.

What does it look like?

• Choosing Jesus daily. A continual decision to live the self-sacrificial, non-conforming life that Jesus did. Accepting rejection and suffering because of our choice to follow Him.
• Being crucified to the world. Allow the cares of this world to die and look instead to the cares of your resurrected LORD.

Verses to Encourage

• Whoever doesn't carry their cross and follow me can't be my disciple. Luke 14:27 NIRV
• Anyone who loves their life will lose it. But anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it and have eternal life. Anyone who serves me must follow me. And where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. John 12:25-26 NIRV
• Brothers and sisters, God has shown you his mercy. So I am asking you to offer up your bodies to him while you are still alive. Your bodies are a holy sacrifice that is pleasing to God. When you offer your bodies to God, you are worshiping him in the right way. Romans 12:1 NIRV
• I thought things like that [keeping and defending the law, your heritage, etc.] were really something great. But now I consider them to be nothing because of Christ. Even more, I consider everything to be nothing compared to knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. To know him is worth much more than anything else. Because of him I have lost everything. But I consider all of it to be garbage so I can know Christ better. Philippians 3:7-8 NIRV
• I have been crucified with Christ. I don't live any longer, but Christ lives in me. Now I live my life in my body by faith in the Son of God. He loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NIRV

*Thoughts: We are to die to ourselves, to what we want. We are to die to the world, to what the world tells us matters. We are to consider it all rubbish. Instead, we are to pick up our new life in Christ and follow Him. What choice(s) are you making that the world considers failure or defeat, but you know Jesus sees as a beautiful sacrifice to His life and gospel?

Source: Mark 8:34 commentaries at Bible Hub.

Reflection

Stages of miracles are presented in this chapter. Perhaps to encourage us that change isn't always sudden. Even when we feel like we're hitting a brick wall, there is still hope; change can still happen.

First, Jesus blesses the bread, then the fish. When He fed the 5,000, He blessed both at the same time. 

A blind man saw an unclear vision. Then, after being honest about his unclear vision, Jesus restored him completely. 

We even see two parts in Peter's story. He knows the truth of who Jesus is: a miraculous, anointed provider who multiplies loaves and fishes for all - but Peter does not understand. He only sees in part, through a dark glass dimly (I Corinthians 13:9-12) until Jesus adjusts Peter's vision by sharply rebuking him. Like the blind man, Peter saw an unclear vision of who Jesus was initially, but his vision was corrected when he divulged his faulty understanding.

Yes, this chapter is full of two-part miracles. First the bread, then the fish. Partial vision, then complete restoration. Confession of Jesus' true identity, then exhortation to live like you believe it is true. Prophecy of the Messiah, then revelation that it must happen through suffering.

There is hope in this. We don't see the whole, but we can be content with what we have now: the part. We have bread to remind us we're cared for by the Father. We have partial vision through His word. We have steadfast belief that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. We have the promise of eternal life with God. What we have now is only a part, a small glimpse of hope for the something even greater that is in store: Meat! Seeing clearly! Thanking Jesus face to face! Living eternally with the Father where there will be no more suffering! 

Something better is coming. Hold on!

Respond

Connect

God is faithful.

Reflect

• Jesus multiplies loaves and fish to feed a crowd that is hungry for Him. What are you hungry for? How has God shown you compassion in the past, providing exactly what your soul needs? Remember He is all you need. He has provided for you before; He will provide for you again.
• Jesus teaches us that we must be patient. Not everything happens instantly. Where are you practicing patience in your life? How can these stories of two-part solutions help build your resolve to practice patience?
• Jesus expects us to understand His character: that He provides, that your soul is His primary concern, and that God's plan is greater than anything else. What part of God's character still confuses you or what part of His character do you struggle to believe is true? Ask God to show you the truth of who He is as you seek to grow closer to Him.

Act

• Arise with full hands and a full heart: you already have everything you need.
• Arise! Rejoice for what you know He has already done and live knowing that something greater is coming.
• Arise committed to live in God's will even when you don't understand or want to accept it.

In Closing

Father God, You long for us to see who You truly are, to understand that what we know is only a small part of Your plan for us. And You want us to trust You unconditionally. When I'm hungry, remind me You've fed me. When I question Your goodness, remind me of my shortsightedness. When I wrestle You for control, remind me I chose surrender.

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