Mark 8_1_26

A story is told about a man who found out it was his time to go to heaven. He asked the Lord if he could bring just one thing. The Lord answered “no.” Finally after many request the Lord said, “You can bring just one thing.” Happily the man chose his suitcase full of gold. When he arrived in Heaven the angels said, “Sorry you can’t bring that in here.” The man said, “The Lord said I could.” “Okay,” they said. “But by the way what’s in there?” The man opened the bag, and they looked in. Then the angels said, “look he brought us more pavement.”

The man clearly didn’t have understanding about heavenly things. This is a funny joke that illustrates the importance of understanding.

Understanding is important, it seems the disciples were slow to understand but before we point out their shortcomings we must look at ours. The disciples witnesses miracles and yet were slow to understand but we witness many blessings in our lives and are slow to understand. Unlike the disciples, we have the complete inspired testimony of God to aid us and yet we are slow to understand.

I believe the complete pericope is Mark 8:1-38 (we will cover 1-26), many lessons are taught in this chapter but what is drawn to my attention is that understanding came in stages as illustrated by the blind man of Bethsaida who Jesus healed in stages. I am convinced that understanding is by divine revelation of God, Matthews records Jesus’ words; And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven (16:17). We can come to see clearly (understanding) as mature Christians when we live by faith, completely trusting in Jesus alone as is taught in the Scriptures.

What this mini exegesis will prove is that Jesus was teaching His disciples to live by faith not by sight and to trust in Him alone. This is a great lesson for us and these are the things we need to understand still today.

Body

Jesus desires for us to understand the importance of living according to faith and not by sight. Vs. 14 -15 (Background Vs. 11-12)

This is a principle every Christian should take to heart and do. Jesus teaches this principle in this text, the Apostle Paul followed this principle and encourages the Corinthians and ultimately us to do the same. For we walk by faith, not by sight (2. Cor. 5:7). Faith is the Greek noun pistis (244x N.T.) that means believe to a complete trust. The Bible defines faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). Notice the contrast between faith and sight. Faith understands to complete trust in the things promised of God that have not yet come to pass in time (though they have in eternity), thus they are not seen. It would seem that if the Pharisees were alive here today they would all live in Missouri.

Jesus and His twelve disciples have gotten into a boat and begin to cross the lake on their way to Bethsaida after an encounter with the Pharisees near Dalmanutha. While in the Boat the disciples began to discuss their lack of bread. Jesus takes this conversation as an opportunity to teach His disciples. Jesus say’s “Take heed” or “watch out,” this is the Greek verb horaō which literally means pay attention. Jesus is calling His disciples to listen closely to what He is about to teach them because it is important. Jesus warns the disciples not to do as the Pharisees do and to not follow their teachings by saying “beware” of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. The Pharisees were the conservative religious leaders of Judaism and Herod was a half Jew appointed by roam to govern Galilee. One called people to strictly observe the oral law the other called people to a gentile way of life. Jesus rebukes both.

However, contextually speaking the emphasis seems to be placed on the Pharisees. The word beware is the Greek verb blepō which means to be able to see or to perceive. Jesus is recorded as using this word twice in Mark’s Gospel both uses are a warnings to the disciples in regards to the hypocrisy of Israel’s religious leaders. Jesus’ warns of leaven, which is a culture that grows in dough making it rise. However, in this context and in Jewish culture it can be used to speak of sin and evil influence. When cooking bread even the smallest amount of yeast permeates (spreads through out) the dough and can’t be removed (A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. Gal. 5:9). Jesus is warning the disciples about adopting the teachings and religious way of life that the Pharisees promote. Most good Jewish men regarded the Pharisee, because of their piousness and obedience to the law but their appearance was deceiving, they appeared righteous but were rotten to the core.

Mark tells us that when Jesus arrived in Dalmanutha (Unknown location on the west side of the lake) the Pharisees came to Jesus and argued with Him. Most likely they were still angry over His indictment of their hypocrisy (7:1-23) just before he left Galilee for Tyre and Sidon. They wanted a sign from Him proving once and for all His authority. This isn’t just any sign they desired, they wanted a sign from heaven to prove He was Messiah. They could not believe because Jesus did not fit their description of what Messiah would look like.

First, Jesus did not follow the traditions of the elders (the oral law). Jesus is the very Word of God the giver and accomplisher of the true Law given to Moses on Mt. Sinai so of course Jesus wasn’t going to abide by a man made constitution over the commands of God. Second, Messiah was to be from the Davidic line of David thus would be king and rule like David. During David’s rule God squashed all the enemies who came against Israel, yet now Israel was under Roman rule. They could not believe because Jesus had not brought freedom to Israel. Thus they wanted a sign, not any sign but one from heaven.

Jesus had healed many people in the presence of the religious leaders; He had multiplied bread feeding over 10,000 people which the Pharisee’s certainly heard about. But this wasn’t enough. The Gospel of John gives us insight to what sign the Pharisee’s wanted; “They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat (John 6:30-31). They wanted Jesus to call manna down from heaven, and then they would believe. They had the bread of life in their presence but they wanted honey wafers instead.

The Pharisee’s walked by sight, they would only trust what they could see. Jesus asks, “why does this generation seek a sign?” It was this generation that God chose to send His Son to and they rejected Him. Jesus said, “No sign will be given to this Generation.” Matthew’s account gives a little more detail, Jesus says, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah. (Matthew 16:4)” This sign is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and they still would not believe. In Luke 16, Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, each died. Lazarus went to paradise the rich man hades, the rich man pleads with Abraham send Lazarus back to my brothers so that he can testify to them so they will not end up in the place of torment, but Abraham tells him that Moses and the Prophets have warned them. The rich man insists that his brothers will repent of their sins if a dead man returns to life. But Abraham says, And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead (Luke 16:30).

Here is the principle we are to understand and take to heart, we must live by faith in this life and not sight. One day our faith will become sight but until then continue to live by faith. Faith is what pleases God. This is so important that Jesus after His death, burial, and resurrection rebukes His disciple Thomas by saying, “ Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed (John 20:29)”.

It is a sad truth that the Pharisees wanted a sign before they would believe and it’s even more sad that Jesus sighed deeply at their hardened hearts and then left them standing on the lake shore as He went to the other side. There is something that separates the faithless from God that spans a greater distance than the width of Lake Galilee, It’s eternity!

We walk by faith not sight, the things which are clearly visible today are only temporal, they will not last. The Apostle Paul instructs us, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2. Cor. 4:18).

Christian, walk by faith!

Jesus desires for us to understand the importance of trusting in Him alone. Vs. 16-21

As Jesus and the disciples head across lake Galilee to Bethsaida (NE Shore) they began to discuss the fact that they didn’t bring enough bread. Perhaps they left their bred on the shores of Dalmanutha. The Bible tells us that they had one loaf of bread between the thirteen of them.

This discussion took place over a good span of time. The Greek verb discuss (reason KJV) is dialogizomai, which means to converse or talk. However this verb is in the imperfect tense meaning the conversation continued without end. Notice the wording of verse sixteen, “they began to reason (discuss) among themselves, saying, “It is because they had no bread.” They though Jesus was rebuking them for not bringing bread. But they did have bread, one loaf, and the bread of life.

It was during this discussion that Jesus rebukes the disciples, “why are you discussing this continually.” There is a sense of worry on the minds of the disciples. Jesus goes on to say, do you not yet, see or understand. See in the Greek verb noeō which means to consider well, understand, or reflect on with insight. Understand is the Greek verb syniēmi, it means to reflect on with insight. Jesus asks them if their hearts were hardened, or in other words are you close minded. Mark records Jesus as quoting Jeremiah 5:21; “Now hear this, O foolish and senseless people Who have eyes but do not see; Who have ears but do not hear.” And Ezekiel 12:2; “Son of man, you live in the midst of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house.”

It seems that the disciples were walking by sight at this stage and were not seeing clearly. Jesus bluntly asked the disciples, “do you not remember all the bread I have multiplied and you distributed? How can you possibly worry about not having enough bread? He recalled the five loafs that He blessed and broke that fed 5,000 men not counting the women and children that were there and there were 12 baskets full of leftovers. The leftovers were more than they began with! Jesus then recalls a scene from just a few days before which are recorded in verses 1-10 of this chapter.

While in the Decapolis, shortly after the healing of the deaf and mute man a huge multitude assembled. It is most likely these Gentiles had heard of Jesus through the evangelistic work of the healed demoniac of Chapter 5:1-20. In stark contrast to Jesus’ last visit which the people begged Jesus to leave due to their pigs dying (5:1-20) the people stayed with Jesus three days without food to eat. In Matthew 4:4 Jesus rebukes Satan by saying, “man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” This crowd found something better than bread, the Word of God in the flesh, and as was Jesus’ custom He certainly gave them the Word of God. They tasted it and it was good, “How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth (Ps. 119:103).” “ He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.” Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth” (Ez. 3:3).

Yet,after three days of no food Jesus felt compassion for the people because they were in a desolate location and there journey home was ling and there was no place to buy bread. Jesus is the compassionate God. Compassion is the Greek verb splagchnizomai, it means to have one’s heart go out to someone. Notice the disciples question to Jesus, Where will anyone find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people. Jesus took their seven loaves, gave thanks, and broke them. He took a few small fish (similar to a sardine), blessed them, and broke them as well. The disciples served this bread and fish and the 4,000 people were satisfied. The disciples then took up seven baskets full. 7 loaves and 2 fish satisfied 4,000 and there were leftovers! But, notice in verse 8, the word spyris, this is a different word for basket used in 5:43 (feeding of 5,000). Mark 5:43 uses the Greek noun kophinos, this is a basket typically used to carry food in but in Mark 8:8 spyris is used which means a hamper! They collected 7 hampers of leftovers! This is the type of basket that was used to lower the Apostle Paul outside the walls of Damascus as the Jews sought to kill him. Jesus’ disciples picked up 7 baskets large enough for a man to fit of leftover! DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND!

Understand what, that nothing is impossible for Jesus, He makes a little bountiful, He supplies all our needs according the riches of His glory. They had one loaf of bread them and that one loaf is all you will ever truly need and His name is Jesus!

Do you trust in Jesus today? Do you understand who He is in a way that is not just head knowledge but heart knowledge? It seems the disciples did not and we give them so much grief, but what about us? They saw Jesus walk on water, heal the lame, blind, and deaf, multiply bread. They heard the very voice of God say Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you, but we have the complete inspired word of God that connects all the dots from the O.T. to the N.T. and we have seen the blessings of Jesus in our everyday Christian lives, the breath He supplies, the jobs He gives, the provisions He extends yet we don’t understand or see clearly enough to live completely by faith trusting only in Him. Some of us need to let go and step out on the unseen rock that is below our feet! The foundation on which all of the universe is founded, Jesus!

Conclusion

This understanding comes gradually in the life of the Christian, as Jesus demonstrates this truth as He gradually hills the blind man of 8:22-26. Jesus laid His hand upon the man and asked him, “Do you see anything?”He responds, “I see men walking around like trees.” He wasn’t born blind but became blind. A second time Jesus laid His hands on the man and his sight was restored and he began to see clearly.

So it was with the disciples and so it is with us. Nest week we will see Peter seeing a little more clearly as He professed Jesus Messiah but full understanding didn’t come until after the Resurrection of Jesus when they were filled with the Holy Spirit of God. We have the Holy Spirit of God but are we filled to the rim with Him? Or is our walking by sight and lack of trust in Him ALONE keeping us from seeing clearly and understanding fully? We have everything we need but if we don’t knowledge that and live our life as if everything fully depends on Him we will never see clearly.

There are some things we need to understand today, walk by faith not by sight trusting in Jesus alone.

Mark 8:1-26 “Some things we need to understand.”

Intro: A story is told about a man who found out it was his time to go to heaven. He asked the Lord if he could bring just one thing. The Lord answered “no.” Finally after many request the Lord said, “You can bring just one thing.” Happily the man chose his suitcase full of gold. When he arrived in Heaven the angels said, “sorry you can’t bring that in here.” The man said, “The Lord said I could.” “Okay,” they said. “But by the way what’s in there?” The man opened the bag, and they looked in. Then the angels said, “oh its pavement.”

The man clearly didn’t have understanding about heavenly things. This is a funny joke that illustrates the importance of understanding.

CPS: We live by faith not by sight and we trust in Him alone.

We must understand the importance of living according to faith and not by sight. Vs. 14 -15 (Background Vs. 11-12)

We must understand the importance of trusting in Him alone. Vs. 16-21

Conclusion: This understanding comes gradually in the life of the Christian, as Jesus demonstrates this truth as He gradually hills the blind man of 8:22-26. Jesus laid His hand upon the man and asked him, “Do you see anything?”He responds, “I see men walking around like trees.” He wasn’t born blind but became blind. A second time Jesus laid His hands on the man and his sight was restored and he began to see clearly.

There are some things we need to understand today, walk by faith not by sight trusting in Jesus alone.

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