Stories of the Rabbi 13

Mark 8:1-21 – Feed 4000 Gentiles and some bad yeast

I. Feeding 4000 Gentiles Vss. 1-10

a. Jesus is still in the Decapolis – this is the third miracle in a row to the Gentiles

b. What is Mark trying to tell his audience by giving so much space to these miracles to the Gentiles?

c. Vss. 1-3 – Jesus has empathy and compassion towards the large crowds

i. They had been with Him for three days (people had come from all over the region of the Decapolis)

d. Vs. 4 The disciples just don’t get it – don’t they remember what happened in 6:30-44

i. If Mark is an effort to recount Peter’s accounts of the events of Jesus, what does it say that the 12 are constantly presented in such a bad light?

ii. One of the things that makes this Gospel (and the others, for that matter) credible is that the authors present themselves in such a poor way. Human nature would be to glorify themselves more and not make them look as dimwitted.

e. Vss. 6-9 Jesus feeds the 4000

i. Unlike Mark 6, there is no qualifier for men – it appears that women and children were counted as well

ii. We can view this as a second course in a grand meal. Jesus is feeding not only the Jews, but he is also feeding the Gentiles

f. Vs. 10 – Jesus and the 12 get back in the boat and sail for the western side of Galilee Dalmanutha – better known as Magdala

II. Dude, it’s not about bread! Vss. 11 – 21

a. Vs 11 – the Pharisees are back at it again – asking for a sign from heaven

i. The Pharisees are not interested in a conversation with Jesus; this incident is more of an inquisition

ii. Clearly, they were not asking for a miracle, as there have been plenty of those thus far

iii. What kind of sign do you think they were looking for?

iv. What does this say about the effectiveness of signs and wonders – for people who don’t want to believe?

b. Vs. 12-13 Jesus gives a HARSH rebuke of the Pharisees

i. He rebukes the Pharisees as representatives of Israel

ii. He turns His back on them, gets in the boat, and returns to the “other side” – the Decapolis. Back to the Gentiles

c. Vss. 14-16 The conversation returns to bread, and Jesus teaches an object lesson.

i. The yeast of the Pharisees and Herod – legalistic law and humanistic paganism

ii. Both are equally destructive, and a little bit can infect the whole loaf

iii. Vs. 16 – the 12 still don’t get it

d. Vss. 17 – 21 – Bringing it all together

i. Vs. 17 – 18 - Jesus rebukes the 12 by quoting Jeremiah 5:21 and Ezekiel 12:2.

ii. Vss. 19 – 22 – How many loaves and what does it matter?

1. 12 for the Jews (signifying the 12 tribes of Israel).

2. 7 for the Gentiles – 7 is the number of completions.

3. Jesus first started with Israel and then moved to the Gentiles.

4. He left them with an abundance on both occasions.

5. It is only through Jesus that true fulfillment can come – legalism and hedonism will always fail

iii. Consider Jesus's questions and discuss them. What is Jesus trying to get the disciples to do or think by posing these questions?

1. Why are you talking about having no bread?

2. Do you still not see or understand?

3. Are your hearts hardened?

4. Do you have eyes but fail to see and ears but fail to hear?

5. Don't you remember?

6. When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?

7. When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?

8. Do you still not understand?