Commentary in Simple English on the Gospel that Mark wrote

(See Matthew 15: 32-39.)

'History repeats itself' but with differences. We are wise if we notice the differences. This passage is very much like the feeding of the five thousand (6:35-44) but the crowd this time was probably mixed, and not only Jewish.

The problem was the same: a large hungry crowd. This time Jesus asks His followers what they will do about it (verses 2 and 3). They cannot take it for granted that Jesus will repeat what He did before. This time there were seven loaves and a few small fish - 'more bones than anything else' (C.H.Spurgeon). Again there was order. The disciples made the crowd sit down (verse 6). When Jesus gave thanks it would be strange to those in the crowd who were not Jews (verse 7). This time, the broken pieces, which were left over, were enough to fill seven baskets. These were large baskets or vegetable nets, such as Paul used when he escaped from Damascus (2 Corinthians 11: 33).

We think that Jews and non-Jews sat down together to eat at this time. Then this looks forward to the time when all races of men will sit down together in the Church of Christ.

Verse 10 tells us that Jesus crossed the Lake again to the west side. No one knows where Dalmanutha was.

(See Matthew 16: 1-4.)

The Pharisees came to Jesus and asked Him for a sign. They were not sure that His works of power meant that God had sent Him. A sign was something that everyone could see. Such signs happened only when a prophet or someone like Jesus said that it would. It would prove that the claims made by the prophets were true, or that what they said would happen was right. A sign need not always be a work of power: but it proved that the person who gave it could be trusted. Its purpose was not to prove the power of the person who gave the sign. When the Jews ask for a sign 'from heaven' they mean 'from God', not 'in the sky'. The Jews so feared using God's name lightly (Exodus 20: 7) that they did not use it at all. Jesus speaks strongly when He says 'I tell you the truth......' and He will not give a sign. Jesus will not give them a sign. This is because the Pharisees really want to know whether Jesus can make God do what they want God to do for them. Remember! God is free to do what He wants to do.

Jesus and His followers cross over the Lake again, this time to the east side. It may be that it was because Jesus and His followers had left quickly (verse 13) that they only had one piece of bread (verse 14). If your Bible speaks of 'leaven' this is just an old word for yeast in English. The word which Jesus used was also used for bread, but it also meant 'word' or 'teaching'.

The 'yeast of the Pharisees' meant that they were narrow in matters of religion. The 'yeast of Herod' was to do with political matters. So Jesus warns against the narrow ways of the Jews, who would have nothing to do with other nations. This was what the hard hearts of the followers of Jesus meant (verse 17). They did not like it when Jesus helped people who were not Jews. [8.1] Also, it is always wrong to mix religion and politics. This happened when the Pharisees and Herod worked together. (See Matthew 2: 3 onwards).

Jesus tells His followers again how much was left over when He broke the loaves and fish (verses 19 and 20). There is plenty in the Gospel for all men.

Verses 22-26 A blind man at Bethsaida

Bethsaida Julia was on the north east side of the lake. It was a very big village but not a city. The man in this story may have been a Jew: we do not know. Mark thought of this story and the one in 7: 31 - 37 as a pair.

Nowhere else in the Gospels does Jesus ask whether His touch has done its healing work. Here He asks (verse 23): 'Do you see anything'? Mark does not say that the man had been blind from birth. The result of the first touch from Jesus was probably that he saw everything upside down. Our eyes, we are told, do see everything upside down. Our mind learns to turn it up the right way. Mark would not have known that. The man needed a second touch from Jesus (verse 25) and then he could see 'clearly from far off'. God's work is perfect: but He may not give us all that we want at once.

Mark tells us about the healing of another blind man in 10:46-52.

Verses 27-30 Peter's Confession

(See Matthew 16: 21-28; Luke 9: 22-27.)

These verses are the centre of Mark's Gospel. The story about Jesus, which Mark tells, turns on what Peter says here. Peter probably speaks for the other followers of Jesus. Until they knew that Jesus was God's promised Messiah, He could not begin to teach them about His suffering.

Jesus and His followers were in the villages around Caesarea Philippi. This was about 40 km north of the Lake of Galilee.

There was another city, Caesarea Maritima about 80 km west of the Lake of Galilee on the Mediterranean coast. This was a great, new city; the Book of Acts speaks about it. See especially 8: 40; 10: 21: 8-16; and 23: 23 to 26: 32.

Caesarea Philippi was a much smaller city. It was not far from the great spring at Dan, which is one of the sources of the river Jordan. People say that this is the most beautiful part of Palestine.

Jesus asked His followers one by one on the way what people said about Him. The answers are the same as in 14: 14 and 15 (verse 28). But Jesus is not just more than an ordinary man. In verse 29 He asks them: 'Who do you say that I am?' Peter answers up 'You are the Christ'. That means He is God's Anointed, the Messiah.

What do we say about Jesus?

The Jews knew that in the Old Testament there were many promises. They hoped that God would send to them the person described in such passages as Isaiah 11: 1 to 10. They mostly expected that He would be a leader and soldier who would set them free from the power of the Romans. They also thought that the Messiah would have no power until a new Elijah came to anoint him - that is, to pour oil on his head. Elijah would also make the Messiah known to everyone. (See Malachi 3: 1.) Jesus warns His followers not to tell anyone that He is the Messiah. If they had, the Jews would have become excited. They would have expected Jesus to lead them in war against the Romans.

God and men are not on the same side! (Verse 33)

Verses 31-33 Jesus tells of His coming sufferings and death

(See Matthew 16: 21-23; Luke 9: 22.)

Only when we know Who Jesus is, can we go on to learn about His sufferings (Philippians 3:10). We should be thankful to God that He sent His Son into the world to be the great Sufferer. We all suffer. Jesus is the suffering Saviour for suffering men and women. Only a few people enjoy power, money and glory in this life

Mark tells us about three times when Jesus spoke of the sufferings that He would have to go through. (See also 9: 31 and 10: 33 and 34.) Jesus adds more detail each time. He calls Himself 'the Son of Man' each time not 'Messiah'. In each place, we find that the followers of Jesus speak afterwards in a way which shows that they do not understand (Peter in 8: 32; John in 9: 38; James and John in 10: 35 to 37).

Mostly, it is good for us not to know what will happen in the future. We would only worry. (See, for example, Saul in 1 Samuel 28.) When Scripture does tell us what will happen in the future, there is a good reason. In Genesis 41, Joseph knew about the seven years when the crops in Egypt would fail. This was so that he could store up food for the people. In Mark 13, Jesus will tell His followers what will happen at Jerusalem in years to come. He also tells them what to do about it. In this case Jesus tells the Twelve about His sufferings. This is so that they will not be surprised and upset. When it happens, they will know that it is all part of God's plan and purpose.

Peter was not ready for the idea of a Messiah who would suffer. He wanted a Messiah who would be a king. We may well be the same. Our worship may be taken up by the thought of Jesus as King and Lord. There may be a cross, which hangs up in our church. But in our thoughts and worship there must be a place for Jesus as the Sufferer Who carries our sins away and is the Saviour of the lost.

Peter took Jesus on one side. (See 7: 33 and 8: 33.) Peter tried to tell Jesus that He had got it all wrong. Jesus turned round and looked at the rest of the Twelve. Jesus had His back to Peter (verse 33). Jesus said: 'Return to your place as My follower. Get behind Me - Satan!'.

Peter can hardly have been pleased when Jesus called him 'Satan'. Yet he took it from Jesus.

Verses 34 - 38 and 9: 1 The cost of following Jesus.

(See Matthew 16: 24 - 28; Luke 9: 23-27.)

If this was the teaching given by Peter to the Christians in Rome, it was exactly what they would need. Jesus spoke these words not just to the Twelve but to the whole crowd (verse 34). It was not only the Twelve who would suffer for His Name. God calls us to follow Jesus. But this is not to develop ourselves, but to deny ourselves. God calls us to say to everyone that we believe in Jesus. And Jesus now says that He will carry His own cross. We cannot carry His cross for Him.

We are usually ready to go through all sorts of trouble, except what God sets before us. If we want to follow Jesus, we must pick up our own cross, not someone else's. It is not until the judge has announced the death penalty that a man carries his cross (verse 34). In verse 35, Jesus tells us that each one of us sets a high value on his life. We do all that we can to look after our life. We have ways to do this. We work hard. We keep the body healthy. We keep out of the way of danger and so on. All this can mean that in the end life is not worth living. So we lose it, even when we try to save it.

Life for ever in glory with Jesus will be better than the few short years of this life can ever be. So Jesus says that we must be ready, if we have to, to give up our lives if we want to save them. But we must be sure that it is really for the honour of Jesus that we give up our lives. We must spread the Good News and we must keep it pure.

When we read verse 36, we should remember how the devil tempted Jesus (Luke 4: 5-7). The devil is a liar, of course. He showed Jesus what might seem to be an easy way to succeed. The rule of our life must be to give glory to God alone. This will often mean that life will not be so easy. Success may seem further off. God will honour every man who gives honour to Him. (1 Samuel 2: 30; Proverbs 3: 6,9,10). But even if we do not see any reward in this life, let us still be faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ (Job 1: 9; Habakkuk 3: 17,18). Any man can lose his life: only Christ can save it. To leave a good cause in bad times shows that a man has a poor character (verse 38).'Who has the right to shake off the cross but he who would have hell'?

Jesus speaks about His second coming in verse 38. When He comes again, He will still be true Man. (See also 13: 26 and 14: 62.) He speaks about the glory, which He will have at last. Then He lets three of His followers see a little of that glory.