Talk Bible To Me

Hey, ladies! Welcome to our podcast. We have made it our goal to help you learn the Bible verse-by-verse. We are currently working through the gospel of Mark and are very thankful for your interest in studying with us! Okay, friend -- are you ready to dive into Mark 8?!

If you are new to our podcast, salutations! You have found a group of women eager to support you and help you grow in faith! You are always welcome here where you can learn and ask questions! Let me explain how our podcast works. I will read a passage of Scripture and then we break it down as we go. I will be reading from the English Standard Version (also commonly referred to as the ESV) today if you are interested in following along.

I do want to take a second and give a background real quick. In chapter six we talked about Jesus feeding the five thousand. This took place in a primarily Galilee which was mostly a Jewish region. Now, in chapter 8, Jesus is feeding four thousand in the Decapolis which is mainly made up of Gentiles. Now, let’s start reading.

This is God-breathed and profitable for you:

1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. (“‘I have compassion for these people’ ” expresses Jesus’ gut-wrenching emotion on behalf of the crowd. Equally importantly, in Mark, this word is not used of people for whom one would naturally feel compassion (such as friends or compatriots), but for those far removed and even offensive: lepers (1:41), revolutionaries (6:34), Gentiles (8:2), and demon-possessed (9:22).)[1] 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” J.R. Edwards says, “The “large crowd” gathered around Jesus (7:33; Matt 15:29–31) has accompanied him for three days and begins to run short of food. In describing the crowd Mark uses a rare and intensified form of the word for “remain,” prosmenein, connoting a special adherence and commitment to Jesus. The crowd has not been coincidentally present but intentionally with him. This is an unusually positive description of a crowd in Mark. Jesus again finds a reception among Gentiles that he has not found among Jews.” [2]

4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” Why do you think the disciples are so confused or lacking in faith at this point? It’s not like Jesus was incapable of feeding them. He literally made this happen a few chapters before this. Well, his disciples [could] not have believed God would provide an Exodus like feeding for a mixed audience.” [3]

5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. 

“Seven,” they replied. 

6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were leftover. 9 About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. 

11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven.