Introduction
A good teacher utilizes some form of testing to evaluate their students’ comprehension level. Jesus is the Master Teacher, and in this chapter, we find him seizing upon the flow of life to test his disciples with a one-question exam. But first, we will examine the context of this exam.
A Spellbound Crowd Gives Rise to a Hugh Miracle (8:1)
Jesus and the disciples were in a desolate area west of the Sea of Galilee, probably a day’s journey from the towns. The location of Dalmanutha helps us with the location since it was on the Northwest edge of the Sea.
This was, as it were, a three-day camp meeting, and no one had planned for it. People were spellbound by His teaching and kept teaching throughout the days. People were so intrigued that the lack of provisions was of no concern.
The Miracle Is Motivated by Jesus’ Compassionate Concern (2-3)
It is a credible supposition that people had water since carrying a skin bottle was common. However, that supply would have certainly been depleted. A couple of thirst, hunger, and a day’s journey in that Mediterranean climate would have been devastating.
The disciples propose the problem. There is no place to purchase food in this desolate place (4), and in doing so, they set Jesus up to do this miracle. He turns to them and asks, “So, how much food do you have?” They offer their merger seven loaves and a few fish. In response, Jesus directs that to organize this picnic in an orderly setting, pray, and multiply the available food into more than enough to feed the crowd.
Consider the exclamation point that this miracle placed at the end of a three-day Bible conference taught by this authoritative Lord. This obvious Divine action sealed his teaching.
There were no Pharisees in the crowd that day, but someone had broken away from the crowd and informed them of the three-day event culminating with the feeding. These antagonists missed the show and demanded “a sign from heaven.” When they asked for a sign from heaven, they had in mind events of their history, such as the lengthening of the day for Joshua to finish the battle. In his answer, Jesus indicates that no such sign will be given and indicates there are times and seasons for such signs, but they are not for that generation.
Teaching on the Ferry Boat 13-21
Like several of Mark’s accounts, he gives us the bottom line of this teaching. In the historical context, readers could backfill the meaning. Hear the warning: “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” Leaven is illustrative of sin in the Bible. Hence, it has a negative tone, which we hear in Jesus’ warning. The leaven of the Pharisees was religious legalism commonly referred to as Pharisaism. Herod was raised as a Jew. His leaven is what we today would call secular humanism. Both are deadly. Legalism will choke the life out of Christianity as it did Judaism, while secular humanism contaminates Christianity with cultural values, therefore stifling its impact on the world. Throughout the various epistles, we find similar repeated warnings.
A Miracle Portrait (22-26)
The blind man depicted the condition of the disciples. Jesus healed their souls, and they progressed in that healing as they gradually grasped Jesus’ teaching. Hence, this miracle is also a foreshadowing of the doctrine of progressive sanctification (Phil 1:6)
The Master Teacher Gives an Exam (27-33)
This is a one-question exam. Jesus has been teaching many things for many days, but there is one point to which everything else points: the point of this exam. “Who do people say that I am?” Jesus asked. They report three answers that folks propose to that question. While these are significant offerings since they put Jesus in the prophet category, they miss the mark. So, Jesus rephrases the question as, “But who do you say that I am.” Peter makes a hundred because he has the help of the Holy Spirit, as we learn from Matthew’s account (Matt.16:13-20).
A 100% on an exam does not necessarily mean the student understands the implications of the material. So, Peter quickly rebuked Jesus as He presented God’s plan. In terms of comprehension, Peter’s grade was zero.
A Call to Exploration of Discipleship 34-38
Despite Peter’s failing to comprehend, Jesus summons the multitude and proceeds to the next lesson. He provides a job description of disciples.
- Discipleship begins with an attitudinal commitment to sacrifice (34)
- Discipleship is built upon losing one’s life (35). This reminds me of the book of Ecclesiastes, where we learn that all is vanity.
- Discipleship is living knowing you are going to die and living accordingly (37-38)
- Discipleship is about saving one’s life by losing one’s life ((34). Think of it this way. If you gain worldly fame and fortune in possessing your life, you have nothing when you die. The adage, “You cannot take it with you,” is all too true (36-37). But living a life of discipleship yields the joy of the Lord in time and eternal reward to come and will be greeted by a smiling Lord (38)
Conclusion
So, it ends three intense teaching days, culminating in a critical exam. After an extended meditation like this one, a part of us would love to jump into a time machine and join the multitude, sit at Jesus’ feet, and partake of the love and fish. But that will only happen in our imaginations. Too often, as we go through life’s journey, we just let it happen, and we miss the life lessons available to us in the daily flow.