Mark 8 reminds me how much I dislike making the same mistake more than once. Sometimes I even write down steps or landmarks that I have missed before. What about recurring relationship blunders? They seem to be much easier to see in others. Today’s chapter repeats some lessons perhaps to allow us to take notes. The chapter begins with “another large crowd gathered”, and just as He did two chapters prior, Jesus had “compassion for these people; they… have nothing to eat”. At this point, nearly all of us would have said, “Why don’t you do that thing with the bread again?” Yet none of the disciples did. In order to multiply the loaves someone would have to give up their own food stash. Even as the story unfolds, after distributing the bread, as a postscript, “They had a few small fish as well”. Was someone holding out, just in case? A “me-first” attitude will starve relationships. Following Christ’s example, each person took, broke, and passed the bread. “The people ate and were satisfied… seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand were present”. Immediately after this the religious leaders came to Jesus to test Him, asking for a sign from heaven. We want assurances before we give of ourselves, but no one asks for a sign before receiving. Jesus said bluntly, “no sign will be given”. Why are you holding back?
We read of an interesting discussion in the boat as they crossed the lake. “The disciples had forgotten to bring bread”. Their mistake was on their mind as Jesus began a new instruction, “Be careful. Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod”. His lesson is never finished. While Jesus was looking forward, the disciples were stuck in their past, “It is because we have no bread”. Dwelling on past failures can also derail relationships. Jesus asked them, “Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?” Jesus focused on the multiplication, the disciples focused on the division. Going back to the prophets, God promised His people a new covenant, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). That is a lesson we all need to remember.
The chapter closes with some relationship builders. First, “some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him”. Jesus took the man outside the village. In the only two-step healing recorded, Jesus “spit on the man’s eyes and put His hands on him”. He asked, “Do you see anything?” Then “Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes… his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly”. Love at first sight will not last without trust. Later Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do people say I am?” He followed that with a much more important question, “Who do you say I am?” Friend, what do you say about your beloved? Peter spoke up, “You are the Messiah”. That title represents authority. Relationships require accountability. Jesus taught them “the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected… and that He must be killed and after three days rise again”. And He added written directions, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me”. To deny self, means recognize we cannot do some things by ourselves. Each of us must carry our burden to the cross of Christ. It is there we find the miracle of mercy repeated over and over. Relationships that foster forgiveness get stronger. He concludes with a question for those that have never put anyone else first, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” There is no need to keep repeating the same mistakes. My friend, if you need directions, please ask!