Mark 8

1During those days another large crowd gathered. The people had nothing to eat. So Jesus called His disciples to Him and said:

2I feel sorry for these people. They have been with me three days now and have nothing to eat.

3If I send them home hungry, they will faint on the way, because some of them have come a long way.

4His disciples answered: Where could anyone get enough bread to feed them here in this lonely place?

5Jesus asked: How many loaves do you have? They answered: Seven.

6Jesus told the people to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves and gave thanks to God. He broke the loaves and gave them to His disciples to give to the people, and they did.

7They also had a few small fish. Jesus gave thanks for them too and told the disciples to give them to the people.

8The people ate and were full. Afterward the disciples picked up seven large provision hampers of leftover pieces.

9About four thousand people were there. After Jesus sent them away,

10He got into the boat with His disciples and went to the area of Dalmanutha.

11The Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus. To test Him, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.

12Jesus took a deep breath and said: Why do these people ask for a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to them.

13Then He left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side of the lake.

14The disciples had forgotten to bring bread. They had only one loaf with them in the boat.

15Jesus warned them: Be careful. Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.

16The disciples talked about this with each other and said: He says this because we have no bread.

17Jesus knew what they were saying, so He asked them: Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hard?

18You have eyes — can't you see? You have ears — can't you hear? Don't you remember?

19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many small hand-baskets of leftover pieces did you pick up? They answered: Twelve.

20And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many large provision hampers of leftover pieces did you pick up? They answered: Seven.

21Then He said to them: Do you still not understand?

22They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged Him to touch the man.

23Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Then He spit on the man's eyes and put His hands on him. Jesus asked: Can you see anything?

24The man looked up and said: I see people, but they look like trees walking around.

25Once more Jesus put His hands on the man's eyes. Then the man's eyes were opened. His sight came back, and he could see everything clearly.

26Jesus sent him home and said: Do not even go into the village.

27Jesus and His disciples went to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. On the way He asked them: Who do people say I am?

28They answered: Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. And still others say you are one of the prophets.

29But what about you? Jesus asked. Who do you say I am? Peter answered: You are the Christ.

30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him.

31Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things. He would be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law. He would be killed, and after three days he would rise again.

32Jesus spoke about this plainly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to argue with Him.

33But Jesus turned around, looked at His disciples, and corrected Peter. He said: Get behind me, Satan! You are not thinking about the things of God, but about the things of people.

34Then Jesus called the crowd to Him, along with His disciples, and said: If anyone wants to follow me, they must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.

35For whoever wants to save their life will lose it. But whoever loses their life for me and for the good news will save it.

36What good is it for someone to gain the whole world but lose their soul?

37Or what can a person give to buy back their soul?

38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words among these sinful people, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.