Mark 8 ~ and were satisfied

Mark 8

8 In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them,

2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.”

4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?”

5 And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.”

6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.

7 And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them.


8 And they ate and were satisfied.


And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.




14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread.

17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.”

21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”


22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”


27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.





31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life[d] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

If we are going to memorably study the Chapter today, let's fill in some background.

Jesus has shown us in the Chapters of Mark, Jesus has just sparred with the Pharisees and has returned to the 13-mile diameter Sea of Galilee. Jesus sails across this water sometimes 4 times a day. Something to think about during rush hour - just about every single day.

And Jesus has 12 men willing to ride with Him daily. Why? Because Jesus bolted out of the gate - healing all the sick of Capernaum and when Jesus did His first Sermon - the - entire - town - arrived to find out what the news about Jesus would include. This immediately takes us out of traveling in the rush hour realm.

Now, why are the Disciples there? The Disciples of Jesus have found something Psalm 91 has told us about the Messiah and God's Nature


Psalm 91

15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

16 With long life, I will

satisfy him and show him my salvation."


Mark 8

8 And they ate and were satisfied.



Jesus tells us about Father God - seek the Lord with All Your Heart - and He Will Be Found. This is not

'Cause wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kisses will start
That won't get you into his heart
So if you're thinkin' of how great true love is…


12 men did not leave careers, jobs and life for a song. Which is Utterly Terrifying to the Christian Newbie. Like being Ob-sorbed. What is real - God - does not ask you to be fake. God is God the Almighty. He has created part of creation - called this by name - endowed you with talents and gifts - made you - you. No Tibetan yellow robe and razor will arrive. No tonsure kit will be sent. No clerical collar will be fitted. This is about understanding the God who has created the wonders of the earth - has built the universe. He is Your Father and someday when your mortal body has finished - you will bring your only eternal acreage to His Kingdom (the God who created DNA, gravity, water, mist and ice) and will find out what you did with yourself to be you.

And just like we want our future in-laws of our children to be in the area of good apple - God Himself is going to see if He thinks you'd be an asset in Heaven - His Home. The Horrible God of the Old Testament told His people 'No Human Sacrifice" and Don't go there. No hair shirt is required, but if we make sure our house guest is reputable - surely we can allow God the Almighty to see some work done before the Eternal Ticket is handed over. We let Willy Wonka do this.

Let's think about Satisfaction and the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus had a very certain Job. To let us know the exact nature of God.

And instead of getting on a Great Lake and sailing away - or the Mediterranean. The Atlantic. Jesus is in a giant lake that can indeed, indeed, indeed become as weather laden as any ocean.

The Sea of Galilee is so transparent back even in the robe wearing days - the Crowds could ride around a little and find Jesus. Jesus Wanted to Be Found. Today! Jesus is Humble. He is not bowing and waving and kissing babies. Jesus is telling the Truth and dealing with difficulty. Jesus is living a life not to inflict others, a life that when we live the Great Howling Winds of Life we see Jesus is not living in an Ivory Tower - not married and Prince of Princes and King of Kings. Jesus has dealt with taxes - profound medical problems and angry people. Jesus displays loving behavior when profound gratitude comes His way. Not going soppy to wet toast.

Jesus, like Father God, being 'One', deals with us all having Glimpses of Heaven. The Disciples are there expecting long-range benefits. But Jesus has so far and a 'Way' left the Disciples behind - they are thinking they are going to blow up and not obtain the long-range benefits. Most of the time the disciples are in awe and confused what they do that makes them necessary. Making them more human and giving us a relief - we might have had our ideas a little more together. The Disciples are really us. What will we do requiring God to need us? Instead, we find the Fatherly Jesus has His Disciples as adopted Children. In fact, the later letters of Loyal Beloved Disciple John - address us as His Children.

And in a society really having heart-warming aspects to still make God adore us - God the Father adores us - adoring our families and children. We see Jesus finds us His Beloved.

Jesus even displays humor to tell the man, "Don't even go into the Village!" Jesus really understands real life. Telling us we can have 'Satisfaction' with God Himself and, especially, God having enjoyment of us without fake means to impress a chilly God who is hidden and remote with a demeanor of unhappiness.




Jesus has compassion on us.

“I have compassion." Jesus has enjoyment in having us have satisfaction.






Abba, Father God,

With great pleasure, we ask Your Blessings Daily. You are our Father and we will have Victories and Blessings in our Prayers and Conversations with You.

With Great Satisfaction to pray and have so much hope and encouragement to cover those around us with Jesus. Increasing Life.

Luke 12

31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you. 32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

King Louis was a Saint. St. Augustine was a Saint. All of the Saints tell us of God who knows we cannot complete all 3,000 pages of the Bible. Jesus is our Savior who has completed every dot and every iota of God's Word. His Law. His Word is Law and His Word and Love and Works will be accomplished. We can always say to You, Father God, Thank You for Your Great Will and Purpose. A Hope and Future.

Father of Love. Father of Encouragement. Thank You for Blessing us to hear us. Thank You for the gift of those we Love. Fill them with Your Love and Encouragement. Bless the People You have Given us.

We lift up this Nation to You and Your Living Water. Your Spirit gives Life and gives more than we can ask or imagine. And in filling this Nation - we pray Your blessings on our Churches, communities, employments and states. Asking Your Holy Spirit to Bless all the Nations Trusting in You. Supporting Your Beloved around the earth You call Good yesterday, today and tomorrow.

And in Jesus, we can all say the Amen.