1In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,2I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:3And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.4And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?5And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.6And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.7And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.8So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.9And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.10And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.11And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.12And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.13And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.14Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.15And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.16And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.17And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?18Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?19When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.20And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.21And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?22And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.23And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.24And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.25After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.26And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.27And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?28And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.29And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.30And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.31And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.32And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.33But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?38Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Mark 8
New International Reader’s Version
Jesus feeds the four thousand
1During those days another large crowd gathered. They had nothing to eat. So Jesus called for his disciples to come to him. He said,2‘I feel deep concern for these people. They have already been with me three days. They don’t have anything to eat.3If I send them away hungry, they will become too weak on their way home. Some of them have come from far away.’4His disciples answered him. ‘There is nothing here,’ they said. ‘Where can anyone get enough bread to feed them?’5‘How many loaves do you have?’ Jesus asked. ‘Seven’, they replied.6He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves and gave thanks to God. Then he broke them and gave them to his disciples. They passed the pieces of bread around to the people.7The disciples also had a few small fish. Jesus gave thanks for them too. He told the disciples to pass them around.8The people ate and were satisfied. After that, the disciples picked up seven baskets of leftover pieces.9About 4,000 people were there. After Jesus sent them away,10he got into a boat with his disciples. He went to the area of Dalmanutha.11The Pharisees came and began to ask Jesus questions. They wanted to test him. So they asked him for a sign from heaven.12He sighed deeply. He said, ‘Why do you people ask for a sign? What I’m about to tell you is true. No sign will be given to you.’13Then he left them. He got back into the boat and crossed to the other side of the lake.
The yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
14The disciples had forgotten to bring bread. They had only one loaf with them in the boat.15‘Be careful’, Jesus warned them. ‘Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. And watch out for the yeast of Herod.’16They talked about this with each other. They said, ‘He must be saying this because we don’t have any bread.’17Jesus knew what they were saying. So he asked them, ‘Why are you talking about having no bread? Why can’t you see or understand? Are you stubborn?18Do you have eyes and still don’t see? Do you have ears and still don’t hear? And don’t you remember?19Earlier I broke five loaves for the 5,000. How many baskets of pieces did you pick up?’ ‘Twelve’, they replied.20‘Later I broke seven loaves for the 4,000. How many baskets of pieces did you pick up?’ ‘Seven’, they answered.21He said to them, ‘Can’t you understand yet?’
Jesus heals a blind man at Bethsaida
22Jesus and his disciples came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him. They begged Jesus to touch him.23He took the blind man by the hand. Then he led him outside the village. He spat on the man’s eyes and placed his hands on him. ‘Do you see anything?’ Jesus asked.24The man looked up. He said, ‘I see people. They look like trees walking around.’25Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened so that he could see again. He saw everything clearly.26Jesus sent him home. He told him, ‘Don’t even go into the village.’
Peter says that Jesus is the Messiah
27Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’28They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Still others say one of the prophets.’29‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah.’30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
Jesus tells about his coming death
31Jesus then began to teach his disciples. He taught them that the Son of Man must suffer many things. He taught them that the elders would not accept him. The chief priests and the teachers of the law would not accept him either. He must be killed and after three days rise again.32He spoke clearly about this. Peter took Jesus to one side and began to scold him.33Jesus turned and looked at his disciples. He scolded Peter. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You are not thinking about the things God cares about. Instead, you are thinking only about the things humans care about.’
You must pick up your cross
34Jesus called the crowd to him along with his disciples. He said, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must say no to themselves. They must pick up their cross and follow me.35Whoever 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 if someone gains the whole world but loses their soul?37Or what can anyone trade for their soul?38Suppose anyone is ashamed of me and my words among these adulterous and sinful people. Then the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.’