what does Mark 8 mean?

Question

i was reading in mark 8 last night before i went to bed,
and there's a part in there where jesus is explaining to the disciples that they should understand why 5 loaves among 5,000 people leaves 12 baskets of leftovers and why 7 loaves among 4,000 people leaves 7 baskets,
but they don't and NEITHER DO I!!!

serious answers only please.

Answer 1

I'm not sure what Bible you are reading from, but I think you may be referring to 8:16 and on -
This was after the feeding of the people with the loaves and the fishes. They had gotten into a boat and were off on the water on their way to the other side, when Jesus told the apostles to beware of the leaven of Herod and others. The apostles thought He was saying that because He knew they forgot to bring along bread, but what Jesus actually meant by "leaven" was "doctrine" - beware of the doctrine of Herod and others. Anyway, when Jesus heard the apostles murmuring about not bringing bread with them, He said to them (my shortened version) Whats wrong with you guys? You have ears but can't hear and eyes that can't see? And Jesus went on and asked them " when I feed the people the loaves, how many baskets were leftover? And they said "12", and He asked them "when I feed the people the fishes, how many baskets were leftover? And they said "7". And so He said to them, how can you have seen that and still be worried that you forgot to bring bread on this trip?????
Thats all there is to it. This is one of the great lessons in the Bible that tells us how really stupid we are, and how short our feeble little memories are, and how small our little minds are.
We are so hard-headed and feeble minded that its a shock that we can learn anything.
Anyway, I hope this was helpful
have a great evening,

Jan

Answer 2

The food was a manifestation of God's glory falling down. People were in need, & hungry. God provided for his flock. The pharisees were looking for a miracle from heaven, because they did not believe. When there was a miracle in front of them. This manifestation was just like the Israelites in the wilderness. Even they complained, God still was miraculas, and gave them manna. Bread from heaven. That sure is a great miracle. Even though this miracle is in the past, there are still miracles today.
What Jesus is saying is that there was provision in both places. When Jesus fed the 5,000 people, with 5 loaves, & 12 baskets. Then when He fed the 4,000 people with 7 loaves. He was asking, do you not see that God was providing, with extra even. It is pretty awesome. May God provide in your life the same way the people Jesus fed were provided for. Blessings!

Answer 3

He feeds 4,000 with seven loaves; at Bethsaida, he restores sight to a blind man (8:1-9, 22-26)

The Loaves and the Leaven

GREAT crowds have flocked to Jesus in the Decapolis. Many came a long way to this largely Gentile-populated region to listen to him and to be healed of their infirmities. They have brought with them large baskets, or hampers, that they customarily use to carry provisions when traveling through Gentile areas.

Eventually, however, Jesus calls his disciples and says: “I feel pity for the crowd, because it is already three days that they have remained near me and they have nothing to eat; and if I should send them off to their homes fasting, they will give out on the road. Indeed, some of them are from far away.”

“From where will anybody here in an isolated place be able to satisfy these people with loaves?” the disciples ask.

Jesus inquires: “How many loaves have you?”

“Seven,” they answer, “and a few little fishes.”

Instructing the people to recline on the ground, Jesus takes the loaves and the fishes, prays to God, breaks them, and begins giving them to his disciples. They, in turn, serve the people, who all eat to satisfaction. Afterward, when the leftovers are picked up, there are seven provision baskets full, even though about 4,000 men, as well as women and children, have eaten!

Jesus sends the crowds away, boards a boat with his disciples, and crosses to the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Here the Pharisees, this time accompanied by members of the religious sect of the Sadducees, try to tempt Jesus by asking him to display a sign from heaven.

Aware of their efforts to tempt him, Jesus replies: “When evening falls you are accustomed to say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is fire-red’; and at morning, ‘It will be wintry, rainy weather today, for the sky is fire-red, but gloomy-looking.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but the signs of the times you cannot interpret.”

With that, Jesus calls them a wicked and adulterous generation and warns them that, as he told the Pharisees earlier, no sign will be given them except the sign of Jonah. Departing, he and his disciples get in a boat and head toward Bethsaida on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee. En route the disciples discover that they have forgotten to bring bread, there being but one loaf among them.

Having in mind his recent encounter with the Pharisees and the Sadducean supporters of Herod, Jesus admonishes: “Keep your eyes open, look out for the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” Evidently the mention of leaven makes the disciples think that Jesus is referring to their forgetting to bring bread, so they begin to argue about the matter. Noting their misunderstanding, Jesus says: “Why do you argue over your having no loaves?”

Recently, Jesus had miraculously provided bread for thousands of people, performing this last miracle perhaps only a day or two before. They should know that he is not concerned about a lack of literal loaves. “Do you not remember,” he reminds them, “when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand men, how many baskets full of fragments you took up?”

“Twelve,” they reply.

“When I broke the seven for the four thousand men, how many provision baskets full of fragments did you take up?”

“Seven,” they answer.

“Do you not yet get the meaning?” Jesus asks. “How is it you do not discern that I did not talk to you about loaves? But watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

The disciples finally get the point. Leaven, a substance to cause fermentation and make bread rise, was a word used to denote corruption. So now the disciples understand that Jesus is using a symbolism, that he is warning them to be on guard against “the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees,” which teaching has a corrupting effect. Mark 8:1-21; Matthew 15:32–16:12.

He was showing the future blessing under his Kingdom, that there will be NO more hunger on Earth!

Answer 4

I think that when Jesus started sharing the 5 loaves and the fishes, others began sharing what they had brought and there was a lot left over.

The Bible doesn't say a 'miracle' happened here.

Answer 5

Yeast is an analogy to "watch out for false doctrine" --or watch out for false teachings and their hypocrisy and sin-- which came from the Pharisees, and doubt that the Pharisees had. Now a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Have you heard of that in the Bible? An analogy to once someone starts leading people into false truth, many will follow if they are believing it- if they are not rooted in faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus was explaining to them that they need not DOUBT the power of God nor their faith! Jesus "blessed" the food and it was enough- it was the hand of God that fed those people and made enough food. The disciples were thinking in the literal bread- when Jesus was speaking about faith, and being led astray.
Mark 8
14The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15"Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod."

Answer 6

God sent Jesus to save the remnant of the Israelites who continued to serve God despite all the hardships. The other hypocritical people were already condemned. Apart from saving the remnant, The other major task given to Jesus was to grant salvation to the gentiles. Both the tasks were done at the same time. Therefore Jesus spoke in parables and helped the discipless and hence the gentiles to know the truth before the remnant who joined the christians were also enlightened about the teachings. This was already prophesied in OT: Ps 78:2 + Isaiah 6:10

Answer 7

They still didn't believe that he was Jesus the Christ (Christ means anointed). Don't beat yourself up. Even those living with Jesus didn't get it. They finally did and that's what you should focus on. Keep reading and praying. If your not sure how or what to pray, read the Psalms out loud. These are prayers of prophets and kings and they worked for them. Make them yours. God will direct you as you strive to know him. God Bless.

Answer 8

Maybe it has to do with the more you help the more you shall get in return. That's my take on it. Especially if you don't have much to begin with and you still try to help, you'll get back more than you gave after a while.

Answer 9

Eight times the speed of sound

Answer 10

Jesus just performed a miricle. Why do you need any other explanation?