The Word Became Flesh (Reflection on Mark 8)

Mark 8, Video Reading

(This Blog Post accompanies my video reading of Mark 8 published on the Circular Grace YouTube channel.)

God Became Flesh and walked amongst us!

Thanks for reading along as I share, Mark's Gospel, Chapter 8. Personally, I'm in awe of the fact that we are not merely reading a story. We are blessed to be transported back to a time in human history when God became flesh and walked amongst us. Jesus came to talk to us, to live with us and to die for us so that we could spend eternity with Him. We're reading eye witness testimony of His Word and His deeds. It's a truly awesome blessing, so let's dig deep into a few published commentaries and try and understand the messages.

Enduring Word Commentary

I often visit this commentary first because it generally provides a good overall summary and it didn't disappoint. Immediately, I was pleased to read something, I hadn't personally considered. I knew this miracle testimony was almost identical to the previous feeding of the multitude but I'd missed something. This commentary, invites us to consider that Jesus is testing His disciples in light of their previous experiences. They'd been in this exact same situation before!

b. How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness? We can imagine Jesus hoping one of the disciples might say, “Jesus, You did this before. You can do the same kind of work again.” Jesus hoped they would regard His past faithfulness as a promise to meet their present need.

I think it's tempting to think that the disciples should really have known better by now but then I stop and think. How many times do I fail to look to Jesus, despite knowing He always has the answer. I mentioned in the video that I'm experiencing a little anxiety over my up coming surgery but that's just one example. Most days, I get a little anxious over something I read about in the news or some other thing going on in my life. Jesus has been trying to teach the disciples to put their faith in Him. This testimony is a blessing to each of us who reads. I imagine the question penetrating through to me personally, 'Denise, have you got eyes to see and ears to hear'?Jesus is teaching us through His Word to have faith in Him. I believe it's why the Gospel's were written. To deliver His Word of guidance to every one who chooses to follow Him. Literally, Jesus is leaving instructions on how to follow Him. Jesus is explaining how to go about picking up our personal cross. I wonder at the notion of being ashamed. There seems a focus on how we would go about demonstrating that we are not ashamed. It seems to me these verses are an encouragement to be proactively proud doers.

I was interested that this commentary mentioned that some scholars have questioned whether this miracle testimony is a retelling of the feeding of the 5000 rather than a separate miracle. I find that a little surprising in light of Jesus' reference to the previous miracle. Only a scholar who doubts the authenticity of the Bible could doubt this as a separate miracle, in my humble opinion. I'm mindful to always question which side of the 'faith' fence, so called scholars are sitting. To believe in a miracle, requires a faith in the miracle maker. A miracle isn't a wonderful magic trick that leaves us wondering how the magician accomplished his trick. These biblical miracles are evidence of the awesome power of God. Only God can create a miracle and therefore we can have faith that Jesus is one with God because He created miracles.

i. Some scholars argue this specific miracle never happened. They claim that this was merely a retelling of the feeding of the 5,000. Their main argument is, “how could the disciples forget Jesus’ previous work so quickly?” Yet even mature Christians, having experienced God’s power and provision, sometimes go on to act in unbelief. This wasn’t so surprising after all.

There's much more to learn from this commentary, take a look.

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/mark-8/

Bible Ref Commentary

This is a much shorter commentary but I found yet another aspect of the reading, I'd personally overlooked. I'd forgotten where Jesus and the Disciples were in terms of location. We were given this information in Mark 7:31 (KJV), "31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.". Here the commentary clarifies.

Jesus had taken His disciples—apparently more than just the Twelve—into Gentile territory, presumably in an attempt to find a quiet place to teach. In Mark 7, they traveled northwest of Capernaum to the region of Tyre (Mark 7:24), then continued farther north to Sidon (Mark 7:31). Now they are in the district east of the Sea of Galilee.

The significant context for us is that Jesus' mission is expanding to include both Jew and Gentile. It's a turning point. For further information, have a read of the full commentary.

https://www.bibleref.com/Mark/8/Mark-chapter-8.html

Blue Letter Commentary

This is a full commentary with a good level of detail, inviting thought. They provide a good discussion on Jesus' warning to His Disciples about the 'leaven' of the Pharisees. I make my own bread and I enjoy coming across analogies of 'yeast' or 'leaven' in the Bible. Often it describes the way a sin grows and occasionally an increase in spirit. I watch my lump of dough rise to double it's size because a tiny bit of yeast has been added and I understand. I'm understanding that the disbelief of the Pharisees is an example of how sin magnifies sin. As we read we see how more and more people become infected and sinful thoughts become sinful actions.

3. The reproof Christ gave them for their uneasiness in this matter, as it argued a disbelief of his power to supply them, notwithstanding the abundant experience they had had of it.

For the full commentary, follow the link.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Mar/Mar_008.cfm

Bible Hub Commentary

I've shared a lot of personal thoughts so far in this post and there's still much I haven't covered from this very important chapter. Rather than make this post overly long, I'll simply finish with the concluding points from the Bible Hub Commentary. For all of the teachings I haven't mentioned, I really recommend this commentary.

Personally, I heard Jesus providing unquestionable clarity on the relationship between faith and salvation in this chapter. For example in His reference to the second coming.

The cross of Christ appeared to the great body of mankind to be shameful and contemptible. To the Jews it was a stumbling-block, and to the Greek's foolishness. Hence vast numbers, whether through shame or fear, did not dare to confess it, and still less to preach it. And therefore it is that St. Paul says (Romans 1:l6), "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ."

Follow the link for more clarity.

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/mark/8.htm

I hope you will have been inspired to read more and understand more. Until next time, God bless you 🙏