Mark 8:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.

NIV: "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.

NASB: I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me for three days already and have nothing to eat.

CSB: "I have compassion on the crowd, because they’ve already stayed with me three days and have nothing to eat.

NLT: I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat.

KJV: I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

NKJV: “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.

Jesus has been mobbed by crowds many times (Mark 2:4, 13; 3:7–9, 20; 4:1; 5:21), usually in or near a city. This situation is similar to the crowd of five thousand men plus women and children who followed Him to a plain outside of Bethsaida (Mark 6:30–44). Still, there are several differences.

The five thousand-plus fed in another account consisted of Jews mainly from around Capernaum and perhaps Bethsaida who had followed Jesus and the disciples that day and received healing and teaching until evening. Here in Decapolis, the crowd is probably a good mix of Jews and Gentiles who have been with Jesus three days (Mark 8:2). In the previous situation, the Twelve had asked Jesus to tell the people to go find food. Here, Jesus tells the disciples to find food. In Mark 6, the disciples had been concerned about hungry Jews after only one day. Now, Jesus has to remind them after three days that the Gentiles need food or they may faint on their way home (Mark 8:3).

"Compassion" is from the Greek root word splagchnizomai. It means to be moved in one's inner self with love and pity. Jesus' concern knows no ethnic boundaries. He has come for Jews first, but not Jews only. The disciples have been raised in a culture that is so afraid of worshiping foreign idols or associating with unclean people that they have somewhat vilified Gentiles. They have forgotten that God always intended to save Gentiles through the Jews. It will take a long time for them to accept Gentiles into their church. That cultural callous, or perhaps a sense of tiredness and burn-out, might be part of why the Twelve are somewhat cold in their attitude towards the people.

Mark 8:1–10 is the third of a series of stories about bread and the proper place of ceremonial cleanness. In Mark 7:1–5, the Pharisees condemn Jesus' disciples for eating bread with unclean hands. In Mark 7:24–30, a Syrophoenician woman boldly requests the metaphoric ''crumbs'' of God's provision. Here, Jesus feeds bread to a great crowd of Gentiles and Jews. Later, He will equate the insidious false teachings of the Pharisees with leaven (Mark 8:14–21). This account is also found in Matthew 15:32–39.

This chapter describes another miraculous feeding of thousands by Jesus. He also counters the hard-hearted and selfish hypocrisy of the Pharisees in seeking even more miraculous signs. Speaking to the disciples, Jesus rebukes their short memories and reminds them about God's intent to provide for His followers. After healing a blind man, Jesus accepts Peter's proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah. Almost immediately, though, Jesus rebukes Peter for resisting the idea that the Messiah must suffer and die.

Mark 8 continues Jesus' attempts to teach the disciples God's plan for the Messiah. Jesus has not come for the religious Pharisees but for the meek who willingly respond to Him. He has not yet come as the glorious and victorious champion of Israel, but to die for the whole world. And His followers must also be willing to sacrifice their lives. The chapter marks a turning point in Jesus' ministry as His miracles grow fewer and His teaching increases. Interestingly, Jesus also faces a repeat of the temptations He experienced in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11).

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.