Mark 8:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so.

NASB: And He *directed the people to recline on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve, and they served them to the people.

CSB: He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. So they served them to the crowd.

NLT: So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd.

KJV: And 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.

NKJV: So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.

"Thanks" is from the Greek root word eucharisteo and means to be grateful or give thanks. It is the word from which we get "Eucharist," also known as communion or the Lord's supper. As Jesus gives thanks to God for providing food for the crowd, we are reminded of the many things we should be thankful for.

Our own meals: God knows that we need food before we do, and He will provide what we need to accomplish His work. That may not include gourmet dinners, or even three square meals a day, but it will be what we need in the moment.

God's work in our lives: Just as God's power made seven loaves enough to feed four thousand men plus women and children, God works in our lives every day. Sometimes we notice and sometimes we don't. He is there when we have just enough money to cover an unexpected expense. Or when we're exhausted but find the energy to be what our kids need. Or when a friend provides encouragement right when we need it. "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end" (Lamentations 3:22).

God's invitation to join His work: The Trinity is three Persons in complete community. When God made us in His image, He gave us a taste of that union in our need for each other. Although the Holy Spirit indwells each believer individually, He also leads us to care for each other (3 John 1:5–8), confront each other (Matthew 18:15–20), and show God's love to each other (1 John 4:7–21). As Jesus breaks the bread, the disciples pass it out. Perhaps they think they are Jesus' important representatives, acting under His authority—and they are. But they will learn that their position is also as the "servant of all" (Mark 9:35).

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.