Mark 8:1-7, 9-21

Another time there was a great crowd with Jesus that had nothing to eat. So Jesus called his followers and said, “I feel sorry for these people, because they have already been with me for three days, and they have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will faint on the way. Some of them live a long way from here.” Jesus’ followers answered, “How can we get enough bread to feed all these people? We are far away from any town.” Jesus asked, “How many loaves of bread do you have?” They answered, “Seven.” Jesus told the people to sit on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, gave thanks to God, and divided the bread. He gave the pieces to his followers to give to the people, and they did so. The followers also had a few small fish. After Jesus gave thanks for the fish, he told his followers to give them to the people also.

There were about four thousand people who ate. After they had eaten, Jesus sent them home. Then right away he got into a boat with his followers and went to the area of Dalmanutha. The Pharisees came to Jesus and began to ask him questions. Hoping to trap him, they asked Jesus for a miracle from God. Jesus sighed deeply and said, “Why do you people ask for a miracle as a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to you.” Then Jesus left the Pharisees and went in the boat to the other side of the lake. His followers had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat; they had forgotten to bring more. Jesus warned them, “Be careful! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” His followers discussed the meaning of this, saying, “He said this because we have no bread.” Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, “Why are you talking about not having bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed? You have eyes, but you don’t really see. You have ears, but you don’t really listen. Remember when I divided five loaves of bread for the five thousand? How many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food?” They answered, “Twelve.” “And when I divided seven loaves of bread for the four thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food?” They answered, “Seven.” Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”

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