CHAPTER 8
In
those
days
the crowd
once again
became
very large,
and
they had
nothing
to eat.
Jesus called
the
disciples to Him
and said,
“I have compassion
for
these
people,
because
they have already been
with Me
three
days
and
have
nothing
to eat.
If
I send
them
home
hungry,
they will faint
along
the
way.
For
some
of them
have come
a great distance.”
His
disciples
replied,
“Where
in
this desolate place
could
anyone
find enough bread
to feed
all these people?”
And
He directed
the
crowd
to sit down
on
the
ground.
Then
He took
the
seven
loaves,
gave thanks
and broke them,
and
gave them
to
His
disciples
to set before the people.
And
they distributed them
to the
crowd.
They also had
a few
small fish,
and
Jesus blessed
them
and ordered that
these
be set before them
as well.
The people ate
and
were satisfied,
and
the disciples picked up
seven
basketfuls
of broken pieces
that were left over.
Then
the
Pharisees
came
and
began
to argue with
Jesus.
They tested
Him
by demanding
from
Him
a sign
from
heaven.
Jesus sighed deeply
in
His
spirit
and said,
“Why
{does] this
generation
demand
a sign?
Truly
I tell
you,
no
sign
will be given
to this
generation.”
Now
the disciples had forgotten
to take
bread,
except for
one
loaf
they had
with
them
in
the
boat.
Aware of their conversation,
Jesus asked
them,
“Why
are you debating
about
having
no
bread?
Do you still not see
or
understand?
Do you have
such hard
hearts?
When
I broke
the
five
loaves
for
the
five thousand,
how many
basketfuls
of broken pieces
did you collect?”
“Twelve,”
they answered.
“And
when I broke
the
seven loaves
for
the
four thousand,
how many
basketfuls
of broken pieces
did you collect?”
“Seven,”
they
said.
So
He took
the
blind man
by the
hand
and led him
out
of the
village.
Then
He spit
on
the man’s
eyes
and placed
His
hands
on him.
“Can you see
anything?"
He asked.
Once again
Jesus placed
His
hands
on
the man’s
eyes,
and when
he opened them
his sight was restored,
and
he could see
everything
clearly.
Then
Jesus
and
His
disciples
went on
to
the
villages
around Caesarea
Philippi.
On
the
way,
He questioned
His
disciples:
“Who
do people
say
I
am?"
They answered,
“Some say John
the
Baptist;
others say
Elijah;
and still
others say You are
one
of the
prophets.”
Then
He began
to teach
them
that
the
Son
of Man
must
suffer
many things
and
be rejected
by
the
elders,
chief priests,
and
scribes,
and
that He must be killed
and
after
three
days
rise again.
Turning
and
looking at
His
disciples,
Jesus rebuked
Peter
and
said,
“Get
behind
Me,
Satan!
For
you do not have in mind
the
things
of God,
but
the
things
of men."
Then
Jesus called
the
crowd to Him
along with
His
disciples,
and He told
them,
“If
anyone
wants
to come
after
Me,
he must deny
himself
and
take up
his
cross
and
follow
Me.
For
whoever
wants
to save
his
life
will lose
it,
but
whoever
loses
his
life
for My sake
and
for the
gospel
will save
it.
For
whoever
is ashamed of
Me
and
My
words
in
this
adulterous
and
sinful
generation,
the
Son
of Man
will also be ashamed of
him
when
He comes
in
His
Father's
glory
with
the
holy
angels."