Open English Translation MARK Chapter 8

8 Another time there was a large crowd again with nothing to eat. Yeshua called his apprentices and told them, 2 “I feel sorry for all these people because they’ve already been with us for three days and don’t have anything to eat. 3 I can’t send them home because they’re too weak to walk, and some have a long way to go.”

4 His apprentices queried, “Where could anyone find enough food out here in the wilderness?”

5 He asked, “How much bread have you all got?”

“Seven buns,” they answered.

6 So Yeshua instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven buns, gave thanks and broke them and gave pieces to his apprentices to then distribute to the crowd. 7 They also had a few small cooked fish, so he blessed them too and got them to distribute them as well. 8 After all the people had eaten and were full, they collected seven basketfuls of leftovers. 9 There were some four thousand people there that day, and Yeshua sent them home after they’d eaten. 10 And he and his apprentices climbed into the boat and headed for the Dalmanutha region.

11 [ref]Some men from the Pharisee party came out to Yeshua and started arguing with him. They were checking him out and wanted to see a miracle. 12 [ref]Yeshua grieved inside and asked, “Why do you people need to see a miracle before you’ll believe me? Actually, no miracle will be done for this generation.”

13 So Yeshua left in the boat again and crossed to the other side of the lake.

14 But Yeshua’s apprentices forgot to take any food other than one bun that someone in the boat had. 15 [ref]He told them, “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and of King Herod.”

16 They asked each other what it meant—was it because they forgot food?

17 But Yeshua knew what they were saying and asked, “Why are you all discussing about not having food? Can’t you figure it out? Or are your minds completely closed? 18 [ref]You all have eyes but can’t seem to see and have ears but can’t seem to listen. Have you already forgotten what just happened? 19 When I broke up the five buns to feed five thousand people, how many basketfuls of leftovers did you collect?”

“Twelve,” they answered.

20 “And when we fed four thousand with seven buns, how many full baskets of leftovers then?”

“Seven,” they answered.

21 Yeshua asked, “How can you all not understand what’s going on right in front of you!”

22 As they entered Bethsaida, the people brought a blind man to Yeshua and asked him to touch him. 23 So Yeshua took the man’s hand and led him out of the village. Then he spat in his eyes, placed his hands on him, and asked him, “What can you see?”

24 The man looked around and answered, “I can see the people, but they just look like trees.” 25 Yeshua touched the man’s eyes again and then he could see clearly—he was now completely better. 26 Then Yeshua told him not to go back into the village but to go straight home.

27 Then Yeshua and his followers moved around the various villages of Caesaria Philippi. On the way, he asked them, “Who does everyone think I am?”

28 [ref]They said, “Some say Yohan-the-Immerser, some say Eliyah, and some say one of the prophets.”

29 [ref]Then he asked, “And what do you all think?”

Peter said, “You are the promised one sent by God.”

30 Then Yeshua warned them not to tell others about him.

31 Then Yeshua began teaching his followers that humanity’s child would need to suffer a lot, to be rejected by the religious leaders, and so to be put to death but to come back to life after three days. 32 He taught this very clearly, but Peter took him aside and told him off. 33 Yeshua turned back and looked at the others, then reprimanded Peter, “Stand back, Satan! you’re applying human values instead of considering God’s plan.”

34 [ref]Calling out to them and to the crowd, he said, “Anyone who wants to follow me must first put aside their own desires and then follow me—even through very difficult times. 35 [ref]Anyone who worries about saving their own life will lose it, but anyone who gives their life due to following me and my teaching will save their life. 36 Because it doesn’t benefit a person if they gain everything in the world but lose their soul. 37 What can someone offer in order to buy a home for their soul? 38 Yes, anyone who is ashamed of me and my message in front of this adulterous and sinful generation, humanity’s child will likewise be ashamed of them when he comes clearly displaying God’s greatness and bringing the holy messengers.”