"Only Life Changes"

Father God, let this reading open up minds and touch someone’s heart in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion for these people. In the 8th chapter is the center of Mark’s gospel and here a couple important events occur Peter confesses Jesus’ true nature as the Messiah and Jesus predicts that he will have to suffer and die but will rise again. From this point on everything leads directly to Jesus’ eventual passion and resurrection.
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand in Mark 8:1-13 it reads:
During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. 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. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
This the fourth of a series of stories about bread and righteousness, in which the disciples again miss Jesus’ point. ”Bread” represents God’s provision, whether that be literal. But Jesus uses an unqualified object. It’s like saying, “I’m hungry for all the bread” or “all the water.” True believers are hungry for complete righteousness, not partial righteousness. It’s not OK to love God, and yet compromise in their language, practice dishonesty, or commit any sin’s.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod it reads in Mark 8:14-21
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
This is not the first time Jesus has healed the blind. He had done other such miracles before John the Baptist died (Luke 7:22, Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.), but it is the first recorded in Mark’s Gospel. It’s possible the people know of these other healings, as they ask Jesus to “touch” the blind man, and not merely bless him by laying hands on him. Jesus heals a blind man, but it takes two attempts for the miracle to have its full effect. This story initiates the second of the Gospel of Mark’s three major sections.
Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida:

It reads in Mark 8:22-26

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”
These verses are crucial for understanding the Gospel according to Mark as a whole and for fathoming what it means to be Christian. The Passage in Context Almost exactly at the book’s midpoint, this passage initiates a major shift in Mark’s plot. In Christianity, the Confession of Peter (translated from the Matthean Vulgate Latin section title: Confessio Petri) refers to an episode in the New Testament in which the Apostle Peter proclaims Jesus to be the Christ (Jewish Messiah). Specifically, Peter declares to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”. The proclamation of Jesus as Christ is fundamental to Christology; the Confession of Peter and Jesus’ acceptance of the title “Messiah” form a definitive statement in the New Testament narrative regarding the person of Jesus Christ. Most powerful!
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah it reads in Mark 8:27-30,
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
The previous passage yesterday Jesus acknowledges that he is the Messiah, but here we find that Jesus refers to himself again as “Son of man.” If he wanted news of his being Messiah to remain just among them, it would make sense if he used that title when out and about, He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.”. “But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’”

Jesus Predicts His Death it reads in Mark 8:31-33,
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Even in these lonely regions considerable numbers would seem to have followed Him, apparently at some little distance. These He now called to Him, and addressed to them, as well as to His Apostles, some of His deepest teaching, making them sharers in this part of His instruction. Mark 8:33, Jesus faces an echo of His third temptation from Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:8–10, Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! ): To take an easier path that looks like salvation but really leads to hell on a nicer road. Jesus teaches that we will face the same temptation. The Heavy Cost of Discipleship BIG IDEA: THE REDEMPTIVE MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST CAN ONLY BE EMBRACED BY RELINQUISHING HUMAN AUTONOMY AND SUBMITTING TO DIVINE LORDSHIP AS A GENUINE DISICPLE [WHICH WILL INCLUDE REJECTION AND SUFFERING AND OVERCOMING BY KEEPING IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH GOD] He Gets Us Offers a Sympathetic Ear and Caring Encouragement When You Need It Most. Sometimes, Having Someone Listen and Share the Word of Jesus Makes All the Difference. Jesus endured hell on the cross because hell is the punishment for sin. All that hell is, he experienced right there during these hours of darkness in which he bore our sin and endured our punishment. The wrath of God was poured out on him, and he became the propitiation for our sins (Romans 3:25, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.) (1 John 2:2, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This verse opens with a statement many find difficult to understand: “He is the propitiation for our sins.” The Greek word hilasmos can be translated as “propitiation,” “expiation,” or “atonement.” All of these refer to settling, satisfying, or repaying a debt.).

The Way of the Cross it reads in Mark 8:34-38,
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
“Let’s Pray”

Father God, I thank You and praise You for Your amazing plan of redemption, that despite the fall of Adam, You aim to redeem mankind by the sacrifice of Your only begotten Son Christ, and that through His death and Resurrection, I have received the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. I thank You that I have been saved by grace through faith in Christ. I praise You that nothing I can do can add to the finished work of Jesus on the Cross and having believed on Him, my salvation is eternally secure. As I mature in the faith, I realize that to truly become a disciple of Yours, I must lay down my entire life on the sacrificial alter as a willing offering and be ready and willing to live my life for Christ.” I believe in all things, “not my will but Yours be done.” Help me to deny myself, take up my own cross, and follow You willingly and joyfully I love You and thank You in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

“Power Verses”
When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
Psalms 94:18-19