Spiritual Blindness
Text: Mark 8:1-26 | January 5, 2020
The text this week contains four narratives. It begins with the feeding of the four thousand (vv. 1-10), followed by an encounter with the Pharisees and Sadducees (vv. 11-13), Jesus then teaches His disciples (vv. 14-21), and it ends with Jesus healing a blind man (vv. 22-26). The first narrative, the feeding of the four thousand, is the culmination of Jesus and His disciples’ journey through Gentile territories. This account is very similar to the feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:33-44). In both instances, large crowds were present. While it’s called the feeding of the five and four thousand, there were at least three to four times the number. It’s more like 15,000 to 20,000 people (four and five thousand men, and there were women and children present). Jesus miraculously created enough food to feed everyone.
As the miracle ends, Jesus encounters the Pharisees who wanted to see a sign from heaven (8:11), but Jesus didn’t give them a sign (8:12). They had already made up their minds. They rejected Jesus, hated Him, and plotted to destroy Him (Mark 3:6). They weren’t going to be convinced by any miracle that He is the Son of God, the Messiah (cf. John 12:37-40). Leaving the Pharisees, Jesus and His disciples traveled in a boat to Bethsaida. On the journey (8:14-21), Jesus warned them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod (8:15). The disciples thought Jesus was talking about bread, because He mentioned the word “leaven” (8:16), but in fact, Jesus was talking about the doctrinal errors and personal hypocrisy the Pharisees and Herod (Matthew 16:12).
Finally, Jesus healed a blind person. The first time Jesus laid His hands on the blind man, his vision was partially restored. He saw men like trees walking around (8:24), and then Jesus laid His hands on his eyes, and the man’s vision was fully restored (8:25). Jesus didn’t “fail” the first time only to have to try again the second time. Jesus purposely did this. This is an illustration of the disciples’ lack of understanding. The disciples were not blind to the truth, but at times, they also failed to see clearly and understand.
In this passage, we see the difference between permanent spiritual blindness and temporary spiritual blindness. The Pharisees and all who rejected Him (including many others) were permanently spiritually blind: They rejected Jesus despite having seen all the miracles and heard His teachings. The disciples and all those who believe in Jesus only has temporary spiritual blindness. He opens our eyes, spiritually, and gives us eyes of faith. We can understand the truths He teaches, and we can turn to Him in repentance and faith.
For the entirety of the lesson, please see the attached manuscript of the message.
Question:
Some people say that the feeding of the four thousand (Mark 8:1-10) and the feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:33-44) are the same account. What are some differences between the two accounts that distinguish the two events?
Answer:
The two events are distinct but equally miraculous.
| Mark 6:33-44 | Mark 8:1-10 |
| 5,000 men besides women and children | 4,000 men besides women and children |
| Five loaves of bread and two fish | Seven loaves of bread and a few small fish |
| Location: Bethsaida | Location: Decapolis |
| Audience: Jews | Audience: Gentiles |
| 12 baskets full of remaining pieces | 7 baskets full of remaining pieces |
| Crowd stayed with Him one day | Crowd stayed with Him three days |