Mark 8
Jesus fed a crowd of about 4,000 people with seven loaves of bread and a few fish, and they took up seven baskets of leftover fragments. He then sailed across the sea with his disciples, warning them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. Jesus healed a blind man in Bethsaida, and then asked his disciples who people thought he was, with Peter responding that he was the Christ. Jesus began to teach his disciples that he must suffer and be killed, but would rise again, and he rebuked Peter for trying to correct him. Jesus then taught the crowd that to follow him, one must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him, for whoever saves their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for his sake will save it.
In those days, again, when there was a great crowd, and they did not have anything to eat, calling together his disciples, he said to them"I have compassion for the multitude, because, behold, they have persevered with me now for three days, and they do not have anything to eatAnd if I were to send them away fasting to their home, they might faint on the way." For some of them came from far awayAnd his disciples answered him, "From where would anyone be able to obtain enough bread for them in the wilderness?And he questioned them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven.And he instructed the crowd to sit down to eat on the ground. And taking the seven loaves, giving thanks, he broke and gave it to his disciples in order to place before them. And they placed these before the crowdAnd they had a few small fish. And he blessed them, and he ordered them to be placed before themAnd they ate and were satisfied. And they took up what had been leftover from the fragments: seven basketsAnd those who ate were about four thousand. And he dismissed themAnd promptly climbing into a boat with his disciples, he went into the parts of DalmanuthaAnd the Pharisees went out and began to contend with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, testing himAnd sighing deeply in spirit, he said: "Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, if only a sign will be given to this generation!And sending them away, he climbed into the boat again, and he went away across the seaAnd they forgot to take bread. And they did not have any with them in the boat, except one loafAnd he instructed them, saying: "Consider and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the leaven of Herod.And they discussed this with one another, saying, "For we have no bread.And Jesus, knowing this, said to them: "Why do you consider that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet know or understand? Do you still have blindness in your heartHaving eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? Do you not rememberwhen I broke the five loves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments you took up?" They said to him, "Twelve."And when the seven loaves were among the four thousand, how many baskets of fragments did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven.And he said to them, "How is it that you do not yet understand?And they went to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to him. And they petitioned him, so that he would touch himAnd taking the blind man by the hand, he led him beyond the village. And putting spit on his eyes, laying his hands on him, he asked him if he could see anythingAnd looking up, he said, "I see men but they are like walking trees.Next he placed his hands again over his eyes, and he began to see. And he was restored, so that he could see everything clearlyAnd he sent him to his house, saying, "Go into your own house, and if you enter into the town, tell no one.And Jesus departed with his disciples into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way, he questioned his disciples, saying to them, "Who do men say that I am?And they answered him by saying: "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others perhaps one of the prophets.Then he said to them, "Yet truly, who do you say that I am?" Peter responded by saying to him, "You are the Christ.And he admonished them, not to tell anyone about himAnd he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and by the high priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise againAnd he spoke the word openly. And Peter, taking him aside, began to correct himAnd turning away and looking at his disciples, he admonished Peter, saying, "Get behind me, Satan, for you do not prefer the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.And calling together the crowd with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone chooses to follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow meFor whoever will have chosen to save his life, will lose it. But whoever will have lost his life, for my sake and for the Gospel, shall save itFor how does it benefit a man, if he gains the whole world, and yet causes harm to his soulOr, what will a man give in exchange for his soulFor whoever has been ashamed of me and of my words, among this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man also will be ashamed of him, when he will arrive in the glory of his Father, with the holy Angels.
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