Mark 8:1-21 : Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus Feeds More than 4,000 People
8 1Another time there were many people [with Jesus]. The people had nothing to eat. So Jesus called his followers to him. Jesus said, 2"I feel sorry for these people. They have been with me for three days. And now they have nothing to eat. 3I should not send them home hungry. If they leave without eating, they will faint while going home. Some of these people live a long way from here." 4Jesus' followers answered, "But we are far away from any towns. Where can we get enough bread to feed all these people?" 5Then Jesus asked them, "How many loaves of bread do you have?" The followers answered, "We have seven loaves of bread." 6Jesus told the people to sit on the ground. Then Jesus took the seven loaves and gave thanks to God. Jesus divided the bread and gave the pieces to his followers. Jesus told the followers to give the bread to the people. The followers obeyed him. 7The followers also had a few small fish. Jesus gave thanks for the fish and told the followers to give the fish to the people. 8All the people ate and were full. Then the followers filled seven baskets with the pieces of food that were not eaten. 9There were about 4,000 men that ate. After they ate, Jesus told them to go home. 10Then Jesus went in a boat with his followers to the area of Dalmanutha.
The Pharisees Try to Test Jesus
11The Pharisees* came to Jesus and asked him questions. They wanted to test Jesus. So they asked Jesus to do a miracle* to show that he was from God. 12Jesus made a sad sound like he was troubled. He said, "Why do you people ask to see a miracle as proof? I tell you the truth. No proof like that will be given to you." 13Then Jesus left the Pharisees. Jesus went in the boat to the other side of the lake.
Jesus' Followers Misunderstand Him
14The followers had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. They forgot to bring more bread. 15Jesus warned them, "Be careful! Guard against the yeast* of the Pharisees* and the yeast of Herod.*" 16The followers discussed the meaning of this. They said, "He said this because we have no bread." 17Jesus knew that the followers were talking about this. So Jesus asked them, "Why are you talking about having no bread? You still don't see or understand? Are you not able to understand? 18Do you have eyes that can't see? Do you have ears that can't hear? Remember what I did before, when we did not have enough bread? 19I divided five loaves of bread for 5,000 people. Remember how many baskets you filled with pieces of food that were not eaten?" The followers answered, "We filled twelve baskets." 20"And remember that I divided seven loaves of bread for 4,000 people. Remember how many baskets you filled with pieces of food that were not eaten?" The followers answered, "We filled seven baskets." 21Then Jesus said to them, "[You remember these things I did], but you still don't understand?"
Pharisees The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group that claimed to follow carefully all Jewish laws and customs. miracle(s) Amazing works done by God's power. yeast Used here as a symbol of bad influence. Herod Herod Antipas, tetrarch (ruler) of Galilee and Perea, son of Herod the Great.