Mark 8:1-21

1About that time there was once again a large crowd with nothing to eat. Jesus called his disciples and said to them,

2“I feel sorry for the people. They have been with me three days now and have nothing to eat.

3If I send them home before they’ve eaten, they will become exhausted on the road. Some of them have come a long distance.”

4His disciples asked him, “Where could anyone get enough bread to feed these people in this place where no one lives?”

5Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?” They answered, “Seven.”

6He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves and gave thanks to God. Then he broke the bread and gave it to his disciples to serve to the people.

7They also had a few small fish. He blessed them and said that the fish should also be served to the people.

8The people ate as much as they wanted. The disciples picked up the leftover pieces and filled seven large baskets.

9About four thousand people were there. Then he sent the people on their way.

10After that, Jesus and his disciples got into a boat and went into the region of Dalmanutha.

11The Pharisees went to Jesus and began to argue with him. They tested him by demanding that he perform a miraculous sign from heaven.

12With a deep sigh he asked, “Why do these people demand a sign? I can guarantee this truth: If these people are given a sign, it will be far different than what they want!”

13Then he left them there. He got into a boat again and crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

14The disciples had forgotten to take any bread along and had only one loaf with them in the boat.

15Jesus warned them, “Be careful! Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!”

16They had been discussing with one another that they didn’t have any bread.

17Jesus knew what they were saying and asked them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you don’t have any bread? Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you catch on? Are your minds closed?

18Are you blind and deaf? Don’t you remember?

19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?” They told him, “Twelve.”

20“When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many large baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?” They answered him, “Seven.”

21He asked them, “Don’t you catch on yet?”