Marcos 8
A.T. Robertson · Citado em PreceptAustin
Marcos 8
Robertson - Of all places, in this desert region in the mountains. The disciples feel as helpless as when the five thousand were fed. They do not rise to faith in the unlimited power of Jesus after all that they have seen. Hiebert has an in dept discussion of the disciple's question - This reply by the disciples is admittedly the main problem when this incident is accepted as a separate occurrence of the feeding of the multitude. That the disciples showed themselves dull of apprehension is obvious. But even more so is their dullness manifested in 8:14–21. The Gospels do not conceal the deficiencies of the disciples. Nevertheless, some feel that the reply here is incredible. Gould asserts, “The stupid repetition of the question is psychologically impossible.” In reply, Swete points out that “the question is not repeated exactly”; in the first instance, it was a matter of the lack of means to buy the needed bread, but here it is a question of the scarcity of food in this thinly populated area. He adds, “Such stupidity as it shews is in accordance with all that we know of the condition of the Apostles at this time.”23 Alexander observed, “Even those who now reject the statement as incredible would probably have done the same if similarly situated.” It is a common observation that believers frequently forget God’s amazing dealings with them in the past when confronted with some new crisis. To view their reply simply as an expression of hopelessness seems to misread the situation. Plummer suggests that in their reply the disciples simply “confess their own powerlessness and leave the solution to Him.” McKenna insists that “there is a world of difference between this question and the one they asked at the first feeding. Now, with faith in Jesus, they ask, ‘How can we feed them?’ ” It may be noted that when the amount of bread available was indicated, none of the disciples now said, “But what are these among so many?” (John 6:9). We conclude that the difficulty found in the disciples’ reply is best viewed not as placing the accuracy of the record in question but as vindicating the faithlessness of the reporters. (Gospel of Mark - An Expositional Commentary) Mark 8:5 And He was asking them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven." Wuest And He went to asking them, How many loaves of bread do you have? And they said, Seven. (Wuest) NET Mark 8:5 He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They replied, "Seven." NLT Mark 8:5 Jesus asked, "How much bread do you have?" "Seven loaves," they replied. ESV Mark 8:5 And he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven." NIV Mark 8:5 "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied. GNT Mark 8:5 καὶ ἠρώτα αὐτούς, Πόσους ἔχετε ἄρτους; οἱ δὲ εἶπαν, Ἑπτά. KJV Mark 8:5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. YLT Mark 8:5 And he was questioning them, 'How many loaves have ye?' and they said, 'Seven.' ASV Mark 8:5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. CSB Mark 8:5 "How many loaves do you have?" He asked them. "Seven," they said. NKJ Mark 8:5 He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven." NRS Mark 8:5 He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven." How: Mk 6:38 Mt 14:15-17 15:34 Lu 9:13 Mark 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Parallel Passages: Mt 15:34+ And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” JESUS CUTS TO THE CHASE! And He was asking them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven." - Little is much in the hands of our Creator. Do we gratefully give Him our little? Or do we have little and hold it tightly. Contrast the feeding of the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish (Mk 6:41). Mark 8:6 And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people. Wuest And He commands the crowd to recline on the ground. And having taken the seven loaves of bread, having given thanks, He broke, and kept on giving them to His disciples in order that they might keep on setting them forth. And they served the crowd. (Wuest) NET Mark 8:6 Then he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. After he took the seven loaves and gave thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples to serve. So they served the crowd. NLT Mark 8:6 So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd. ESV Mark 8:6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. NIV Mark 8:6 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 set before the people, and they did so. GNT Mark 8:6 καὶ παραγγέλλει τῷ ὄχλῳ ἀναπεσεῖν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· καὶ λαβὼν τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἄρτους εὐχαριστήσας ἔκλασεν καὶ ἐδίδου τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ ἵνα παρατιθῶσιν, καὶ παρέθηκαν τῷ ὄχλῳ. KJV Mark 8:6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. YLT Mark 8:6 And he commanded the multitude to sit down upon the ground, and having taken the seven loaves, having given thanks, he brake, and was giving to his disciples that they may set before them; and they did set before the multitude. ASV Mark 8:6 And he commandeth the multitude to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he brake, and gave to his disciples, to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. CSB Mark 8:6 Then He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks, broke the loaves, and kept on giving them to His disciples to set before the people. So they served the loaves to the crowd. NKJ Mark 8:6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. to sit: Mk 6:39,40 Mt 14:18,19 15:35,36 Lu 9:14,15 12:37 Joh 2:5 6:10 gave thanks: Mk 6:41-44 1Sa 9:13 Mt 15:36 26:26 Lu 24:30 Joh 6:11,23 Ro 14:6 1Co 10:30,31 Col 3:17 1Ti 4:3-5 Mark 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Parallel Passages: Mt 15:35+ And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; 36 and He took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. And He directed (paraggello - commanded, ordered) the people to sit down on the ground - (cf Mk 6:40). It is fascinating that they clearly obeyed Him. Note ground here and not green grass (Mk 6:39), which is my many think this even was several months after a spring feeding of the 5000. and taking the seven loaves - He took it all. THOUGHT - How much of what the disciples had did He take? How much that we have must we put in His hands if we wish Him to bless, multiply and use it? He gave thanks - This is the repeated pattern in the NT - Ro. 14:6; 1 Cor. 10:30, 31; Col. 3:17; 1 Tim. 4:3–5; Acts 27:35. Jesus in essence was showing the crowd that the power behind this miracle would be God. THOUGHT - True confession time! I wonder how seldom I really do this? O, I do it in a restaurant as a witness, but it is almost hypocritical as I seldom do it when I eat my cereal at breakfast! Why not? I do not have a good excuse. I need to start thanking God, and that would be at least three times a day I give Him thanks! and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people - Broke is aorist tense signifying a definite act and then giving is imperfect tense signifying again and again, first to one disciple, then the next, and so on from the Creator of the world (cf. John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:3). The miracle was happening before their very eyes! How different was the reaction of the crowd compared with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus described by Luke... Luke 24:30; 31; 35+ When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.....35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. Mark 8:7 They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well. Wuest And they had a few little fish. And having prayed that God might bless them to their intended use, He said to set these before them also. (Wuest) NET Mark 8:7 They also had a few small fish. After giving thanks for these, he told them to serve these as well. NLT Mark 8:7 A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to distribute them. ESV Mark 8:7 And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. NIV Mark 8:7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. GNT Mark 8:7 καὶ εἶχον ἰχθύδια ὀλίγα· καὶ εὐλογήσας αὐτὰ εἶπεν καὶ ταῦτα παρατιθέναι. KJV Mark 8:7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. YLT Mark 8:7 And they had a few small fishes, and having blessed, he said to set them also before them; ASV Mark 8:7 And they had a few small fishes: and having blessed them, he commanded to set these also before them. CSB Mark 8:7 They also had a few small fish, and when He had blessed them, He said these were to be served as well. NKJ Mark 8:7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. NRS Mark 8:7 They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. fishes: Lu 24:41,42 Joh 21:5,8,9 blessed: Lu 6:41 Mt 14:19 Mark 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them - This suggests that the loaves were passed out first, with the fish as a separate serving. Again Jesus teaches it is good to give thanks for our provisions for ultimately God is the sole, sufficient resource for our needs. When we offer the blessing at the table before meals, we do what our Lord did. Blessed (2127)(eulogeo from eu = good + lógos = word; see cognates eulogetos and eulogia) means speak good or well. When eulogeo is used by men toward men it means to speak well of with praise and thanksgiving (English "Eulogy" = an address in praise for one deceased ). To say good or positive things. Eulogeo can be from men to God, from men to men, and from God to men. When God blesses men He grants them favor and confers happiness upon them. All uses in Mark - Mk. 6:41; Mk. 8:7; Mk. 11:9; Mk. 11:10; Mk. 14:22; He ordered these to be served as well - Served is placed beside or placed before as in Mk 6:41 and in the present tense describes a continuous process. Mark 8:8 All were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. Wuest And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up that which was left over, of broken pieces, seven baskets. (Wuest) NET Mark 8:8 Everyone ate and was satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. NLT Mark 8:8 They ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. ESV Mark 8:8 And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. NIV Mark 8:8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. GNT Mark 8:8 καὶ ἔφαγον καὶ ἐχορτάσθησαν, καὶ ἦραν περισσεύματα κλασμάτων ἑπτὰ σπυρίδας. KJV Mark 8:8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. YLT Mark 8:8 and they did eat and were filled, and they took up that which was over of broken pieces -- seven baskets; ASV Mark 8:8 And they ate, and were filled: and they took up, of broken pieces that remained over, seven baskets. CSB Mark 8:8 They ate and were filled. Then they collected seven large baskets of leftover pieces. NKJ Mark 8:8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. NRS Mark 8:8 They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. NAB Mark 8:8 They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over-- seven baskets. NJB Mark 8:8 They ate as much as they wanted, and they collected seven basketfuls of the scraps left over. were: Mk 8:19,20 Ps 107:8,9 145:16 Mt 16:10 Lu 1:53 Joh 6:11-13,27,32-35,47-58 Rev 7:16,17 they took: 1Ki 17:14-16 2Ki 4:2-7,42-44 Mark 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Parallel Passages: Mt 15:37+ And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full. WHEN JESUS PROVIDES SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! A were satisfied - Same word chortazo used in Mark 8:4. Does anyone ever go away hungry from the Lord’s table? That is a rhetorical question. and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces - Contrast these baskets with those in the miracle of the 5000 (kophinos) for the latter baskets were smaller and more akin to our lunch baskets. A little is always a lot (and more than enough) in the hands of the Creator! “When God is in it, you will notice, there is always a surplus,”
Marcos 8
Robertson - Mark here gives six keen questions of Jesus while Matt. 16:8–11 gives as four that really include the six of Mark running some together. The questions reveal the disappointment of Jesus at the intellectual dullness of his pupils. The questions concern the intellect (νοειτε [noeite], from νους, συνιετε [nous, suniete], comprehend), the heart in a hardened state (πεπωρωμενην [pepōrōmenēn], perfect passive predicate participle as in Mark 6:52, which see), the eyes, the ears, the memory of both the feeding of the five thousand and the four thousand here sharply distinguished even to the two kinds of baskets ([kophinous, sphuridōn]). The disciples did recall the number of baskets left over in each instance, twelve and seven. Jesus “administers a sharp rebuke for their preoccupation with mere temporalities, as if there were nothing higher to be thought of than bread” (Bruce). “For the time the Twelve are way-side hearers, with hearts like a beaten path, into which the higher truths cannot sink so as to germinate” (Bruce). Swindoll quips this was "another “face-palm moment” for Jesus....I would paraphrase Jesus this way: “Don’t you get it? Can’t you connect the dots? The clues make the conclusion self-evident; how can you fail to see it?” (Swindoll's Living Insights New Testament Commentary – Mark) Said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? - Notice that Jesus frequently taught by asking questions, and here asks three questions. Discuss (present tense - continually) (1260) dialogizomai from dia = intensifies meaning + logizomai - to reason, reckon, consider. Related to our English word "dialogue" a conversation between two or more people) means to consider, reason or reckon thoroughly, to think through, to deliberate by reflection. "To bring together different reasons." (Vine) To hold a discussion. Uses in Mark - Mk. 2:6; Mk. 2:8; Mk. 8:16; Mk. 8:17; Mk. 9:33; Mk. 11:31. Note especially similar uses described antagonists of Jesus in Mk. 2:6, 8+
Marcos 8
Robertson - Do ye not yet understand? ([oupō suniete?]). After all this rebuke and explanation. The greatest of all teachers had the greatest of all classes, but he struck a snag here. Matt. 16:12+ gives the result: “Then they understood how that he bade them not beware of the loaves of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They had once said that they understood the parables of Jesus (Matt. 13:51+). But that was a long time ago. The teacher must have patience if his pupils are to understand. Note the not yet which implies we have not come to the end of the story regarding the faith of the disciples. As Guelich says “not yet” holds out “the real possibility that they, to whom the ‘mystery of the Kingdom’ has been given, will know and understand." (WBC-Mk) And He was saying to them, Do you not yet understand? - The disciples are still slow to put together the pieces of the puzzle so that they can see the full picture of Jesus and His enemies! Matthew's passage adds details, for there Jesus clearly tells the disciples what He was not speaking of literal bread, but of the leaven-like influence of the religious leaders. Mark does not tell us they understood, but Matthew's account says that finally they "understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees." (Mt 16:12) They finally saw the spiritual lesson that Jesus had been trying to teach them. Saying is imperfect tense - Expositors says: “If we may emphasize the imperfect tense of elegen (ἐλεγεν), He said this over and over again, half speaking to them, half to Himself.” There was agony of soul back of this questioning, in view of the tremendous issues at stake. Matthew in reporting this happening gives us the information that Jesus finally had to explain to them that He was talking about the doctrines of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Edwards - The plea for understanding is a reminder that faith is not separate from understanding, but possible only through understanding. (PNTC-Mark) THOUGHT - Are we not so much like these 12? We read a passage over and over, but one day the Spirit opens our eyes and we see the spiritual lesson it has for our life! NET Note - Do you still not understand? The disciples in Mark’s Gospel often misunderstood the miracles of Jesus as well as his teaching. Between Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Mark paints the most revealing portrait of the shortcomings of the Twelve (cf. Mk 6:51–52; 7:17–19; 8:1–10, 14–21, 27–30, 33; 9:5, 10, 33; 10:28, 35–45; 14:19, 29–31, 32–37, 50, 66–72). Understand (4920) see note above on suniemi Mark 8:22 And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. Wuest And they come into Bethsaida. And they bring to Him a blind man. And they beg Him to touch him. (Wuest) NET Mark 8:22 Then they came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to Jesus and asked him to touch him. NLT Mark 8:22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him. ESV Mark 8:22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. NIV Mark 8:22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. GNT Mark 8:22 Καὶ ἔρχονται εἰς Βηθσαϊδάν. καὶ φέρουσιν αὐτῷ τυφλὸν καὶ παρακαλοῦσιν αὐτὸν ἵνα αὐτοῦ ἅψηται. KJV Mark 8:22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. YLT Mark 8:22 And he cometh to Bethsaida, and they bring to him one blind, and call upon him that he may touch him, ASV Mark 8:22 And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him. CSB Mark 8:22 Then they came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to Him and begged Him to touch him. NKJ Mark 8:22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. NRS Mark 8:22 They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. NAB Mark 8:22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, they brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. NJB Mark 8:22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought to him a blind man whom they begged him to touch. Bethsaida: Mk 6:45 Mt 11:21 Lu 9:10 Lk 10:13 Joh 1:44 12:21 they bring: Mk 2:3 Mk 6:55,56 to touch: Mk 5:27-29 Mt 8:3,15 9:29 Mark 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Bethsaida (Article) This miracle is only recorded by Mark. Edwards adds that "This miracle and the miracle of healing of the deaf-mute in Mk 7:31–37 are similar to one another and are the only two miracles in Mark that are omitted by Matthew and Luke." (PNTC-Mark) And they came to Bethsaida (house of the fisher”) - This town is probably Bethsaida Julius on the eastern bank of the Jordan above its entrance into the lake. And remember that this is outside of Galilee. They had just departed from Magdala and sailed northeast toward Bethsaida the hometown of Peter, Andrew, Philip, and possibly Nathanael (cf. John 1:44–45). The town of Bethsaida was near the place where Jesus fed the five thousand men plus women and children (Mark 6:41–44), And they brought a blind man to Jesus - We see others bringing people to Jesus several times in Mark (Mk 2:3 Mk 6:55,56 ) This is the first mention in Mark’s Gospel of a blind man being brought to Jesus for healing, the second being in Mk 10:46. Recall that healing of blindness is one of the signs of that the Messiah had come as Jesus relayed to John the Baptist... Matthew 11:5+ the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. Luke 7:22+ And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. Compare this passage from Isaiah describing the Messianic Age... Isaiah 35:5-6+ (cf Isa 29:18) Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah.
Marcos 8
Robertson - As in the case of the deaf and dumb demoniac given also alone by Mark (Mk 7:31–37), so here Jesus observes the utmost secrecy in performing the miracle for reasons not given by Mark. It was the season of retirement and Jesus is making the fourth withdrawal from Galilee. That fact may explain it. The various touches here are of interest also. Jesus led him out by the hand, put spittle on his eyes (using the poetical and Koiné papyri word ὀμματα [ommata] instead of the usual ὀπθαλμους [opthalmous]), and laid his hands upon him, perhaps all this to help the man’s faith. Hiebert - The spitting on his sightless eyes was a symbolic act which the man could feel, assuring him that Jesus would deal with those eyes. The accompanying touch of His hands gave the man further assurance. For a blind man, touch means more than sound. (Gospel of Mark - An Expositional Commentary) Mark 8:24 And he looked up and said, "I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around." Wuest And having looked up, he kept on saying, I see the men; as trees I see them walking around. (Wuest) NET Mark 8:24 Regaining his sight he said, "I see people, but they look like trees walking." NLT Mark 8:24 The man looked around. "Yes," he said, "I see people, but I can't see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around." ESV Mark 8:24 And he looked up and said, "I see people, but they look like trees, walking." NIV Mark 8:24 He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." GNT Mark 8:24 καὶ ἀναβλέψας ἔλεγεν, Βλέπω τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ὅτι ὡς δένδρα ὁρῶ περιπατοῦντας. KJV Mark 8:24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. YLT Mark 8:24 and he, having looked up, said, 'I behold men, as I see trees, walking.' ASV Mark 8:24 And he looked up, and said, I see men; for I behold them as trees, walking. CSB Mark 8:24 He looked up and said, "I see people-- they look to me like trees walking." NKJ Mark 8:24 And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking." NRS Mark 8:24 And the man looked up and said, "I can see people, but they look like trees, walking." NAB Mark 8:24 Looking up he replied, "I see people looking like trees and walking." NJB Mark 8:24 The man, who was beginning to see, replied, 'I can see people; they look like trees as they walk around.' I see: Jdg 9:36 Isa 29:18 32:3 1Co 13:9-12 Mark 8 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries And he looked up and said, "I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around - The fact that he saw trees and recognized them as such indicates he had seen trees before so this was not congenital blindness. In the Middle East Chlamydia Trachomatis is a common cause of scaring of the eyes and blindness.
Marcos 8
Robertson - Mark is fond of this idiom (began to teach), but it is not a mere rhetorical device. Matt. 16:21 expressly says “from that time.” It was a suitable time for the disclosure of the greatest secret of his death. It is now just a little over six months before the cross. They must know it now to be ready then. They had to be told soon about the approaching death of Jesus. The confession of faith in Jesus indicated that it was a good time to begin. Hiebert emphasizes this new teaching would have been a shock to the disciples - Instead of talking about His eventual reign, Jesus talked about His imminent suffering and death. The disciples had not associated the thought of suffering and death with Him as the Messiah. “All their lives they had thought of Messiah in terms of irresistible conquest, and they were now being presented with an idea which staggered them.” (Gospel of Mark - An Expositional Commentary) Why teach them on the Cross now? In context, they finally understood He was the Messiah, but were still "fuzzy" about His Mission. Now Jesus would unfold His true Mission as the Redeemer of the world. That the Son of Man must suffer many things - Matthew 16:21 explains the "where" of this event declaring "He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things." Many things predicts not just the agony of the Cross but many things done to Him prior to the Cross (unfair trials, spitting, scouring, mocking, etc) Son of Man is a biblical messianic title (Da. 7:13–14; cf. Mk 2:10, 28, cf Acts 7:56 - Stephen being stoned) and was Jesus' favorite term of self-designation in all the Gospels (81 times). Notice the verb must which leaves no room for Him being a political Messiah, but a Messiah obligated (must) to die on the Cross. The word Son would speak to Jesus divinity and Man to His humanity.
Marcos 8
Robertson points out that "Mark alone notes the unexpected presence of a crowd up here near Caesarea Philippi in heathen territory. In the presence of this crowd Jesus explains his philosophy of life and death which is in direct contrast with that offered by Peter and evidently shared by the disciples and the people. So Jesus gives this profound view of life and death to them all." When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die -- Dietrich Bonhoeffer If anyone wishes (present active indicative) to come (aorist active infinitive) after Me - IF is first class condition assumed to be true from Jesus' perspective (condition of reality). Note the anyone which means everyone who would follow Him - Jesus flings the door "wide open!" The first half of this conditional statement involves a volitional choice, a decision of one's will. I would submit that even here the desire to will or wish to follow Jesus, does not originate from our fallen nature (cf Ro 3:11b), but from God the Spirit's working in our heart. We still have to respond, but it is the Spirit Who provides the initial impetus. Wishes (Better "Wills") (2309)(thelo) refers to exercising of one's will with the underlying sense of to be willing to apply oneself to something. Thelo "expresses not simply a desire, but a determined and constant exercise of the will." (W E Vine) As
Marcos 8
Robertson - Criminals were crucified in Jerusalem. It was the custom for the condemned person to carry his own cross as Jesus did till Simon of Cyrene was impressed for that purpose. The Jews had become familiar with crucifixion since the days of Antiochus Epiphanes and one of the Maccabean rulers (Alexander Jannaeus) had crucified 800 Pharisees. It is not certain whether Jesus was thinking of his own coming crucifixion when he used this figure, though possible, perhaps probable. The disciples would hardly think of that outcome unless some of them had remarkable insight. (3) FOLLOWING JESUS And follow Me - Follow is akoloutheo, a command in the present imperative which calls for this to be a disciple's lifestyle. We cannot accomplish this in our own natural strength! It is IM-possible. Indeed, it is only HIM-possible. In other words this command calls for us to continually depend on the Holy Spirit to obey. Following entails Spirit wrought loving obedience to Jesus and His voice (His Word). True sheep hear and follow the Good Shepherd! John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow (akoloutheo in present tense - as their lifestyle) Me; Jesus "defined" true sheep (disciples) in John 8:31 (for there was some who heard but were not true disciples - cf Jn 8:30 with Jn 8:42-45, 59) So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine." Continuing in Jesus' Word is simply one of the ways an individual demonstrates that they are a genuine follower of Jesus. And continuing in His Word means not just reading His Word, but believing and obeying His Word. (see Obedience of faith and Relationship of saving faith and obedience) As
Marcos 8
Robertson writes that zemioo "occurs in the sense of being fined or mulcted ( penalized by fining or demanding forfeiture) of money. Marvin Vincent agrees noting that zemioo was "Often in the classics, of fining or mulcting in a sum of money. Hiebert - The thought is presented under a commercial metaphor, and the question implies that there is not profit in the suggested transaction. The present gain is pictured in its highest form, “gain the whole world,” a clear impossibility for any individual. But granting the impossible, if a man should accomplish it and thereby forfeit his life, what is the profit in it? The argument is valid whether life be taken in its lower or higher meaning. (Gospel of Mark - An Expositional Commentary)
Marcos 8
Robertson says "This verse (Mk 8:38) could not be separated from Mark 9:1 as the chapter division does. These two verses in Mark 8:38 and 9:1 form one paragraph and should go together." And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death (IDIOM FOR PHYSICAL DEATH) until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”