Mark 8:9-13 - The people ate and were satisfied

8:9,10

There were about four thousand present. Matthew 15:29-39 gives more details than Mark. He tells us that there were four thousand men, plus women and children. After feeding them, Jesus dismissed the crowds. Jesus got into a boat with His disciples and went to Dalmanutha. This was on the west coast of the sea of Galilee.

8:11-13

The Pharisees, as per usual, came to investigate and to test Jesus. They demanded a sign. Now this seems a bit ridiculous to us, as Jesus has healed so many people. How many signs do they want? Indeed, this seems to have been Jesus#’ attitude as well. It is likely that they wanted some sort of cosmic sign. In one sense they were right to want some sort of assurance of the Biblical authenticity of what Jesus was doing, but they were ignoring what they were plainly seeing, and the content of Jesus’ teaching.  So Jesus refused to give them the sign that they were looking for.