The KJV Holy Bible

 

Mark Chapter Eight

 

1 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,

2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

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.

7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

10 And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

28 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

 

 

Esoteric Interpretation & Commentary

 

The Hermetic Blueprint of Mark Chapter Eight: The Gradual Illumination and the Path of the Cross 

"Mark Chapter Eight represents a critical turning point in the Active Initiation of the Adept. It reveals the gradual, multi-staged nature of Spiritual Illumination and the absolute necessity of purging the corrupted leaven of the lower Intellect. The chapter climaxes with the Faculties finally Recognizing the Sovereign Authority of the Christos, immediately followed by the Ultimate Revelation: the Divine Will must embrace the Mystical Cross and Crucifixion of the animal ego to achieve Eternal Liberation."

 

 

Verses 1-9: The Second Multiplication and the Seven Baskets - "In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat... I have compassion on the multitude... And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake... And they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets." 

The multitude again represents the vast, unorganized Subconscious Thoughts seeking nourishment. The Seven loaves Esoterically correspond to the Seven Fundamental centers (chakras) of the body or the complete cycles of Spiritual Evolution. The Christos (the Divine Principle) Blesses and Transmutes this limited earthly Vitality. The resulting abundance and the exactly Seven remaining baskets demonstrate that when the Sovereign Will Aligns with the Universal Source, the Energetic Power of the Microcosm is Perfectly Sustained and Eternally Replenished in Perfect Cosmic measure.

 

 

Verses 10-21: The Leaven of the Pharisees and Spiritual Blindness - "And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven... And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign?... And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod... And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?" 

The Pharisees seek a physical sign, proving the unawakened Intellect cannot Perceive Higher Vibrational realities. The Christos Warns the Faculties to "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod." Leaven represents the subtle, pervasive, and corrupting influence of the lower Intellect (Pharisees) and the earthly animal ego (Herod). The Disciples' confusion illustrates that even the developing Faculties often remain bound to literal, material Thinking. The Sovereign Will Rebukes this Mental blindness, Demanding that the Mind elevate its Awareness to Grasp the True, Esoteric nature of Spiritual nourishment.

 

 

Verses 22-26: The Gradual Opening of Spiritual Vision - "And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him... And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes... and saw every man clearly." 

This Healing is uniquely gradual, Revealing a profound Alchemical Truth. The blind man symbolizes a state of Consciousness completely devoid of Spiritual Illumination. The Christos Leads him out of the town, again demonstrating the Law that the Mind must be isolated from chaotic, worldly Thoughts for Magical work. The first application of Divine Vitality results in distorted, partial vision—he sees "men as trees, walking." This represents the initial stages of Awakening, where the Initiate Perceives Cosmic Forces but lacks complete clarity. The second application brings perfect, clear Vision. This proves that True Illumination is rarely instantaneous; it is a meticulous, step-by-step Psychological Evolution Driven by the Highest Spiritual Will.

 

 

Verses 27-33: The Recognition of the Christos and the Rebuking of the Lower Will - "And Jesus went out, and his disciples... and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?... And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things... And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men." 

The Sovereign Will Asks the Faculties, "Whom do men say that I am?" Peter, representing the Faculty of Faith and foundational Intuition, finally Realizes the Ultimate Truth, declaring, "Thou art the Christ." However, when the Divine Mind Reveals the necessary path of the Cross—that the Christos must suffer and be rejected by the lower ego—Peter's earthly nature recoils. The Christos Instantly Rebukes this material attachment, Commanding, "Get thee behind me, Satan." This illustrates that even the most Advanced Faculties can become adversaries if they Think according to the desires of men (physical preservation) rather than the Immutable Laws of God (Spiritual Transmutation).

 

 

Verses 34-38: The Mystical Cross and the Sacrifice of the Ego - "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" 

The chapter concludes with the Fundamental formula for Ultimate Liberation. The Sovereign Will Declares, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." The Cross is not merely a wooden instrument; it is the Esoteric symbol of matter, the intersection of Universal Polarity. To carry the Cross is to achieve perfect Self-Discipline and voluntarily endure the Crucifiction of the lower animal ego. The Initiate must Mentally surrender their mortal, earthly attachments (lose their life) in order to Realize their Eternal, Divine Existence (save it). Gaining the material world means nothing if the Alchemist fails to achieve the Philosopher’s Stone—the permanent Awakening of the Immortal Soul.