Mark6

Jesus faced rejection in his hometown of Nazareth, where their unbelief limited his miraculous works. He then commissioned the twelve disciples, sending them forth to preach repentance and heal. The chapter recounts the tragic beheading of John the Baptist by King Herod, influenced by Herodias's vengeful request. Later, Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fishes, and subsequently walked on water to his disciples during a stormy night.

Jesus Rejected in Nazareth

1
He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. ​
2
When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? ​
3
Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Miriam, and brother of Jacob, Yosi, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” They were offended at him. ​
4
Yeshua said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.” ​
5
He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them. ​
6
He marveled because of their unbelief. He went around the villages teaching. ​

The Mission of the Twelve

7
He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits. ​
8
He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse, ​
9
but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics.
10
He said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there.
11
Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” ​
12
They went out and preached that people should repent. ​
13
They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them. ​

Herod and the Death of John the Baptist

14
King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, “Yochanan the Immerser has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” ​
15
But others said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a prophet, or like one of the prophets.”
16
But Herod, when he heard this, said, “This is Yochanan, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead.”
17
For Herod himself had sent out and arrested Yochanan, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her. ​
18
For Yochanan said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ​
19
Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn’t,
20
for Herod feared Yochanan, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly. ​
21
Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. ​
22
When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”
23
He swore to her, “Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” ​
24
She went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” She said, “The head of Yochanan the Immerser.”
25
She came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, “I want you to give me right now the head of Yochanan the Immerser on a platter.”
26
The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her. ​
27
Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring Yochanan’s head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
28
and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother.
29
When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

30
The emissaries gathered themselves together to Yeshua, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught. ​
31
He said to them, “You come apart into a deserted place, and rest awhile.” For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. ​
32
They went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
33
They saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him.
34
Yeshua came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. ​
35
When it was late in the day, his disciples came to him, and said, “This place is deserted, and it is late in the day.
36
Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages, and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat.”
37
But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give them something to eat?” ​
38
He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go see.” When they knew, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
39
He commanded them that everyone should sit down in groups on the green grass.
40
They sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.
41
He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all. ​
42
They all ate, and were filled.
43
They took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and also of the fish. ​
44
Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

Jesus Walks on Water

45
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away. ​
46
After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray. ​
47
When evening had come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he was alone on the land.
48
Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and he would have passed by them, ​
49
but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
50
for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them, and said to them, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.” ​
51
He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves, and marveled;
52
for they hadn’t understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. ​

Widespread Healing in Gennesaret

53
When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore.
54
When they had come out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him,
55
and ran around that whole region, and began to bring those who were sick, on their mats, to where they heard he was.
56
Wherever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch just the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well. ​

Study Notes for Mark 6

Verse 1

His return to his hometown, Nazareth, highlights the difficulty of accepting prophetic authority from a familiar source, especially after achieving fame elsewhere.

Verse 2

The people were astonished not only by his teaching but by the combination of his wisdom and the 'mighty works' (miracles), which challenged their assumptions about his humble background.

Verse 3

This verse provides rare historical detail about Jesus’ family, identifying him as the 'carpenter' and naming his four brothers and mentioning his sisters.

Verse 4

This common proverb explains why Jesus’ ministry faced resistance where he was best known, illustrating how familiarity can blind people to spiritual truth.

Verse 5

Mark’s strong statement that Jesus 'could there do no mighty work' emphasizes that divine power, while limitless, is often hindered by human unbelief and resistance.

Verse 6

Jesus' 'marvel' (astonishment) at their unbelief is a significant humanizing detail, showing his disappointment at the lack of response to his presence and power.

Verse 7

Sending them 'by two and two' provided mutual support, accountability, and fulfilled the requirement for two witnesses (Deut. 19:15). They were given authority over demonic forces.

Verse 8

The strict limitations emphasized radical dependence on God and the hospitality of those they served, ensuring the focus remained on the message, not material resources.

Verse 11

Shaking off the dust was a symbolic gesture, signifying that the disciples were absolving themselves of responsibility for the non-receptive city and its judgment.

Verse 12

The core message of the disciples was the same as John the Baptist and Jesus: calling people to 'repent' (a change of mind leading to a change of life).

Verse 13

The use of 'oil' (anointing) was a traditional practice for healing in the ancient world, here combined with the miraculous power granted by Jesus.

Verse 14

'King Herod' is Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. His troubled conscience leads him to believe Jesus is John the Baptist resurrected.

Verse 17

This begins a narrative interlude detailing John’s execution, triggered by Herod’s illegal marriage to Herodias, his niece and sister-in-law (Lev. 18:16).

Verse 18

John’s uncompromising confrontation of sin, even in the highest political office, demonstrates the prophetic role of holding rulers accountable to God’s moral law.

Verse 20

Herod’s complex relationship with John—fearing him as righteous yet hearing him 'gladly'—shows the conflict between political expediency and moral conviction.

Verse 21

The 'convenient day' refers to a fateful opportunity for Herodias to exact revenge, utilizing the public setting of Herod’s birthday celebration.

Verse 23

Herod’s rash oath, made under the influence of public spectacle and flattery, traps him into committing a heinous act to save face and uphold his honor.

Verse 26

This reveals Herod’s moral weakness; he prioritizes his political image and the honor of his oath over justice and the life of a righteous man.

Verse 30

The disciples return as 'apostles' (meaning 'sent ones'), indicating the successful completion of their mission, and report back to Jesus.

Verse 31

Jesus models the necessity of rest and spiritual retreat, especially after intense ministry, though the demands of the crowds soon interrupt this intention.

Verse 34

Jesus’ 'compassion' is the driving force of his ministry. He sees the crowd as 'sheep not having a shepherd,' a phrase describing Israel’s spiritual leadership vacuum (Num. 27:17).

Verse 37

Jesus issues a challenge: 'Give ye them to eat.' This tests the disciples' faith and forces them to recognize their limitations and Jesus’ limitless power.

Verse 41

The actions—taking, blessing, breaking, and distributing—are reminiscent of Jewish grace before meals and powerfully foreshadow the institution of the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist).

Verse 43

The 'twelve baskets full' of fragments emphasizes the superabundance of the miracle, with twelve symbolizing the completeness of Israel or the apostles.

Verse 45

Jesus 'constrained' (compelled) the disciples to leave, likely to prevent them from becoming caught up in the crowd's enthusiasm following the miracle.

Verse 46

Following intense ministry, Jesus withdraws for solitary 'prayer,' emphasizing the importance of communion with the Father even during periods of high demand.

Verse 48

The 'fourth watch' (3:00 to 6:00 AM) indicates the disciples had been struggling against the wind for most of the night. Jesus demonstrates his sovereignty over the natural world.

Verse 50

The phrase 'It is I' (Greek: Egō eimi) is a powerful declaration, often used in the Greek Old Testament to evoke the covenant name of God (Yahweh), assuring them of his divine presence.

Verse 52

This crucial comment by Mark explains the disciples’ slow understanding. They failed to grasp the significance of the feeding miracle, leading to a 'hardened' (dull or unperceptive) heart regarding Jesus' true identity.

Verse 56

The widespread desire to touch just the 'border of his garment' (the fringe or tassel) shows the intense faith of the people and their belief in Jesus' power flowing even through mere contact.

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