Mark · chapter 6 of 16
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Mark 6 tells how Jesus is rejected in Nazareth, sends out the twelve two by two, and Herod has John the Baptist beheaded. Jesus then feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fish, and walks on the sea to reach his disciples, who are straining against the wind in their boat.
Mark 6 alternates rejection and mission. Jesus is despised in his hometown, yet he widens his work by sending out the twelve. The account of John the Baptist's death foreshadows what lies ahead for Jesus, and the two miracles over bread and sea reveal who he is, even though the disciples still do not understand.
Jesus returns to Nazareth and teaches in the synagogue. Many are amazed but take offense: he is the carpenter, the son of Mary, and they know his brothers. Jesus says a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, and he marvels at their unbelief; he can do only a few miracles there. He then goes around the villages teaching and sends out the twelve two by two with authority over unclean spirits, with instructions to travel light and to shake the dust off their feet where they are not welcomed. They preach, cast out demons and heal the sick.
King Herod hears about Jesus and thinks he is John raised from the dead. Mark then tells how Herod had imprisoned John for denouncing his marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife. At Herod's birthday banquet, Herodias's daughter dances and pleases the king, who promises her whatever she asks. Prompted by her mother, she asks for John's head on a platter. Herod, grieved but bound by his oath and his guests, orders John beheaded.
The apostles return and report all they have done. Jesus takes them to a desolate place to rest, but the crowd gets there first, and he has compassion on them because they are like sheep without a shepherd, and he teaches them at length. Toward evening, with five loaves and two fish, he has the people sit down in groups, blesses and breaks the bread, and the disciples distribute it: about five thousand men eat, and twelve baskets of leftovers are gathered. He sends the disciples ahead in the boat and goes up to pray. In the early morning he sees them straining at the oars against the wind and comes toward them walking on the sea. They think he is a ghost and cry out, but he tells them to take heart. He gets into the boat, the wind stops and they are astonished, for they had not understood about the loaves.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Jesus says a prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house. Familiarity had blinded the people of Nazareth to who was standing before them.
Jesus calls the twelve and sends them out two by two with authority over unclean spirits. He sends them in pairs so that none of them serves alone.
Seeing the crowd, Jesus is moved with compassion because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Even weary, he sets aside his rest to teach them.
When the disciples think they see a ghost on the water, Jesus tells them to take heart, that it is he, and not to be afraid. His presence is the answer to their terror.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: They were amazed but took offense because they knew him as the carpenter, Mary's son; because of their unbelief he did few miracles there. — Mark 6:2-6
Answer: He sent them two by two, with authority over unclean spirits, to take only what was needed and to shake the dust off their feet where they were not received. — Mark 6:7-11
Answer: Because John told him it was not lawful for him to have Herodias, his brother's wife. — Mark 6:17-18
Answer: The head of John the Baptist on a platter. — Mark 6:24-25
Answer: Five loaves and two fish; twelve baskets were left over. — Mark 6:38-43
Answer: He came toward them walking on the sea, got into the boat, and the wind ceased. — Mark 6:48-51
Mark 6 shows that serving God can bring rejection, even from people who have known us all our lives. In a Sunday school class you can talk about staying faithful when those closest to us do not understand or value what we do. Jesus does not stop: he moves on to the neighboring villages.
The feeding of the crowd reminds us that God uses the little we place in his hands. And the scene on the sea encourages those who row wearily: Jesus sees the struggles of his people even when he seems absent, and he arrives in time with a calming word: take heart, it is I.
Mark 6 closes with crowds coming to Jesus to touch his cloak and be healed. In Mark 7 the focus shifts from the crowds to the religious leaders who criticize the disciples, and Jesus teaches what really defiles a person.
The text speaks of Jesus' brothers James, Joses, Judas and Simon, and of his sisters. Most evangelical interpreters understand them as sons of Mary and Joseph born after Jesus, while other traditions understand them differently. The text does not settle the debate explicitly.
Mark says Jesus marveled at their unbelief and healed only a few sick people. It does not mean his power was limited, but that the townspeople's lack of faith closed the atmosphere to receiving his works.
Mark 6:48 says he meant to pass by them. Many scholars link this with Old Testament appearances of God in which the Lord passes by to show his glory. Here Jesus reveals himself as one who has mastery over the sea.