Mark 6:45 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

NIV: Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

NASB: And immediately Jesus had His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He Himself *dismissed the crowd.

CSB: Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

NLT: Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home.

KJV: And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

NKJV: Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.

The Gospels aren't very precise when it comes to geography and timelines. This is common in ancient literature, which is often not as specific as modern readers might prefer. Mark says that Jesus sends them to Bethsaida, but John says they are headed to Capernaum (John 6:17). Taking into account several other references (Mark 6:33; Luke 9:10; John 6:1), it appears that Jesus and the Twelve started in or near Capernaum, went to a plain outside of Bethsaida, and now plan to return to Capernaum. A possible interpretation is that the Twelve left the boat at the harbor at Bethsaida and walked to the plain where the feeding of the five thousand took place. Jesus tells the twelve to go back to Bethsaida to get the boat, then on to Capernaum, although He later changes their destination to Gennesaret (Mark 6:53).

Jesus takes all day to heal and preach. When the Twelve want Him to dismiss the crowd so they can find something to eat, Jesus has them stay and feeds them, Himself. Now Jesus quickly forces the twelve to go back to the boat. This sudden dismissal is jarring. It may be that He doesn't want them infected with the crowd's belief that He should be made king (John 6:14–15). The Twelve are beginning to understand that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah (Mark 8:27–30), but the Jews believe that the Messiah will be a military commander who will rescue them from the rule of Rome. This is, in fact, what the five thousand now have in mind. Even to the Twelve, Jesus knows that a meal is a more powerful draw than healings and exorcisms (John 6:26). The mob has been miraculously fed (Mark 6:41–43) and now want to make Jesus king (John 6:15).

Jesus delays the Twelve's descent to political fervor but doesn't completely prevent it. Soon, they will catch the idea that Jesus is there to win Israel's independence, and get the notion that their proximity to Him will mean power and prestige. When John and James ask Jesus to allow them to sit "one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory," (Mark 10:37), they don't necessarily mean in eternity. They are most likely still focused on an earthly, material kingdom.

Mark 6:45–52 continues to escalate the scope of Jesus' miracles. From healing illnesses and injuries (Mark 1:33–34) to raising the dead (Mark 5:35–43). From exorcising one demon (Mark 1:23–26) to expelling a horde of them (Mark 5:1–15). From calming the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35–41) to this account, where Jesus walks on its waters. Still, the Twelve continue to misunderstand who Jesus is and what He has come to do. They think He will be king and save Israel from the Romans. By sending them ahead of Him, He shields them from the crowd who believe the same. This miracle is also found in Matthew 14:22–33 and John 6:16–21.

Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth, but the people there are faithless and skeptical. As a result, Jesus performs no more than a few minor miracles. He then assigns His twelve apostles to travel in pairs, preaching repentance and healing various conditions. Mark then takes a brief detour to explain the death of John the Baptist, beheaded after Herod Antipas is tricked by his wife. The focus then returns to Jesus, explaining His miraculous feeding of thousands of people, walking on water, and healing people in Gennesaret.

Even as the Twelve are given opportunity to wield some of Jesus' power and authority, they still struggle to understand. They misinterpret who He is, what He has come to do, and how much He will ask of them. They fear Jesus' display of deity, but seem to dismiss the murderous rejection of His hometown and the death of John the Baptist. It's easy to have faith in a prophet who seems poised to rescue Israel from foreign rule. It is still beyond them to understand that He is actually God.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.