Mark 6:53 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore.

NIV: When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.

NASB: When they had crossed over they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored at the shore.

CSB: When they had crossed over, they came to shore at Gennesaret and anchored there.

NLT: After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. They brought the boat to shore

KJV: And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

NKJV: When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.

Jesus and the Twelve had been near Bethsaida, on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee on the "other side" or east of the Jordan River. John 6:17 says the Twelve had planned to go to Capernaum, but Jesus lands them at Gennesaret, three miles south, instead (John 6:21). It's possible that the fierce winds blow them off course (Mark 6:48). More likely, Jesus doesn't want to deal with the mob that is shortly going to seek them in Capernaum (John 6:22–24). Mark, who focuses on actions, only mentions that Jesus heals people. John, who emphasizes Jesus' teachings over His miracles, says that Jesus returns to Capernaum and gives His lesson on being the bread of life (John 6:22–59).

Gennesaret is a three-mile-long fertile plain between Capernaum and Tiberias. Tiberias is the capital of Herod Antipas, the self-styled king who ordered John the Baptist's death (Mark 6:14–29). Antipas suspects that the same spirit that compelled John to condemn Antipas' marriage to his sister-in-law Herodias now resides in Jesus, yet he does nothing. Jesus knows that Antipas killed John, but He has no fear in coming closer. Later, when Jesus knows if He goes to Jerusalem He will die, He goes willingly (Mark 10:32–34).

Antipas will have a role in the crucifixion. Antipas happens to be in Jerusalem and, since Jesus is from his territory, Pilate delivers Jesus to him. Antipas hopes that Jesus will be as entertaining as John had been, but when Jesus refuses to speak, Antipas' guards mock Jesus, put Him in "splendid clothing" and return Him to Pilate (Luke 23:6–12).

Paul experiences something similar. During his third missionary journey, disciples from Tyre tell him not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:4). Then a prophet from Caesarea repeats the warning (Acts 21:8–12). Paul knows it is time, however, and he willingly goes to Jerusalem where he is arrested and held by Festus in Caesarea before being taken to Rome for imprisonment.

Jesus and Paul know that when they are in God's will, nothing can harm them until it is God's will that they be harmed. They value God's will more than their lives—they consecrate their lives to God's will. Learning to follow their example and offer our lives and death for Jesus is part of becoming sanctified. As we grow as a servant of God, we will find we are no longer slaves to the sin that keeps us from living a life free of fear.

Mark 6:53–56 describes Jesus healing the sick in Gennesaret. After feeding the five thousand near Bethsaida, Jesus sent the Twelve ahead of Him across the Sea of Galilee toward Capernaum (John 6:17). Jesus spent some time praying, then caught up with them by walking on the water. For an unrecorded reason, they land at Gennesaret, three miles south of Capernaum. Jesus and the Twelve travel over the whole region while the sick take the example of the woman with an issue of blood (Mark 5:28) and receive healing by merely touching His robe. This account is also found in Matthew 14:34–36 and John 6:22–59.

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.