Mark 6 - Printer Friendly

What does Mark 6 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

After ramping up the scope of His miracles by calming a storm, exorcising a legion of demons, healing a woman without intent, and raising a dead girl (Mark 4:35—5:43), Jesus takes the Twelve to His hometown of Nazareth. Jesus sees several different reactions to His ministry. The Gentile people of the Decapolis are afraid and beg Him to leave (Mark 5:17). His family are ashamed and beg Him to come home (Mark 3:21, 31–32). The Pharisees from Jerusalem and the Herodians are jealous and arrogant, and plot to destroy Him (Mark 3:6). But many people beg for His healing touch, crowding Him to the point that He has to worry about His own safety (Mark 4:1).

Nazareth greets Jesus with dismissive cynicism. Neighbors and family members He has known His whole life recognize the wisdom of His teaching, but reject the home-grown boy who teaches. These reactions embody the adage of "familiarity breeds contempt." Ironically, the attitude of those closest to Jesus seems to agree with the assumption of Nathanael (John 1:46) that "nothing good comes from Nazareth." Jesus has just left a woman so filled with faith that she was healed simply by touching His cloak. Now, the people who should know Him best have so little faith He can do little to help them. Christ's intent for using miracles is to perform them as a response to faith: when there is no faith, miracles would contradict His purpose (Mark 6:1–6).

On the heels of this rejection, Jesus commissions the Twelve to begin their own ministries in His name. He sends them off with the command to rely on those they teach for support, and gives them authority to heal, exorcise demons, and even raise the dead (Matthew 10:8). These efforts will prove successful, but not without consequences (Mark 6:7–13).

Mark underscores that times of victory will make the Twelve vulnerable to great danger. He recounts the death of John the Baptist who had condemned Herod Antipas' marriage, thereby earning the wrath of Antipas' wife, Herodias. While Antipas moves to protect John, Herodias waits for an opportunity to strike. Her daughter earns the favor of Antipas, and in a foolish moment, Antipas promises her a favor. Herodias coaches her daughter to ask for John's head, and Antipas must deliver (Mark 6:14–29).

Back in the present time, the Twelve return exhausted and hungry but filled with stories of success. Jesus plans a retreat, and they board the boat, intending to find a secluded place to rest. Here, the Twelve fall victim to their own success. The people recognize them as well as Jesus and follow so quickly that some reach their destination before the boat lands. Feeling compassion for the "sheep without a shepherd," Jesus spends the day teaching and healing. At night, when the Twelve wish to dismiss the crowd to find food, Jesus challenges them to provide the food themselves. Despite their recent experiences performing miracles, the Twelve are stymied, and it is Jesus who must use a boy's lunch to feed thousands (Mark 6:30–44).

After dinner, the people are even more convinced that Jesus is the promised Messiah, come to rescue them from the clutches of Rome (John 6:14–15). Although the Twelve concur, they are still too confused by Jesus' behavior to act. Jesus hurries them back to Capernaum while He quiets the nationalistic fervor. With the crowd dispersed, He retreats to a mountain to pray. Whether by moonlight or the breaking dawn, Jesus notices that despite rowing all night, the wind has allowed the Twelve to travel only three or four miles. He walks across the water to them, intending to reassure them by revealing His glorious presence, but their ignorance drives them to fear. Perhaps resolving they need comfort more than epiphanies, He joins them in the boat, and they arrive in Gennesaret, south of Capernaum (Mark 6:45–52).

In Gennesaret, things are back to normal—or, at least, to the familiar pattern of Jesus' earthly ministry. The sick and injured mob Jesus as He and the Twelve travel the countryside. Faith in Jesus' ability to heal has grown, however, and many are healed merely by touching the fringe on His cloak (Mark 6:53–56).

Mark 6:1–6 somewhat fulfills the wishes of Jesus' family that He come home (Mark 3:21). Unfortunately, this homecoming does not go well. The Nazarenes' welcome is closer to that of Jesus' family's than to the mobs that flock to be healed in the rest of Galilee. The Nazarenes recognize the truth of Jesus' preaching, but reject Him, especially after He claims to be the long-awaited Messiah. Jesus can do few miracles there, because their lack of faith conflicts with His intent to provide miracles only for the faithful. Jesus' hometown population is so irate with Him that they try to throw Him off a cliff (Luke 4:29). These events are also found in Matthew 13:53–58. Luke 4:16–30 records an extended version.

Mark 6:7–13 describes the Twelve's missions trip, sandwiched by two less-encouraging accounts. Jesus' rejection at Nazareth teaches the disciples and us that preaching the gospel is often most difficult at home (Mark 6:1–6). The execution of John the Baptist by Herod Antipas shows that sometimes doing the work of Christ brings dire consequences (Mark 6:14–29). Jesus had chosen the Twelve to be with Him, to preach, and to have authority to cast out demons (Mark 3:14). They had been with Jesus, not it was a time for them to be sent out to minister to others. Later, Jesus will send out seventy-two (Luke 10:1–12). Before He ascends to heaven, He will send out all who believe in Him (Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:8; John 17:20–26). Matthew 9:35—11:1 recounts this event with more detail, while the account in Luke 9:1–6 is nearly identical to Mark's.

Mark 6:14–29 follows the disciples' success in continuing John the Baptist's work with a flashback of John's execution. John was Jesus' cousin (Luke 1:36) and the herald of Jesus' ministry (John 1:19–28). He preached repentance to many, including Andrew and Peter (John 1:35–42). He also baptized Jesus (Mark 1:9–11). Herod Antipas ruled over Galilee, where Jesus was from, and Perea, near where John preached. Antipas was fascinated by John, but his wife felt threatened by John's condemnation of their incestuous marriage. This story is also found in Matthew 14:1–12, Luke 3:19–20, and Luke 9:7–9.

Mark 6:30–32 describes the return of Jesus' followers from their first preaching mission. Jesus has shown the Twelve His authority over sickness (Mark 5:25–34), death (Mark 5:21–24, 35–43), demons (Mark 5:1–20), and the elements of nature (Mark 4:35–41). But they have also learned of the death of His herald, John the Baptist (Mark 6:14–29), and witnessed His rejection by His family (Mark 6:1–6). With all this in mind, Jesus has sent them out to preach repentance and back up their message with miracles of their own. Now they return to tell Jesus what they have done. This series of events is also found in Matthew 14:13, Luke 9:10, and John 6:1.

Mark 6:33–44 provides another depiction of Jesus' miraculous feeding of thousands of people. The Twelve have worked so hard on their first missions trip they haven't had time to eat (Mark 6:31), and an attempt to rest is foiled by a demanding crowd. Instead of avoiding the interlopers, Jesus heals (Matthew 14:14) and teaches them. Instead of dismissing them, He feeds them. The Twelve again witness Jesus' great power and authority but don't catch the lesson: Jesus is God and can provide whatever anyone needs. This story is also found in Matthew 14:13–21 and Luke 9:11–17, and it is one of the few miracles mentioned in John (John 6:2–14). This makes it the only miracle referenced in all four Gospels.

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.

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.

Chapter Summary:

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.

Chapter Context:

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.

Accessed 5/6/2024 7:32:48 PM