What does Mark 6:32 mean?
ESV: And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.
NIV: So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
NASB: And they went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.
CSB: So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place,
NLT: So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.
KJV: And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
NKJV: So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.
Verse Commentary:
Sometimes, desolate, lonely places provide the most rest. When we are separated from loved ones and have no urgent demands on our time, we can breathe, rest, and reconnect with God. God is everywhere. The modern era offers the internet, and computers in our purses and pockets, meaning we can read the Bible anywhere. And we can certainly always pray. But sometimes we need the quiet of the unfamiliar to hear God.
When we are alone, without friends, families, co-workers, classmates, or kids, we are reminded that God never leaves. His still small voice breaks through the daily noise and reminds us that He is deeply interested in us as individuals. In the wilderness, life becomes very simple. God becomes an integral part of the basics of our lives. We are reminded it has always been so.
The boat has been a staple in Jesus' ministry for some time. He uses it to preach to a mob that crowded a little too close for comfort (Mark 3:9; 4:1) and as an escape (Mark 4:35–41). It may very likely have been Peter and Andrew's boat. They and James and John are fishermen, but unlike James and John, who apparently worked for their father, Peter and Andrew appear to own their boat (Mark 1:16–20).
The parallel passages give confusing accounts of where exactly this "desolate place" is. Jesus and the Twelve most likely start in Capernaum, Jesus' adopted headquarters and the home of Peter and Andrew (Mark 1:29). This desolate place is accessible by sea, has green grass (Mark 6:39), and is on "the other side of the sea of Galilee" (John 6:1) not far from a mountain (Mark 6:46). It is close enough to Capernaum that people can run there faster than the Twelve can row (Mark 6:33) and is at least three or four miles from Gennesaret (John 6:19) which is south and west of Capernaum. "The other side," which is mentioned in several places, can mean any place on the other side of the Jordan River which feeds the Sea of Galilee on the north and drains it on the south. Luke locates the area as at or near Bethsaida (Luke 9:10).
The Plain of Bethsaida matches this except for Mark 6:45. When Jesus wishes to leave, He sends the Twelve to "get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he [dismisses] the crowd." The passage seems to say "the other side" of the desolate place is Bethsaida, itself. However, if the comma after "Bethsaida" is removed, the statement infers that Jesus sends the twelve to Bethsaida to get the boat to take to the other side while He dismisses the crowd.
Verse Context:
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.
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.
Book Summary:
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 4/28/2024 4:45:48 PM
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