Mark 6

1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, and his followers went with him.

2 On the Sabbath day he taught in the synagogue. Many people heard him and were amazed, saying, "Where did this man get these teachings? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? And where did he get the power to do miracles?

3 He is just the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters are here with us." So the people were upset with Jesus.

4 Jesus said to them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and with his own people and in his own home."

5 So Jesus was not able to work any miracles there except to heal a few sick people by putting his hands on them.

6 He was amazed at how many people had no faith. Then Jesus went to other villages in that area and taught.

7 He called his twelve followers together and got ready to send them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.

8 This is what Jesus commanded them: "Take nothing for your trip except a walking stick. Take no bread, no bag, and no money in your pockets.

9 Wear sandals, but take only the clothes you are wearing.

10 When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.

11 If the people in a certain place refuse to welcome you or listen to you, leave that place. Shake its dust off your feetn as a warning to them."

12 So the followers went out and preached that people should change their hearts and lives.

13 They forced many demons out and put olive oil on many sick people and healed them.

14 King Herod heard about Jesus, because he was now well known. Some people said, "He is John the Baptist, who has risen from the dead. That is why he can work these miracles."

15 Others said, "He is Elijah." Other people said, "Jesus is a prophet, like the prophets who lived long ago."

16 When Herod heard this, he said, "I killed John by cutting off his head. Now he has risen from the dead!"

17 Herod himself had ordered his soldiers to arrest John and put him in prison in order to please his wife, Herodias. She had been the wife of Philip, Herod's brother, but then Herod had married her.

18 John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to be married to your brother's wife."

19 So Herodias hated John and wanted to kill him. But she couldn't,

20 because Herod was afraid of John and protected him. He knew John was a good and holy man. Also, though John's preaching always bothered him, he enjoyed listening to John.

21 Then the perfect time came for Herodias to cause John's death. On Herod's birthday, he gave a dinner party for the most important government leaders, the commanders of his army, and the most important people in Galilee.

22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and the people eating with him. So King Herod said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I will give it to you."

23 He promised her, "Anything you ask for I will give to you -- up to half of my kingdom."

24 The girl went to her mother and asked, "What should I ask for?" Her mother answered, "Ask for the head of John the Baptist."

25 At once the girl went back to the king and said to him, "I want the head of John the Baptist right now on a platter."

26 Although the king was very sad, he had made a promise, and his dinner guests had heard it. So he did not want to refuse what she asked.

27 Immediately the king sent a soldier to bring John's head. The soldier went and cut off John's head in the prison

28 and brought it back on a platter. He gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

29 When John's followers heard this, they came and got John's body and put it in a tomb.

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him about all the things they had done and taught.

31 Crowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, "Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a lonely place to get some rest."

32 So they went in a boat by themselves to a lonely place.

33 But many people saw them leave and recognized them. So from all the towns they ran to the place where Jesus was going, and they got there before him.

34 When he arrived, he saw a great crowd waiting. He felt sorry for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things.

35 When it was late in the day, his followers came to him and said, "No one lives in this place, and it is already very late.

36 Send the people away so they can go to the countryside and towns around here to buy themselves something to eat."

37 But Jesus answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "We would all have to work a month to earn enough money to buy that much bread!"

38 Jesus asked them, "How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five loaves and two fish."

39 Then Jesus told his followers to have the people sit in groups on the green grass.

40 So they sat in groups of fifty or a hundred.

41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish and, looking up to heaven, he thanked God for the food. He divided the bread and gave it to his followers for them to give to the people. Then he divided the two fish among them all.

42 All the people ate and were satisfied.

43 The followers filled twelve baskets with the leftover pieces of bread and fish.

44 There were five thousand men who ate.

45 Immediately Jesus told his followers to get into the boat and go ahead of him to Bethsaida across the lake. He stayed there to send the people home.

46 After sending them away, he went into the hills to pray.

47 That night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on the land.

48 He saw his followers struggling hard to row the boat, because the wind was blowing against them. Between three and six o'clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the water, and he wanted to walk past the boat.

49 But when they saw him walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost and cried out.

50 They all saw him and were afraid. But quickly Jesus spoke to them and said, "Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid."

51 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind became calm. The followers were greatly amazed.

52 They did not understand about the miracle of the five loaves, because their minds were closed.

53 When they had crossed the lake, they came to shore at Gennesaret and tied the boat there.

54 When they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus.

55 They ran everywhere in that area and began to bring sick people on mats wherever they heard he was.

56 And everywhere he went -- into towns, cities, or countryside -- the people brought the sick to the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch just the edge of his coat, and all who touched it were healed.

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Mark 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

Christ despised in his own country. (1-6) The apostles sent forth. (7-13) John the Baptist put to death. (14-29) The apostles return, Five thousand fed by a miracle. (30-44) Christ walks on the sea, He heals those that touch him. (45-56)

Verses 1-6 Our Lord's countrymen tried to prejudice the minds of people against him. Is not this the carpenter? Our Lord Jesus probably had worked in that business with his father. He thus put honour upon mechanics, and encouraged all persons who eat by the labour of their hands. It becomes the followers of Christ to content themselves with the satisfaction of doing good, although they are denied the praise of it. How much did these Nazarenes lose by obstinate prejudices against Jesus! May Divine grace deliver us from that unbelief, which renders Christ a savour of death, rather than of life to the soul. Let us, like our Master, go and teach cottages and peasants the way of salvation.

Verses 7-13 Though the apostles were conscious to themselves of great weakness, and expected no wordly advantage, yet, in obedience to their Master, and in dependence upon his strength, they went out. They did not amuse people with curious matters, but told them they must repent of their sins, and turn to God. The servants of Christ may hope to turn many from darkness unto God, and to heal souls by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Verses 14-29 Herod feared John while he lived, and feared him still more when he was dead. Herod did many of those things which John in his preaching taught him; but it is not enough to do many things, we must have respect to all the commandments. Herod respected John, till he touched him in his Herodias. Thus many love good preaching, if it keep far away from their beloved sin. But it is better that sinners persecute ministers now for faithfulness, than curse them eternally for unfaithfulness. The ways of God are unsearchable; but we may be sure he never can be at a loss to repay his servants for what they endure or lose for his sake. Death could not come so as to surprise this holy man; and the triumph of the wicked was short.

Verses 30-44 Let not ministers do any thing or teach any thing, but what they are willing should be told to their Lord. Christ notices the frights of some, and the toils of others of his disciples, and provides rest for those that are tired, and refuge for those that are terrified. The people sought the spiritual food of Christ's word, and then he took care that they should not want bodily food. If Christ and his disciples put up with mean things, surely we may. And this miracle shows that Christ came into the world, not only to restore, but to preserve and nourish spiritual life; in him there is enough for all that come. None are sent empty away from Christ but those who come to him full of themselves. Though Christ had bread enough at command, he teaches us not to waste any of God's bounties, remembering how many are in want. We may, some time, need the fragments that we now throw away.

Verses 45-56 The church is often like a ship at sea, tossed with tempests, and not comforted: we may have Christ for us, yet wind and tide against us; but it is a comfort to Christ's disciples in a storm, that their Master is in the heavenly mount, interceding for them. And no difficulties can hinder Christ's appearance for his people, when the set time is come. He silenced their fears, by making himself known to them. Our fears are soon satisfied, if our mistakes are set right, especially our mistakes as to Christ. Let the disciples have their Master with them, and all is well. It is for want of rightly understanding Christ's former works, that we view his present works as if there never were the like before. If Christ's ministers now could cure people's bodily diseases, what multitudes would flock after them! It is sad to think how much more most care about their bodies than about their souls.