Mark 6

Mark 6 is the sixth of the sixteen chapters of the Gospel of Mark and continues the account of Jesus' ministry in Galilee. It opens as Jesus, having raised Jairus's daughter in Mark 5, leaves that place and goes to his hometown.

Outline

• Verses 1–6 On the Sabbath Jesus teaches in the synagogue of his hometown, but the people reject him, saying, "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?" Jesus marvels at their unbelief.
• Verses 6–13 He sends out the Twelve two by two, giving them power over unclean spirits and instructing them to take nothing for their journey except a staff. The disciples preach repentance and anoint the sick with oil and heal them.
• Verses 14–16 Herod hears reports about Jesus and says that John, whom he had beheaded, has risen from the dead.
• Verses 17–29 An account of how John was imprisoned and put to death. At Herod's birthday banquet the daughter of Herodias dances and, at her mother's prompting, asks for John's head.
• Verses 30–44 Jesus withdraws with the returning apostles to a deserted place, but the crowd arrives ahead of them. With five loaves and two fish he feeds five thousand men, and twelve baskets are left over.
• Verses 45–52 Jesus sends the disciples ahead to Bethsaida and prays on a mountain; then, about the fourth watch of the night, he comes to them walking on the sea.
• Verses 53–56 At Gennesaret all the sick who touch the border of his garment are made whole.

Key Verses

• Mark 6:4 "A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country…" This verse sums up a scene in which familiarity turns into unbelief.
• Mark 6:34 "…was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd." This verse reveals the motive for the miracle.
• Mark 6:50 "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid." This is Jesus' response to the disciples' fear.

People and Places

• Mary and Jesus' brothers James, Joses, Juda, and Simon (see James (brother of the Lord))
• John the Baptist, Elijah
• Herod: generally identified as Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee.
• Herodias and her daughter (see Herodias and Salome)
• Hometown: according to Mark 1:9, Nazareth.
• Bethsaida and Gennesaret: areas on the northern and western shores of the Sea of Galilee, respectively

Points for Reflection

• Protestants generally read the "brothers" of verse 3 as children of Mary; the Catholic Church understands them as relatives, and the Eastern Orthodox Church as sons of Joseph by a previous wife.
• The Catholic Church cites the anointing with oil in verse 13 as one of the grounds for the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, whereas Protestants do not regard it as a sacrament.
• The name of Herodias's daughter does not appear in the text; the name Salome comes from the writings of Josephus. The boy who provided the loaves appears only in John 6:9.
• The feeding of the five thousand is recorded in all four Gospels. Verse 52 links this miracle with Jesus' walking on the water, and the account looks ahead to the feeding of the four thousand in Mark 8.

In the Korean Church

The feeding of the five thousand is frequently taught in Sunday school, and sermons often cite it as an example of devotion that offers up even something small. Verses 7–13 serve as a text when commissioning workers for evangelism or short-term missions.