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MARK: AN OVERVIEW

CHAPTER SIX

JIM LAWS

In chapter six Jesus goes to the area where he grew up, around Nazareth. As one reads the account, he finds that Jesus is rejected in his hometown. His response to this has become a popular statement: he said, "A prophet is not without honor but in his own country, among his own kin, and in his own house" (v. 4). The statement of the Lord has become a type of maxim even today. There were times when Jesus was amazed at great faith, but this is an occasion, when Jesus is amazed with their lack of faith (v. 6).

By verses 7-12 we read of the sending out of the twelve with the specific instructions that Jesus gave them. The results of their work are reported for us in verse 30. As one reads the Lord's instructions to the twelve, he sees that Jesus wanted them to put their trust in God for their food and shelter. Those, who were receptive to their message and work, would provide for them. They taught the people to repent (v. 12), which was an important part of their message. The fact that they would cast out demons and heal the sick would corroborate the fact that their message was from God.

It is at this point that Mark records the death of John (vv. 14-29). The popularity of Jesus is so great that Herod thought that Jesus was actually John the Baptist, who had come back from the dead (v. 14). Perhaps the successful work of the twelve in the limited commission added to Herod's worries. John's message to Herod (the son of Herod the Great) was that the divorce of his wife and the subsequent marriage to Herodias (his brother Philip's wife) was unlawful (v. 18). Because of the rash promise, which he makes to the daughter of Herodias, (v. 26) Herodias seizes the opportunity and tells her daughter to ask for the head of John. To keep his oath an executioner is dispatched and John is beheaded (v. 28; also read Matthew 14:1-12).

The next paragraph records the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, which is, also, recorded in Matthew 14:13-21. Keep in mind that Mark is emphasizing the action and power of the Lord. In this instance Jesus saw the need of the people and was moved with compassion. You will see this a number of times in the record of the earthly life of Christ. Jesus, out of tenderness, sees the need, which prompts him to act. Perhaps, the disciples did not want the responsibility for the hungry multitude, Or, perhaps, they thought of themselves as being benevolent toward the multitude, when they said to Jesus that the hour was late and that the crowd should be sent away (v. 36). However, Jesus responded by saying, "You give them something to eat" (v. 37). It would take two hundred denarii worth of bread to feed the crowd. A denarius was the pay for one day's work. Therefore, it would take about a year's wages to buy food enough for the hungry multitude. Jesus asked them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see" (v. 38). It was found that they had five loaves and two fish. The people were instructed to sit down on the green grass, and as they did, they sat in groups of a hundred and in groups of fifty (v. 39,40). Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish and blessed the food; he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples to give to the people. In the original text the tense of the verb "gave," used by Mark and Luke (Luke 9:16) suggests that Jesus kept on giving bread and dividing fish--a continuous action. Evidently, the miraculous multiplication of the loaves took place in Jesus' hands, as he continued or kept on giving the bread and fish to the disciples (v. 41). When everyone had eaten all they wanted, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. Mark tells us that there were five thousand men that ate the food that day (v. 44).

In verses 45-52 we read the story of Jesus walking on the water (see also Matthew 14:22-33). Jesus made his disciples to get into the boat and start back across to Bethsaida. He remained long enough to send the crowds away, and he went on the side of a mountain to pray (vv. 45,46). Later that evening Jesus saw the disciples out in the sea, struggling to row against the wind. In the early morning hours Jesus came toward them. He was walking on the water. The disciples thought that Jesus was a ghost and were terrified. But Jesus comforted them as he told them, "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid" (v. 50; Mark omits the added detail of Peter walking on the water to meet Jesus (read Matt. 14:28-31). Jesus then got into the boat with the disciples and the wind died down. The text says that the disciples were "sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered" (v. 51). Mark tells us that they failed to consider the miracle of the loaves and the fishes; if they had, they would have understood his divine power over the natural elements. The scripture says that their heart was hardened (v. 52); such was the case, because of their failure to carefully consider all that Jesus had done in their presence.

The last paragraph of the chapter (vv. 53-56) relates the events that took place with Jesus and disciples as they reached the other shore near a town named Gennesart. Jesus is well known, both as a teacher, as well as, a healer of the sick. As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, the people recognized him. They went all over the country to bring their sick to Jesus. Whereever Jesus went, the people brought their sick to him. They begged him to let them just touch his clothes, and everyone who did, was healed. Once again, the miracles of Christ prove that he has came from heaven, that his message regarding the kingdom of heaven is from above and that he is a loving, compassionate savior.

MARK continued

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