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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Mark Chapter 6

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: John Mark
Date Penned: (55-65 AD)
Overview: Mark Records the 1st Gospel Written (c 1-16)
Theme:  The Message and Ministry of Jesus, The Servant (c 1-13)
Message: Jesus Sends the Disciples (v 1-56)

Mark 6 Commentary

(6:1-6) The People of Nazareth Refuse to Believe - Following a section where great faith in Jesus is exhibited (5:21-43) is a story where there is great unbelief (6:1-6). Not only his own family, but Jesus’ entire hometown, wondered what was wrong with their “son.” Rather than offering welcome and expressing community pride, Jesus’ townfolk were offended by his presence and his teaching. Familiarity bred contempt. As a result, their rejection limited his ministry.

(6:7-13) Jesus Sends out the Twelve Disciples - When Jesus gave his disciples their first commission, he included directions about conduct and content. Even while Jesus was still with the disciples, he helped them to discover what it would be like to function without him. Mark already mentioned two other mission circuits that Jesus traveled (1:14, 39), indicating that at least some of the disciples had experience in itinerant ministry. For these Galilean towns, the disciples’ visit may have provided another opportunity for exposure to the gospel.

(6:14-29) Herod Kills John the Baptist - The narrative about the disciples’ preaching tour of Galilee continues at 6:30, interrupted with several verses telling the story of John the Baptist’s death. John’s imprisonment was mentioned in 1:14 when Jesus began his public ministry; 6:17-29 is a flashback. People were trying to explain Jesus’ success. They were not ready to acknowledge him as the Son of God, but they were willing to call him a prophet. Some, like King Herod, were convinced that Jesus must be John the Baptist come back to life. Apparently, Herod was suffering pangs of guilt after ordering John’s murder. He had gone along with his wife Herodias’s scheme to take revenge on the irritating preacher by ordering him to be beheaded. Told side by side, the success of the apostolic mission and the result of John’s mission present a sobering lesson to those who obey God’s calling: Sometimes discipleship means death.

(6:30-44) Jesus Feeds Five Thousand - The biographers of Jesus regarded the miraculous supply of food for a large crowd as a key event. Apart from the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection, it is the only miracle recounted in all four Gospels. In Matthew and Mark, this miracle follows the account of Herod’s tragic feast where John the Baptist was killed. The placement of the event creates a stark contrast between Herod’s deadly orgy and the miraculous feast that Jesus provided for the multitude. Like each of Jesus’ miracles, the feeding of the five thousand demonstrated his control over creation, and it shows that God will provide when we are in need. Jesus was not transforming rocks into food, but multiplying bread and fish. He was doing instantly what he does constantly throughout nature. He was not breaking the “laws of nature,” but was demonstrating that he was in control of these laws. Christ’s power to feed a multitude, walk on water, and heal diseases all point to his identity as Lord of creation.

(6:45-52) Jesus Walks on Water - A long and stressful day was coming to a close. Jesus insisted that his disciples go on ahead in a boat while he dismissed the crowd. As people dispersed, Jesus went alone to pray. His time of silence and fellowship with his Father did not prevent his noticing the disciples struggling to make headway against the wind out on the lake. So Jesus ended his day (and began the next) by meeting the needs of his disciples as they floundered in the waves.

(6:53-56) Jesus Heals All Who Touch Him - Jesus had achieved celebrity status. Wherever he and his disciples showed up, crowds gathered to watch. The sick flocked for healing. Jesus healed all those who were brought to him. Some who benefited from Jesus’ healing touch went unchanged in other ways (Luke 17:11-19), but many were changed forever. Do you regard Jesus as an important, essential resource, yet still retain final control of your own decisions? Do you desire Jesus’ help and friendship, but still want to be lord of your own life?


 


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Have Faith In The Lord

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of Mark with Chapter 6. In our text today we see many marvelous works of our Savior from healing the sick to feeding the 5 thousand but seeing these Miracles his own people and disciples fail to have faith in Him as the account of Jesus walking on the water. In making application we see our need to have faith in our Lord. For we see and have recorded His truths and promises that should erase any doubt that our Lord is willing and able to meet our needs. Today we have a tendency to worry when our needs are not met on our timetable but the Lord instructs us to not worry and have faith. How about you? Do you have faith in the Lord? Let us learn from our text today and examples of our Lord from His Word to see that our Lord will take care of our needs and we simply need to have faith when faced with the trials of life.  

 

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Mark 6

Mark 6

 1And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

 2And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

 4But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

 5And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

 6And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

 7And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

 8And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:

 9But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

 10And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

 11And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

 12And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

 13And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

 14And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

 15Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

 16But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

 17For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

 18For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

 19Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

 20For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

 21And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

 22And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

 23And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

 24And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

 25And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

 26And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

 27And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

 28And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

 29And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

 30And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

 31And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

 32And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

 33And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

 34And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

 35And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

 36Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

 37He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

 38He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

 39And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

 40And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

 41And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

 42And they did all eat, and were filled.

 43And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

 44And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

 45And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

 46And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

 47And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

 48And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

 49But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

 50For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

 51And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

 52For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

 53And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

 54And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

 55And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

 56And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.