Rejection at Nazareth
Study note
Jesus returns to his hometown synagogue and teaches with wisdom and power, yet the people take offense at him because they know his ordinary family background. Their familiarity breeds contempt, and Mark records the striking statement that Jesus 'could do no mighty work there' because of their unbelief. Even Jesus marvels at their lack of faith. This episode warns that proximity to spiritual truth does not guarantee a receptive heart, and that preconceived ideas about God can blind us to his work.
1 Jesus left that area and headed back to his hometown. His disciples came with him. And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
2 When the Sabbath arrived, he began teaching in the synagogue. The people who heard him were shocked. They kept saying, "Where did he learn all this? What kind of wisdom is this? How does he do these incredible things?" And 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?
3 "Wait a minute -- isn't this just the carpenter? Mary's son? The brother of James, Joses, Juda, and Simon? Don't his sisters live right here among us?" They were offended by him. Is 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.
4 Jesus said, "A prophet gets respect everywhere. But not in his own hometown. Not among his own family. Not in his own house." But 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.
5 He could not do any big miracles there. But he did heal a few sick people by putting his hands on them. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
6 Their refusal to believe stunned him. So he moved on and taught in the surrounding villages instead. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
Sending Out the Twelve
Study note
Jesus sends the twelve apostles out in pairs with authority over unclean spirits, instructing them to travel light with no provisions, depending entirely on the hospitality of those who receive them. This mission mirrors and extends Jesus' own ministry of preaching repentance, casting out demons, and healing the sick. The instruction to shake dust from their feet at unreceptive towns serves as a prophetic warning of judgment, while the paired sending ensures mutual support and credible testimony.
7 He gathered the twelve together and started sending them out in pairs. He gave them authority over evil spirits. And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
8 His instructions were simple: "Take nothing for the trip except a walking stick. No bag, no food, no money in your belt." And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
9 "Wear your sandals, but do not pack an extra set of clothes." But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.
10 He also said, "When someone opens their home to you, stay at that house the whole time you are in that town." And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.
11 "And if a town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as you go. That act will stand as a warning to them. I am telling you the truth: on judgment day, even Sodom and Gomorrha will be treated more lightly than that town." And 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.
12 So the twelve went out and told people everywhere to turn away from their sins. And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
13 They drove out many demons and rubbed oil on many sick people, and those people were healed. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
The Death of John the Baptist
Study note
Mark inserts a flashback explaining how Herod Antipas executed John the Baptist, creating a dark parallel to Jesus' own approaching fate. Herod feared John as a righteous man yet was trapped by his rash oath and concern for public appearance into ordering his beheading at Herodias' request through her daughter's dance. This account illustrates how political cowardice, personal grudges, and moral compromise combine to silence the voice of truth. It also foreshadows the suffering that awaits Jesus and his followers.
14 King Herod caught wind of all this, because the name of Jesus was on everyone's lips. Herod's theory was, "John the Baptist must have come back from the dead. Therefore he can do these amazing things." And 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.
15 Other people had different ideas. Some said, "He is Elias." Others said, "He is a prophet, just like the great prophets from long ago." Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
16 But when Herod heard these reports, he insisted, "No, this is John. I had his head cut off, and now he has come back to life." But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
17 This is the backstory: Herod had sent soldiers to arrest John and throw him in prison. The reason was Herodias, who had been married to his brother Philip. Herod had taken her as his own wife. For 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.
18 John had confronted Herod directly: "You have no right to be married to your brother's wife." For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
19 Herodias never forgave John for saying that. She wanted him dead, but she could not make it happen. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
20 Herod was afraid of John because he knew John was a good and holy man, so he kept John safe. Herod felt disturbed whenever he listened to John, and yet he kept wanting to hear more. For 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.
21 Then Herodias got her chance. On his birthday, Herod threw a big banquet for his top officials, his military commanders, and the most important people in Galilee. And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
22 The daughter of Herodias came in and danced for the guests. Herod and everyone at the table loved it. The king told the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and it is yours." And 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.
23 He even backed it up with an oath: "Whatever you ask for, I will give it to you -- even if it is half my kingdom." And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
24 The girl stepped out and asked her mother, "What should I ask for?" Her mother answered without hesitating, "The head of John the Baptist." And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
25 The girl rushed back to the king and said, "I want you to give me -- right now, on a platter -- the head of John the Baptist." And 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.
26 The king felt terrible about it. But because he had made the oath in front of all his guests, he could not bring himself to turn her down. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
27 So he immediately sent a soldier with orders to bring back John's head. The soldier went to the prison and cut off John's head. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
28 He carried the head back on a platter, handed it to the girl, and the girl delivered it to her mother. And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
29 When John's followers found out, they came and got his body and placed it in a tomb. And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
Feeding the Five Thousand
Study note
When the apostles return from their mission, Jesus invites them to rest, but massive crowds pursue them. Moved with compassion because the people are like sheep without a shepherd, Jesus teaches them and then miraculously feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fish, producing twelve baskets of leftovers. This miracle echoes Moses providing manna in the wilderness and Elisha's multiplication of loaves, identifying Jesus as the greater prophet. The twelve baskets may symbolize provision for all twelve tribes of Israel.
30 The apostles came back to Jesus. They told him about everything they had done and taught. And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
31 Jesus said to them, "Let us go somewhere quiet and private so you can rest." People had been coming and going nonstop, and they had not even had a chance to eat. And 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.
32 So they got in a boat and headed for a remote spot by themselves. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
33 But people noticed them leaving and figured out where they were going. Crowds ran along the shore from all the nearby towns and got to the spot ahead of them. And 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.
34 When Jesus stepped ashore and saw the massive crowd, his heart ached for them. They reminded him of sheep wandering around with no shepherd to guide them. So he began teaching them many things. And 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.
35 As the hours passed, it got very late. His disciples came to him and said, "This is the middle of nowhere, and the day is almost over." And 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:
36 "Send the crowd away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and find something to eat. They have no food out here." Send 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.
37 But Jesus said, "You feed them." They stared at him and replied, "Are you serious? It would cost two hundred denarii to buy enough bread for all these people!" He 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?
38 He asked, "How much food do you have with you? Go check." They came back and reported, "Five loaves of bread and two fish." He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
39 Jesus told them to organize everyone into groups and have them sit down on the green grass. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
40 People sat down in groups -- some groups of a hundred, some groups of fifty. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
41 Jesus picked up the five loaves and the two fish, looked up toward heaven, and gave thanks to God. Then he started breaking the bread into pieces and handing them to his disciples to pass out to the crowd. He split up the two fish among everyone as well. And 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.
42 Every person ate until they were full. And they did all eat, and were filled.
43 Afterward, they picked up the leftover pieces. They filled twelve baskets with broken bread and fish. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
44 The number of men who had eaten was about five thousand. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
Jesus Walks on Water
Study note
After the feeding miracle, Jesus withdraws to pray alone on a mountain while the disciples struggle against headwinds on the sea. In the fourth watch of the night, he comes to them walking on the water, an act that in the Old Testament is attributed only to God. His words 'It is I' echo the divine name revealed to Moses. Mark's devastating editorial comment that the disciples were astonished because 'they had not understood about the loaves' reveals that even witnessing miracles does not automatically produce faith; spiritual understanding requires an open heart.
45 Right away, Jesus made his disciples get in the boat. He told them to head across to Bethsaida while he sent the crowd home. And 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.
46 After saying goodbye to everyone, he hiked up a mountain to spend time in prayer. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
47 By the time night fell, the boat was out in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was still alone on shore. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
48 He could see his disciples struggling hard against the wind as they rowed. Sometime between three and six in the morning, he came toward them, walking right on top of the water. He looked like he was going to pass right by them. And 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.
49 When they saw someone walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and started screaming. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
50 They all saw him, and they were scared out of their minds. But he immediately called out, "Relax! It is me! Don't be afraid." For 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.
51 He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind instantly stopped. They sat there in shock, completely amazed. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
52 They still had not understood what the miracle with the bread meant, because their minds were not open to it. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
Healings at Gennesaret
Study note
Upon landing at Gennesaret, Jesus is immediately recognized and people throughout the region bring their sick to him wherever he goes. The scene of people laying the sick in marketplaces and begging to touch even the edge of his garment recalls the woman with the issue of blood, and Mark confirms that all who touched him were healed. This summary passage emphasizes the overwhelming scope of Jesus' healing ministry and the desperate faith of the common people.
53 They finished crossing the lake and landed at Gennesaret, where they tied up the boat. And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
54 The second they stepped out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,
55 People rushed all over the area. They started carrying sick friends and family on mats. They brought them to wherever they heard Jesus was. And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
56 Everywhere he went -- small villages, big towns, or the countryside -- people laid their sick in the marketplaces. They begged to touch the edge of his robe. And everyone who touched it was healed. And 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.