Mark 6

The carpenter, the son of Mary

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. Mark 6:1–6

The people of Nazareth see only the carpenter they grew up with and miss that He is the Son of God. Jesus names Himself a prophet rejected at home, and their unbelief limits the miracles they receive.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Matthew 13:54-58 — Matthew's account of the rejection at Nazareth.
• the same event in Luke 4:24 — Luke's Nazareth account with 'No prophet is accepted in his own country.'

Jesus sends the Twelve with His power

And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; Mark 6:7–13

Jesus gives His apostles His own power and sends them to preach repentance and heal. Their authority comes from Him, and He warns that rejecting His messengers will matter in the day of judgment.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Matthew 10:1-15 — Matthew's account of the charge to the Twelve.
• a parallel account in Luke 9:1-6 — Luke's account of sending the Twelve.

His name spread abroad

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. Mark 6:14–16

Jesus's fame reaches the king, and people guess He is John risen, Elias, or a prophet. The question of who Jesus really is runs through Mark until Peter answers it in chapter 8.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Luke 9:7-9 — Luke's account of Herod's perplexity about Jesus.
• a parallel account in Matthew 14:1-2 — Matthew's account of Herod hearing of Jesus.

The Shepherd of the scattered sheep

And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. Mark 6:30–34

Jesus sees the crowd as sheep with no shepherd and becomes their shepherd, first by teaching them, then by feeding them. Old Testament prophets promised that God would send a shepherd to gather His sheep.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him

• alludes to Numbers 27:17 — Moses prays that the congregation 'be not as sheep which have no shepherd.'
• fulfils Ezekiel 34:23 — The Lord promises to set up one shepherd over His flock.
• the same title in John 10:11 — 'I am the good shepherd.'

Bread of Life (feeding the five thousand)

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: Mark 6:35–44

In a desert place, Jesus feeds thousands from five loaves, like the manna God gave Israel in the wilderness. John's Gospel explains this miracle as a sign that Jesus Himself is the Bread of Life, and His blessing and breaking of bread looks ahead to the sacrament.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in John 6:5-14 — John's account of the feeding of the five thousand.
• interpreted by John 6:35 — After this miracle Jesus declares, 'I am the bread of life.'
• typified by Exodus 16:15 — Manna in the wilderness, the bread the LORD gave Israel.
• alluded to by Mark 14:22 — At the Last Supper He again takes bread, blesses, and breaks it.

It is I (walking on the sea)

It is I — in Greek 'ego eimi', 'I am', echoing the divine name

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. Mark 6:45–52

Jesus walks on the water, something the Old Testament says only God does, and calms His frightened disciples with 'it is I', words that in Greek are 'I am'. He is Jehovah come to His people in the storm.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Matthew 14:22-33 — Matthew's account, including Peter walking on the water.
• a parallel account in John 6:16-21 — John's account of Jesus walking on the sea.
• alludes to Job 9:8 — God alone 'treadeth upon the waves of the sea.'
• alludes to Exodus 3:14 — The divine name I AM given to Moses.

All who touched Him were made whole

And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. Mark 6:53–56

Wherever Jesus goes, people bring the sick, and everyone who touches even the edge of His clothing is healed. His healing power is for all who come to Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Matthew 14:34-36 — Matthew's account of the healings at Gennesaret.