Mark Chapter 6
(From MSB introduction to Mark:
6, The 2 source theory cannot explain why Luke omits the important section in Mark (6:45-8:26). The fact that Luke does omit it indicates that Luke had never seen it, therefore he did not have Mark's gospel as a source.)
In Matthew 10, yesterday's reading, Jesus sends out the 12, with all the questions that I raised about the when and how of that. Today we skip ahead to Matthew 14 and get the death of John, the feeding of the 5000 and walking on water. Our last reading in Mark was the day before yesterday, and there we saw the collection of parables, including the Sower, Jesus calming a storm - but no mention of walking on water, the casting out of Legion into the pigs, in Mark 5, and the resurrection of Jairus' daughter.
We take up here right after Jesus has raised Jairus' daughter from the dead, and see Jesus in Nazareth - for the second time I think - the twelve are sent out, as Matt 10, and Jesus hears of John's death, as Matt 14. It is very difficult, even in a chronological Bible arrangement, to keep up with where we are in Jesus' life. Must remember, to give more weight to the Mark and Luke versions of chronology than to Matthew's version. At any rate...
Jesus travels to Nazareth from where Jairus lived. Doesn't say by boat, but does say his disciples followed him. Presumably, this means a lot more than the 12 went. Jesus teaches in their synagogue on the Sabbath. It couldn't have been much of a place in Nazareth. They are amazed at his teaching and at his works. Perhaps he had healed some there in the town. A few maybe. They confirm with each other that this is Jesus, son of Mary (Joseph is not mentioned), brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon, and some sisters also. Once they know who he is precisely, they reject him. They "know him too well" I guess, and so won't accept the teaching of one who grew up right there with them. You apparently need a PhD to teach here in Nazareth. Jesus says:
4 And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household." [Mar 6:4 ESV]
2020- Look at how this is worded. Jesus has added his family to those who do not honor him. This ties in with them coming to get him because he is "out of his head". The family is apparently in agreement that Jesus is just not right in the head. This is the second place we see this implied. Harmony note points out that this was the second visit, not the early visit. Jesus did go to Nazareth twice. This time through the Bible is the first time I've noted that. Matthew 13:54-58 has this quote also that includes the family. This second visit is not recorded in Luke. The first is recorded only by Luke in Chapter 4. In this account in Mark, they call Jesus the son of Mary. Joseph is not mentioned. Perhaps they are implying again that there is no certainty as to his father. But they do mention two brothers and his sisters.
2021 - This would be my proof text against the perpetual virginity of Mary. Either she had more children after Jesus, or Joseph had a second wife who produced children, because Jesus had brothers and sisters, and here we learn there were at least four brothers and more than one sister. We might also imply from his own words that even Mary had some doubts about his sanity, and we know she is present later when the y come to "take him home" because he is out of his head. Mary is to be honored for all time as the mother of Jesus. But I see nothing here that indicates we should worship her.
It says that Jesus healed a few sick people this time, but was amazed at their lack of faith.
This is a sad truth that so many of us are faced with. In our cases, they know of our mistakes and problems and sinfulness, and reject the change inside us, though we tell them. They have to see it, and they judge harshly. But this was not the case with Jesus. They rejected him perhaps because they knew Mary was pregnant before she was married? It says Jesus "marveled because of their unbelief". And it says he couldn't do much there because of their unbelief. This is not really right. I have to believe wouldn't is a better word. MSB also says that he just didn't. Perhaps the mercy and judgement argument again.
Jesus sends out the twelve, two by two. This is the second account of this, and this one is far more brief in description. They are to go out, stay where they stay, and shake the dust off their sandals if they are not welcomed. They cast out demons and anoint the sick with oil, healing them. There is nothing about eschatology in this account, nothing linking it to Matt 24. We are left wondering, once again, why Matthew put all that extra stuff in there. I mean, Matthew was there.
2021 - This verse: 7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. [Mar 6:7 ESV]. So this "power" over demons was given to the apostles directly from Jesus. It was not about their faith, it wasn't that anyone could get strong enough to cast out demons. It is more like they were gifted with this ability. Mark confines this to the 12, not to all the disciples who were traveling with Jesus at this time.
We also see them anointing many sick people with oil, and healing them. How are we to understand this? Were these two separate things? They anointed sick people with oil and then healed them, or they anointed them with oil and this healed them. I think we see this anointing with oil later - Paul talks about it. In Mark, only the 12 are doing this, I think Paul talks about the elders doing it. I think MSB or Unger have a lengthy explanation about how this really is no longer a thing. It went away.
2023 - This verse:
13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. [Mar 6:13 ESV]. In the book of James - who was Jesus' brother - we are told that the elders can anoint with oil and heal people of sin-caused sickness. Look at this verse, talking about what may be the very exact same thing. The 12 could heal with oil, because so much of sickness is actually caused by our own sins.
At this point, after Nazareth and after the 12 are sent out, Mark tells us about Herod's beheading of John. This verse: 14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known..." [Mar 6:14a ESV] This seems to mean Herod heard of the 12 casting out demons and healing people, and knew they were followers of Jesus. These things were apparently so widespread and so well know and so much talked about that Herod's informants heard of them and reported them to Herod. There is much speculation going around the country about who Jesus was. Some said John the Baptist raised from the dead, others said Elijah, others said a prophet like there used to be in the old days. Herod is convinced it is John back from the dead to get his revenge. There is this verse:
20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. [Mar 6:20 ESV]
Herod realizes that John is not ordinary, but he has no clue what the truth is. What could be made of this?
This account is very much like Matthew's. I don't see a lot of difference. John was beheaded in his cell, not in public. Likely because Herod feared the people. He also feared his own guests and what they'd say if he refused to give John's head to the daughter. Bet no one called her a sweet child after this incident. This account says John was laid in a tomb. Matthew said buried. Could be the underlying word is the same in both.
2024 - In vs 29, John's disciples come and get his body and put it in a tomb. It is unclear what happened to John's head. You would hope that Herodias gave it to them to place in the tomb, but a woman like this...We really don't know what she might have done with it.
Mark says that the twelve returned and reported to Jesus what they'd done and taught, and Jesus invites them out to a desolate place to rest. So they've just gotten back. Maybe that's why they wanted to get rid of the crowd. So this fills in the timeline some. They 12 were sent out before the death of John, and they came back after John was buried. We don't know how long a time this was, but it must have been a while. Surely the apostles, sent out 2 by 2, would have been gone more than a few days. We see also that when they tried to get some privacy for rest and debriefing, the crowd anticipated their destination, and ran on foot, and got there before those in the boat. This account of feeding the five thousand has some add'l details. Jesus sends them to see how much food is available. So they'd know how great this miracle was perhaps. Jesus has them sit by 50's and 100's. 2020-Here also, as soon as all had eaten, Jesus sends the apostles off in a boat. Mark says they were going to Bethsaida. I wonder if this is somehow related to Gennesaret, which is where Matthew said they went. This part begins at Mark 6:45, which Luke does not report.
Mark recounts the walking on the water. Again, a little different information is given, though the backbone is the same. Jesus has sent his disciples away in the boat while he dismisses the crowd, and goes on the mountain to pray. They are going to Bethsaida. Jesus "sees" that they are having a hard time making headway against the wind. Jesus goes walking on the water during the fourth watch. Mark says Jesus meant to just go on by them - how could he know this? But they see Jesus, and are afraid, so he gets in the boat with them and the wind dies down. Mark says they were utterly astounded. They still don't understand how Jesus fed the 5000, and this walking on water and wind calming leads to them hardening their hearts. Is Mark saying they still didn't know who this was? Though Matthew has told us they did? MSB note says they couldn't understand what Jesus was saying. The word translated hardened connotes rebellion. As in they were refusing to recognize who he was. 2020 - It is interesting that Mark says "52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. [Mar 6:52 ESV]", Matthew says "33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." [Mat 14:33 ESV]", and John says "21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. [Jhn 6:21 ESV]". Matthew and Mark seem contradictory about Jesus' reception once he got into the boat. And John tells us they did not arrive at Bethsaida, the original destination that the wind opposed, but at Gennesaret, which is in the opposite direction. The way the wind had been blowing. So perhaps the 5000 were fed somewhere in the middle, maybe really near Bethsaida since Jesus was going to just walk there on the water, but the wind was wrong, so Jesus took them back to Gennesaret instead. Couple of significant difficulties here.
They arrive in Gennesaret, and Jesus is recognized. The word spreads, and the sick are brought on their beds to be healed. As Jesus goes from town to town the sick are there, and they are healed, even if they just touch the fringe of his garment. All are being healed.