Mark 6

Rejection at Nazareth

6:1 Now¹ Jesus left that place and came to his hometown,² and his disciples followed him. 6:2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue.³ Many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did he get these ideas?⁴ And what is this wisdom that has been given to him? What are these miracles that are done through his hands? 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son⁵ of Mary⁶ and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” And so they took offense at him. 6:4 Then⁷ Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, and among his relatives, and in his own house.” 6:5 He was not able to do a miracle there, except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6:6 And he was amazed because of their unbelief. Then⁸ he went around among the villages and taught.

Sending Out the Twelve Apostles

6:7 Jesus⁹ called the twelve and began to send them out two by two. He gave them authority over the unclean spirits.¹⁰ 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff¹¹ – no bread, no bag,¹² no money in their belts – 6:9 and to put on sandals but not to wear two tunics.¹³ 6:10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there¹⁴ until you leave the area. 6:11 If a place will not welcome you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off¹⁵ your feet as a testimony against them.” 6:12 So¹⁶ they went out and preached that all should repent. 6:13 They cast out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

The Death of John the Baptist

6:14 Now¹⁷ King Herod¹⁸ heard this, for Jesus’¹⁹ name had become known. Some²⁰ were saying, “John the baptizer²¹ has been raised from the dead, and because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.” 6:15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets from the past.” 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!” 6:17 For Herod himself had sent men, arrested John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod²² had married her. 6:18 For John had repeatedly told²³ Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”²⁴ 6:19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But²⁵ she could not 6:20 because Herod stood in awe of²⁶ John and protected him, since he knew that John²⁷ was a righteous and holy man. When Herod²⁸ heard him, he was thoroughly baffled,²⁹ and yet³⁰ he liked to listen to John.³¹

6:21 But³² a suitable day³³ came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his court officials, military commanders, and leaders of Galilee. 6:22 When his daughter Herodias³⁴ came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” 6:23 He swore to her,³⁵ “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”³⁶ 6:24 So³⁷ she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother³⁸ said, “The head of John the baptizer.”³⁹ 6:25 Immediately she hurried back to the king and made her request:⁴⁰ “I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” 6:26 Although it grieved the king deeply,⁴¹ he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests. 6:27 So⁴² the king sent an executioner at once to bring John’s⁴³ head, and he went and beheaded John in prison. 6:28 He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 6:29 When John’s⁴⁴ disciples heard this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

6:30 Then⁴⁵ the apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. 6:31 He said to them, “Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while” (for many were coming and going, and there was no time to eat). 6:32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to some remote place. 6:33 But many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they hurried on foot⁴⁶ from all the towns⁴⁷ and arrived there ahead of them.⁴⁸ 6:34 As Jesus⁴⁹ came ashore⁵⁰ he saw the large crowd and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So⁵¹ he taught them many things.

6:35 When it was already late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is an isolated place⁵² and it is already very late. 6:36 Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” 6:37 But he answered them,⁵³ “You⁵⁴ give them something to eat.” And they said, “Should we go and buy bread for two hundred silver coins⁵⁵ and give it to them to eat?” 6:38 He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five – and two fish.” 6:39 Then he directed them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 6:40 So they reclined in groups of hundreds and fifties. 6:41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He⁵⁶ gave them to his⁵⁷ disciples to serve the people, and he divided the two fish among them all. 6:42 They all ate and were satisfied, 6:43 and they picked up the broken pieces and fish that were left over, twelve baskets full. 6:44 Now⁵⁸ there were five thousand men⁵⁹ who ate the bread.⁶⁰

Walking on Water

6:45 Immediately Jesus⁶¹ made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dispersed the crowd. 6:46 After saying good-bye to them, he went to the mountain to pray. 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land. 6:48 He⁶² saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. As the night was ending,⁶³ he came to them walking on the sea,⁶⁴ for⁶⁵ he wanted to pass by them.⁶⁶ 6:49 When they saw him walking on the water⁶⁷ they thought he was a ghost. They⁶⁸ cried out, 6:50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them:⁶⁹ “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 6:51 Then he went up with them into the boat, and the wind ceased. They were completely astonished, 6:52 because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Healing the Sick

6:53 After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret⁷⁰ and anchored there. 6:54 As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus.⁷¹ 6:55 They ran through that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever he was rumored to be.⁷² 6:56 And wherever he would go – into villages, towns, or countryside – they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if⁷³ they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

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