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1. The core theme of Mark 6 would seem to be discipleship and its cost. The chapter begins with Jesus visiting his hometown of Nazareth, where he is rejected. [1] Here we get the well known proverb that a prophet often has honor everywhere except in his own hometown.
His family is included. Mark gives us every reason not to think that his mother or brothers were on board with his ministry during his time on earth. We also have every reason to think that Mary went on to have other children. We have their names here -- James, Joses, Jude, Simon. He had sisters too. It is arguably an unhealthy view of sex that stands in the background of the Catholic and Orthodox belief that Mary remained a "perpetual virgin."
It says that Jesus "couldn't" perform many miracles there. This is a statement of Nazareth's lack of faith rather of Jesus' lack of power. Nevertheless, as with his omniscience, it is likely that the second person of the Trinity self-limited his use of power while he was on earth. Jesus arguably "played by the human rules" on earth, relying on the Spirit for his power to be an example for us as well.
2. The middle part of this chapter gives us another sandwich structure. Jesus sends out the Twelve on mission (6:7-13). [2] Mark tells about the fate of John the Baptist (6:14-29). Then the disciples return (6:30).
The disciples are apprentices. They are following Jesus and learning from Jesus to do Jesus' "trade," which is the proclamation of the good news and the need for repentance. It is the healing of the sick and the casting out of demons. They go and do so with success. [3]
For their support, they are to rely on those to whom they are ministering (no bread, no bag, no money -- 6:8). They are not to give a sense of wealth (only one tunic -- 6:9). They are to stay with one host so that social pressures don't result in jealousy and infighting, which would distract from the mission (6:10). If a town rejects them, they shake the dust off their feet, a sign of leaving that village to its own fate (6:11).
3. To illustrate the possible outcome of being a disciple of the gospel, Mark has sandwiched in the story of John the Baptist's end here.
Herod Antipas hears about Jesus and is afraid that John the Baptist has come back from the dead. Others said Jesus was Elijah, the forerunner of the Messiah. Still others thought he might be a prophet. These are the same options that Peter will present in Mark 8 when Jesus asks who people are saying he is.
John the Baptizer had spoken out against Herod taking his brother's wife Herodias to be his wife. To do so, both had divorced their first spouses. Herodias was not happy about John condemning them, so Herod arrested John.
We know the story. On Herod's birthday, Herodias' daughter dances for him. He offers her pretty much whatever she wants. On her mother's advice, she asks for John's head.
The telling of the story suggests that Herod was sympathetic to John. It blames his death primarily on Herodias. The impression we get is that Herod was pressured into it.
4. The rest of the chapter has two of Jesus' more well-known miracles. The first is the feeding of the 5000, the only miracle to appear in all four Gospels. We know the story. Jesus withdraws into a remote place. As a human, Jesus had a personality, and we wonder if he was actually an introvert.
The crowds follow him. Jesus performs a nature miracle for he breaks the law of matter conservation. He multiplies five loaves and two fish to feed the crowd.
This shows Jesus' compassion (6:34). They are "like sheep without a shepherd." Their lives lack meaning and purpose. They suffer without any hope. They are alienated from their heavenly Father. Jesus is showing them the way.
The theme of discipleship may also continue as Jesus asks his disciples to feed the crowd. Is this a test of their faith? If so, they do not particularly do well at it.
5. Another "super-natural" miracle then takes place when Jesus walks on water (6:45-52). The crowds have left and Jesus' disciples have also left for Bethsaida ahead of him. He wants some time alone with God to pray. But by evening, the disciples are making little headway on the Sea of Galilee because the wind is against them. He walks out to them on the water during the "fourth watch" (3-6am).
They think he is a ghost (phantasma). They are afraid. So while he was going to pass by them, he gets in the boat and the winds cease instead (6:51). The idea of Jesus "passing by" may be an allusion to Yahweh passing by Moses or Elijah.
The theme of the disciples not understanding is highlighted at the end (6:52). Their hearts are said to be hardened, a curious thing to say although it fits with Mark's theme that the disciples didn't get it. One wonders what this theme meant in Mark's own day.
6. The chapter ends with a summary statement of Jesus' ministry. They land at Gennesaret just west of Capernaum. Crowds come to him. He heals the sick. They want even to touch his garments and be healed, reminding us of the woman with a hemorrhage in the previous chapter.
[1] A key insight into Luke's artistic freedom is the fact that he, using Mark as a source, moves this event to the very begining of Jesus' ministry (Luke 4:16-30) and uses it to shape a kind of inaugural address that present the core theme of Jesus' earthly ministry based on Isaiah 61:1-2.
[2] The Gospel of Matthew, using Mark as a source, expands this mission into a whole chapter (Matt. 10) and adds a mission sermon.
[3] Luke, again using Mark as a source, adds the disciples' glee that even the demons obey them. Jesus then remarks that he is seeing Satan being dethroned as the prince of this realm (Luke 10:18).
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Mark 1:1-13
Mark 1:14-15
Mark 1:16-45
Mark 2
Mark 3
Mark 4:1-34
Mark 4:35-5:43
Mark 11:1-11 (Palm Sunday)
Mark 11:12-25 (Temple Monday)
Mark 11:26-12:44 (Debate Tuesday)
Mark 13 (Temple Prediction)
Mark 14:1-52 (Last Supper)
Mark 14:53-15:47 (Good Friday)
Mark 16 (The Resurrection)
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