Mark 6 – Rejection, Miracles, and the Power of Faith
Mark 6 highlights Jesus’ rejection in His hometown, His miraculous works, and the growing impact of His ministry. From feeding the 5,000 to walking on water, this chapter reveals both the power of faith and the dangers of unbelief.
Faith and Unbelief in the Face of Miracles
Mark 6 presents a striking contrast between those who reject Jesus and those who receive His power through faith.
✔ Jesus is rejected in His hometown of Nazareth.
✔ The twelve disciples are sent out to preach and heal.
✔ John the Baptist is executed by Herod.
✔ Jesus miraculously feeds 5,000 men with five loaves and two fish.
✔ He walks on water, revealing His divine authority.
📖 Key Verse: “Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.” – Mark 6:50
🔎 This chapter shows that faith releases God’s power, while unbelief limits it.
Mark Chapter 6 - Overview
Mark 6:1-6 – Rejected in His Hometown
📖 Mark 6:3 – “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?”
🔎 Familiarity breeds contempt—Jesus is dismissed because they only see Him as a carpenter, not the Messiah.
📖 Mark 6:5 – “And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.”
🔎 Unbelief does not diminish God’s power but limits what He will do.
📖 Mark 6:6 – “And he marveled because of their unbelief.”
🔎 Jesus is amazed—not by faith, but by the hardness of their hearts.
Mark 6:7-13 – The Twelve Sent Out
📖 Mark 6:7 – “And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two.”
🔎 Jesus establishes a model for ministry—discipleship is both relational and mission-driven.
📖 Mark 6:11 – “Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet.”
🔎 Rejection of God’s messengers is a rejection of God Himself.
📖 Mark 6:12-13 – “And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.”
🔎 The disciples’ ministry reflects Christ’s—preaching, healing, and delivering from demonic oppression.
Mark 6:14-29 – The Death of John the Baptist
📖 Mark 6:18 – “For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.”
🔎 John the Baptist stood for truth, even when it cost him his life.
📖 Mark 6:26 – “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.”
🔎 Fear of man leads to sin—Herod chooses pride over righteousness.
📖 Mark 6:27 – “And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought.”
🔎 John’s death foreshadows the suffering of Christ and His followers.
Mark 6:30-44 – Feeding the Five Thousand
📖 Mark 6:34 – “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them.”
🔎 Jesus’ miracles flow from His deep love for people.
📖 Mark 6:41 – “And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves.”
🔎 Multiplication happens when we surrender what we have to Jesus.
📖 Mark 6:42 – “And they did all eat, and were filled.”
🔎 God provides abundantly—His power is more than enough.
Mark 6:45-52 – Jesus Walks on Water
📖 Mark 6:48 – “And he saw them toiling in rowing… and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea.”
🔎 Jesus sees our struggles and comes at the appointed time.
📖 Mark 6:50 – “Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.”
🔎 Faith in Jesus overcomes fear—He is in control of every storm.
📖 Mark 6:52 – “For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.”
🔎 Spiritual blindness keeps people from recognizing Jesus’ power.
Mark Chapter 6 - Deeper Study
Overview: Faith Unleashes God’s Power
🔹 Timeframe: Jesus’ ministry expands, yet opposition grows.
🔹 Setting: Nazareth, the countryside, and the Sea of Galilee.
🔹 Theme: Faith unlocks miracles, while unbelief leads to missed blessings.
Key Takeaways
🔑 Unbelief blocks miracles—faith releases them.
🔑 God calls us to step out in faith, just as the disciples did.
🔑 Jesus’ provision is always more than enough.
🔑 In the storm, Jesus is our peace—trust in Him.
Prophetic Patterns & Dual Fulfillment
🔮 The Rejection of Jesus – Foreshadowed in Isaiah 53:3, where the Messiah is despised.
🔮 The Death of a Righteous Prophet – John the Baptist’s death echoes Jeremiah’s persecution (Jeremiah 38:6).
🔮 Feeding the Multitude – A fulfillment of Psalm 132:15, where God promises to abundantly bless His people.
Historical & Cultural Context
📜 Jewish Rejection of a Local Prophet – A prophet was often unwelcome in his hometown (Luke 4:24).
📜 Hospitality & Provision in Ancient Israel – Sharing food was a sign of divine blessing and provision.
📜 Roman Influence on Herod’s Decision – Herod’s fear of political instability led to John’s execution.
💡 Final Reflection: Do We Walk in Faith?
Mark 6 asks us: Are we walking in faith or being held back by unbelief?
📌 Do we recognize Jesus’ power, or do we let familiarity blind us?
📌 Are we trusting in His provision, even when resources seem limited?
📌 When the storms of life rage, do we trust Jesus or give in to fear?
🚀 Faith in Jesus changes everything—are we ready to believe?
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
Mar 6:1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
Mar 6:2 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?
Mar 6:3 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.
Mar 6:4 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.
Mar 6:5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
Mar 6:6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
Mar 6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
Mar 6:8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
Mar 6:9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.
Mar 6:10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.
Mar 6:11 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.
Mar 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Mar 6:13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
The Death of John the Baptist
Mar 6:14 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.
Mar 6:15 Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
Mar 6:16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
Mar 6:17 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.
Mar 6:18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
Mar 6:19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
Mar 6:20 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.
Mar 6:21 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;
Mar 6:22 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.
Mar 6:23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
Mar 6:24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
Mar 6:25 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.
Mar 6:26 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.
Mar 6:27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
Mar 6:28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
Mar 6:29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
Mar 6:30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
Mar 6:31 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.
Mar 6:32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
Mar 6:33 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.
Mar 6:34 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.
Mar 6:35 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:
Mar 6:36 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.
Mar 6:37 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?
Mar 6:38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
Mar 6:39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
Mar 6:40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
Mar 6:41 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.
Mar 6:42 And they did all eat, and were filled.
Mar 6:43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
Mar 6:44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
Jesus Walks on the Water
Mar 6:45 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.
Mar 6:46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
Mar 6:47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
Mar 6:48 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.
Mar 6:49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
Mar 6:50 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.
Mar 6:51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
Mar 6:52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret
Mar 6:53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
Mar 6:54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,
Mar 6:55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
Mar 6:56 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.

Date Written
Around 55-65 A.D.
Written By
John Mark
Language
Greek
Verses
56