Bible Study of the Gospel of Mark: Chapter 6

Observe the Text to understand the author’s meaning:

Read 6:1-6. Where is Jesus now? Where does he go on the Sabbath? What does he do? Who are the ones who are supposed to teach in the synagogue?

What is the initial response of the listeners? What qualities of Jesus do they notice? After their initial reaction, they begin to reason humanly and what is their concern? Why do they take offense? Explain their offense in terms of authority? Do they believe that Mary’s boy has their authority to speak as he does? the authority of the scribes? the authority of God? Isn’t the issue, “who told Mary’s boy he could say the things he says and do the things he does?” And their answer is “no one.” Therefore he has no right to speak and act as he does. Explain Jesus answer.

Does Jesus answer have a wider application—to the Jews—Jesus relatives? Explain. Why do you think that Jesus could do no miracle there? If he did a miracle for people who did not recognize his source of authority who would they thank for the miracle? All of Jesus’ miracles were to heal those who came seeking him out. Do you think with the attitude in his home town very many people came seeking his help? Did a few come? Were there a few healings? What is God’s purpose in doing miracles?

Read 6:7-13. What is the disciples’ task to be? From where do the disciples receive authority to do their work? What does that say about Jesus?

Can you speculate why Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs? Why do you think he sent them out without provisions? Any other ideas on why Jesus cautioned them not to take provisions?

Can you speculate on why they were not to move from house to house? What might the danger be? What is their response to be when they are not received or listened to? How successful are the disciples?

Read 6:14-29. Who were people saying Jesus was? Why were they saying this? What prompted them to identify Jesus with John, Elijah or one of the prophets? Read Malachi 4:4-6. Could prophets do miracles? Who does Herod think Jesus is? (re-incarnation was a prevalent thought at that time—Shirley MacLaine’s ideas are not new!) John called for Herod to repent because he broke God’s law in Lev 18:16. What is Herodias’ motive in having John put to death? What is Herod’s response to John? (This is reminiscent of Paul preaching to his jailers!) What do you think of John judging Herod? Whose law is John calling Herod to obey? Was John’s action “effective” by human standards? Was it effective by God’s standards?

What is going on at this birthday party that prompts Herod to offer Herodias’ daughter up to half of his kingdom?

“King” Herod is mentioned in vs 16, after that he is referred to as “Herod” until vs 22ff when “king” or “kingdom” is used 5 times. As king, Herod should have authority and power to do as he willed. Does he? Who has the authority and power? See vs 14. Who else has power? Who is Herod afraid of? Who is he trying to please?

Read 6:30-44. This is when the disciples return to Jesus after their first travels as disciples. How do you think John’s death would effect them? What do Jesus and the disciples want to do after John’s death? How successful are they in finding a lonely place?

Why does Jesus feel compassion for the people? What does he compare them to? What does a shepherd do? Who are the shepherds suppose to be (see Ezekiel 34) and what do they do?

What is Jesus’ first response to the spiritual needs of those without a shepherd? Then what does he do for their physical needs?

What is the problem when it gets late? What is one of the things a shepherd does for the sheep? What is the disciples’ solution? What is Jesus’ solution? What is the disciples’ response? (one denarii was a day’s wage)

What part did the disciples play in the miracle? Matt 14:21 says that there were 5000 men not counting women and children.

Where else in Scripture were “multitudes” fed by God in the wilderness?

Compare the two banquets: King Herod’s and King Jesus’.

Read 6:45-52. What is the disciples’ situation? Having just seen Jesus feed more than 5000 and having seen him calm the water(Mark 4:39), what should they be doing now in their situation?

Twice it says in vs 49, 50 that they “saw Him.” What is their reaction and response to “seeing Him ?” Why do you think Jesus perhaps was going to pass by the boat? What is Jesus’ response and what then happens to the wind and sea? Why does it say their hearts were hardened? Don’t we do this—try to make Jesus conform to natural laws? Do we really believe Jesus can still waters and feed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish? or do we say, “it can’t happen?”

Read 6:53-56. What continues to be the response of the people? How many people? This is one of several places where people are cured by touching Jesus garment. Sounds like the magic cloak. But a better explanation is that in Jesus’ mercy he heals them because of their faith.

Interpret the Text

1. What does this chapter tell us about Jesus the king?

2. What does it tell us about the faith and understanding of the disciples? About the future of the disciples based on John’s death?

3. How are the people responding to Jesus? How is the King caring for his people? What happens when people do not believe and accept the King’s authority? Is the King bound by natural laws or does he have authority over them.

Bible Study Notes

(Compare these notes to your thoughts after you have looked at the passages and answered the questions yourself)

Mark 6:7-13. Calvin speculates that provisions would slow them down.

“Shaking the dust off their feet” was probably a way of saying that the person was “so foul that their contagion infected the earth whereon they stood.” Calvin suggests there are two reasons they were to shake the dust off their feet or break off all communication. First, because those folks might be discouraging to the disciples who are on their first solo trip. Second, to show “God’s insult” that his words are rejected—similar to Jesus statement not to cast pearls before swine.

We have to be careful with this teaching because certainly Jesus did not shake the dust off his feet of us!

Mark 6:14-29. Herod’s offer is odd and Herodias’ request even odder. Why didn’t Herodias’ daughter take half of the kingdom instead of John’s head? Herodias now possessed all the kingdom through Herod. But, if John’s call to repentance was successful, she stood to loose it all.

According to Calvin, Herodias lost her position and died in poverty and exile.

Mark 6:30-44. Do you see this as Jesus taking scarce resources at hand and providing in abundance? C. S. Lewis writes that Jesus’ miracles are not to make trees talk or elephants fly but to do the things he does everyday, all over the world, rapidly and on a smaller scale. He multiplies fish in the sea every day!

• Herod’s in palace; Jesus on grass
• Herod’s for lords, military commanders, leading men; Jesus for the sheep
• Herod’s clearly not in charge; Jesus is
• Herod brings death to John; Jesus brings life to the multitude
• Herod with a kingdom is really not a king; Jesus in the wilderness has a kingdom of people and as the kingly shepherd(after David) provides for his people
• Herod has neither power nor authority; Jesus has both.

This study first appeared in Theology Matters, Vol. 1, No. 6 (Nov/Dec 1995).