New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Mark 6
1
Jesus left there and went to his hometown of Nazareth. His disciples went with him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 2:23
2
When the Sabbath day came, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given to him? He even does miracles!
Reference
3
Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son? Isn't this the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" They were not pleased with him at all.
Reference
4
Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not honored in his hometown. He doesn't receive any honor among his relatives. And he doesn't receive any in his own home."
Reference
5
Jesus laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. But he could not do any other miracles there.
Reference
6
He was amazed because they had no faith. Jesus went around teaching from village to village.
Reference
7
He called the Twelve to him. Then he sent them out two by two. He gave them authority to drive out evil spirits.
Reference
8
Here were his orders. "Take only a walking stick for your trip. Do not take bread or a bag. Take no money in your belts.
Reference
10
When you are invited into a house, stay there until you leave town.
11
Some places may not welcome you or listen to you. If they don't, shake the dust off your feet when you leave. That will be a witness against the people living there."
Reference
14
King Herod heard about this. Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead! That is why he has the power to do miracles."
15
Others said, "He is Elijah." Still others claimed, "He is a prophet. He is like one of the prophets of long ago."
Reference
16
But when Herod heard this, he said, "I had John's head cut off. And now he has been raised from the dead!"
17
In fact, it was Herod himself who had given orders to arrest John. He had him tied up and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias. She was the wife of Herod's brother Philip. But now Herod was married to her.
Reference
18
John had been saying to Herod, "It is against the Law for you to have your brother's wife."
Reference
20
because Herod was afraid of John. So he kept John safe. Herod knew John was a holy man who did what was right. When Herod heard him, he was very puzzled. But he liked to listen to him.
Reference
21
Finally the right time came. Herod gave a big dinner on his birthday. He invited his high officials and military leaders. He also invited the most important men in Galilee.
Reference
22
Then the daughter of Herodias came in and danced. She pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want. I'll give it to you."
Reference
23
And he promised her with an oath, "Anything you ask for I will give you. I'll give you up to half of my kingdom."
Reference
Kingdom
Esther 5:3
Esther 7:2
Esther 5:6
Parallel theme
Matthew 14:7
Proverbs 6:2
Matthew 4:9
2 Kings 6:31
1 Samuel 28:10
24
She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptist," she answered.
Reference
Parallel theme
Job 31:31
25
At once the girl hurried to ask the king. She said, "I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a big plate right now."
26
The king was very upset. But he thought of his promise and his dinner guests. So he did not want to say no to the girl.
27
He sent a man right away to bring John's head. The man went to the prison and cut off John's head.
28
He brought it back on a big plate. He gave it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.
29
John's disciples heard about this. So they came and took his body. Then they placed it in a tomb.
Reference
31
But many people were coming and going. So they did not even have a chance to eat. Then Jesus said to his apostles, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place. You need to get some rest."
Reference
33
But many people who saw them leaving recognized them. They ran from all the towns and got there ahead of them.
34
When Jesus came ashore, he saw a large crowd. He felt deep concern for them. They were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 9:36
Numbers 27:17
1 Kings 22:17
Hebrews 4:15
Jeremiah 50:6
Zechariah 10:2
Luke 9:11
2 Chronicles 18:16
References Jesus
Matthew 14:14
35
By that time it was late in the day. His disciples came to him. "There is nothing here," they said. "It's already very late.
36
Send the people away. They can go and buy something to eat in the nearby countryside and villages."
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 15:23
37
But Jesus answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a person's pay! Should we go and spend that much on bread? Are we supposed to feed them?"
Reference
38
"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five loaves and two fish."
Reference
39
Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
40
So they sat down in groups of 100s and 50s.
41
Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He broke the loaves into pieces. Then he gave them to his disciples to set in front of the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.
Reference
Blessing
Matthew 14:19
Luke 24:30
1 Samuel 9:13
Mark 14:22
Matthew 26:26
Parallel theme
Mark 7:34
Colossians 3:17
Romans 14:6
1 Corinthians 10:31
Matthew 15:36
43
The disciples picked up 12 baskets of broken pieces of bread and fish.
44
The number of men who had eaten was 5,000.
45
Right away Jesus made his disciples get into the boat. He had them go on ahead of him to Bethsaida. Then he sent the crowd away.
47
When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was alone on land.
48
He saw the disciples pulling hard on the oars. The wind was blowing against them. Early in the morning, he went out to them. He walked on the lake. When he was about to pass by them,
Reference
50
They all saw him and were terrified. Right away he said to them, "Be brave! It is I. Don't be afraid."
Reference
51
Then he climbed into the boat with them. The wind died down. And they were completely amazed.
Reference
53
They crossed over the lake and landed at Gennesaret. There they tied up the boat.
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 5:1
55
They ran through that whole area to bring to him those who were sick. They carried them on mats to where they heard he was.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 4:24
Summary of Mark 6
Mark 6 begins with Jesus returning to His hometown, where He teaches in the synagogue and amazes many people with His wisdom and reports of His miracles, yet the people struggle to accept Him because they know His family and remember His ordinary background.
They identify Him as the carpenter and the son of Mary, along with His brothers and sisters, and their familiarity with Him becomes a barrier to faith, leading Jesus to observe that a prophet is often least honored in his own hometown, among his relatives, and within his own household.
Because of their unbelief, Jesus performs relatively few miracles there, although He still heals some sick people, and then He continues traveling through nearby villages rather than allowing rejection in one community to stop His mission.
Jesus then sends the Twelve out in pairs, giving them authority over unclean spirits and instructing them to travel simply, carrying very little and depending upon the hospitality and provision of the people who receive them.
The disciples preach repentance, drive out demons, and anoint sick people with oil, showing that Jesus is beginning to extend His ministry through His followers rather than limiting His work to His own physical presence.
The narrative then introduces Herod Antipas, who hears about Jesus and becomes troubled by the reports because some people believe Jesus might be John the Baptist raised from the dead.
Mark explains that Herod had previously arrested and imprisoned John because John openly condemned Herod's marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife, and John continued to speak against the relationship despite the danger created by challenging a powerful ruler.
Herodias develops a strong desire to have John killed, and the opportunity finally comes during Herod's birthday celebration when her daughter performs before the king and his guests.
Herod makes an extravagant public promise to grant the girl whatever she requests, and after consulting her mother, she asks for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.
Although Herod is deeply distressed, his concern for his public reputation and the oath he has made before his guests leads him to order John's execution, after which John's disciples recover his body and bury him.
John's death provides a dark contrast to Jesus' growing ministry, showing that God's servants may face severe opposition even while God's work continues to advance.
When the apostles return, Jesus encourages them to withdraw to a quiet place and rest because the demands of ministry have become so intense that they do not even have time to eat.
However, the crowds discover where Jesus and the disciples are going and arrive ahead of them, and Jesus responds not with irritation but with compassion, seeing the people as sheep without a shepherd and beginning to teach them.
As evening approaches, the disciples become concerned about the lack of food, but Jesus challenges them to provide for the crowd themselves, eventually using the available five loaves and two fish to feed approximately five thousand men.
Jesus organizes the crowd into groups, gives thanks for the food, breaks the bread, and gives it to the disciples for distribution, and everyone eats until they are satisfied, after which the disciples collect twelve baskets of leftovers.
The feeding demonstrates that Jesus is able to provide abundantly even when His followers see only severe limitations, while the twelve baskets of remaining food emphasize the extraordinary abundance of what God can provide through apparently insufficient resources.
Jesus then sends the disciples across the Sea of Galilee while He remains behind to pray alone on a mountain, and during the night He sees them struggling against a strong wind.
Jesus walks across the sea toward them, frightening the disciples because they initially believe they are seeing a ghost, but He immediately reassures them and tells them to take courage.
When Jesus enters the boat, the wind stops, leaving the disciples completely astonished because they still have not fully understood what the feeding of the five thousand revealed about His identity and authority.
Mark explains that their hearts were hardened, emphasizing that even those closest to Jesus can witness extraordinary works while still struggling to understand their deeper meaning.
The chapter concludes with Jesus arriving at Gennesaret, where people immediately recognize Him and begin bringing sick people from villages, towns, and countryside to be healed.
People place the sick in public areas and beg merely to touch the edge of Jesus' clothing, and everyone who touches Him is healed, providing a final picture of Jesus' extraordinary compassion and healing authority.
Mark 6 therefore moves through a remarkable sequence of rejection, mission, political opposition, death, compassion, miraculous provision, divine authority, and widespread healing, showing that Jesus' ministry continues expanding even when He encounters unbelief, exhaustion, danger, and hostility.
The chapter also contrasts different responses to Jesus: the people of His hometown respond with unbelief, the Twelve respond by participating in His mission, Herod responds with fear and guilt, the crowds respond with desperate faith, and the disciples respond with growing but incomplete understanding.
The central message is that Jesus continues God's work despite rejection and opposition, empowering His followers to participate in His mission while demonstrating through compassion, provision, healing, and authority over the sea that no human limitation or natural obstacle can prevent God's purposes from advancing.
Mark 6 ultimately presents Jesus as the compassionate Shepherd and powerful Son of God whose ministry continues despite rejection, political violence, and human weakness, while His feeding of the multitude and authority over the sea reveal that He can provide abundantly for those in need and bring peace when His followers are overwhelmed by fear.
They identify Him as the carpenter and the son of Mary, along with His brothers and sisters, and their familiarity with Him becomes a barrier to faith, leading Jesus to observe that a prophet is often least honored in his own hometown, among his relatives, and within his own household.
Because of their unbelief, Jesus performs relatively few miracles there, although He still heals some sick people, and then He continues traveling through nearby villages rather than allowing rejection in one community to stop His mission.
Jesus then sends the Twelve out in pairs, giving them authority over unclean spirits and instructing them to travel simply, carrying very little and depending upon the hospitality and provision of the people who receive them.
The disciples preach repentance, drive out demons, and anoint sick people with oil, showing that Jesus is beginning to extend His ministry through His followers rather than limiting His work to His own physical presence.
The narrative then introduces Herod Antipas, who hears about Jesus and becomes troubled by the reports because some people believe Jesus might be John the Baptist raised from the dead.
Mark explains that Herod had previously arrested and imprisoned John because John openly condemned Herod's marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife, and John continued to speak against the relationship despite the danger created by challenging a powerful ruler.
Herodias develops a strong desire to have John killed, and the opportunity finally comes during Herod's birthday celebration when her daughter performs before the king and his guests.
Herod makes an extravagant public promise to grant the girl whatever she requests, and after consulting her mother, she asks for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.
Although Herod is deeply distressed, his concern for his public reputation and the oath he has made before his guests leads him to order John's execution, after which John's disciples recover his body and bury him.
John's death provides a dark contrast to Jesus' growing ministry, showing that God's servants may face severe opposition even while God's work continues to advance.
When the apostles return, Jesus encourages them to withdraw to a quiet place and rest because the demands of ministry have become so intense that they do not even have time to eat.
However, the crowds discover where Jesus and the disciples are going and arrive ahead of them, and Jesus responds not with irritation but with compassion, seeing the people as sheep without a shepherd and beginning to teach them.
As evening approaches, the disciples become concerned about the lack of food, but Jesus challenges them to provide for the crowd themselves, eventually using the available five loaves and two fish to feed approximately five thousand men.
Jesus organizes the crowd into groups, gives thanks for the food, breaks the bread, and gives it to the disciples for distribution, and everyone eats until they are satisfied, after which the disciples collect twelve baskets of leftovers.
The feeding demonstrates that Jesus is able to provide abundantly even when His followers see only severe limitations, while the twelve baskets of remaining food emphasize the extraordinary abundance of what God can provide through apparently insufficient resources.
Jesus then sends the disciples across the Sea of Galilee while He remains behind to pray alone on a mountain, and during the night He sees them struggling against a strong wind.
Jesus walks across the sea toward them, frightening the disciples because they initially believe they are seeing a ghost, but He immediately reassures them and tells them to take courage.
When Jesus enters the boat, the wind stops, leaving the disciples completely astonished because they still have not fully understood what the feeding of the five thousand revealed about His identity and authority.
Mark explains that their hearts were hardened, emphasizing that even those closest to Jesus can witness extraordinary works while still struggling to understand their deeper meaning.
The chapter concludes with Jesus arriving at Gennesaret, where people immediately recognize Him and begin bringing sick people from villages, towns, and countryside to be healed.
People place the sick in public areas and beg merely to touch the edge of Jesus' clothing, and everyone who touches Him is healed, providing a final picture of Jesus' extraordinary compassion and healing authority.
Mark 6 therefore moves through a remarkable sequence of rejection, mission, political opposition, death, compassion, miraculous provision, divine authority, and widespread healing, showing that Jesus' ministry continues expanding even when He encounters unbelief, exhaustion, danger, and hostility.
The chapter also contrasts different responses to Jesus: the people of His hometown respond with unbelief, the Twelve respond by participating in His mission, Herod responds with fear and guilt, the crowds respond with desperate faith, and the disciples respond with growing but incomplete understanding.
The central message is that Jesus continues God's work despite rejection and opposition, empowering His followers to participate in His mission while demonstrating through compassion, provision, healing, and authority over the sea that no human limitation or natural obstacle can prevent God's purposes from advancing.
Mark 6 ultimately presents Jesus as the compassionate Shepherd and powerful Son of God whose ministry continues despite rejection, political violence, and human weakness, while His feeding of the multitude and authority over the sea reveal that He can provide abundantly for those in need and bring peace when His followers are overwhelmed by fear.