Mark 6

Jesus and His disciples returned to Nazareth where He taught in the synagogue, astonishing the people; they said: 

Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?

They were actually offended by Jesus! Therefore, He would not do His mighty works because of their unbelief. 

Then He sent His twelve disciples out two by two with instructions to go to the house of Israel and preach repentance and power to cast out demons. They took nothing with them, and whoever did not receive the message, they departed from them and shook the dust from their feet. Jesus said it will be "more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"

Next, Mark wrote about the beheading of John the Baptist. When Herod had heard about the works of Jesus, he was paranoid that it was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Mark recounted the story of how John rebuked Herod for marrying his brother's wife, and Herod threw John into prison, as if that would wipe away his sin. On Herod's birthday, his wife's daughter danced for him, and, as consolation, he offered her anything she wanted. She asked her mother for what, and because her mother hated John, she told her daughter to ask for his head on a platter. Herod loathed to do it, but he must keep his word in front of all his high officers and nobles; therefore, he had John the Baptist beheaded and gave John's head to his wife. (A sick woman indeed!)

Back to the narrative, the twelve disciples returned to Jesus and told all they had done and taught. They then tried to go to a secluded place with Jesus, but the multitude came, and Jesus had compassion on them and stayed to teach them. They were like sheep without a shepherd. 

Because of the hour, the disciples suggested that Jesus send them away to get food, but Jesus told them to feed them. They were shocked by the idea and found only five loaves and two fish to spare. Therefore, Jesus had them arrange the crowd in to groups, He blessed the food, and the disciples passed it out among the five thousand men (not counting women and children). Afterward, the disciples collected twelve baskets of leftovers. 

After this, the disciples got into the boat to go to the otherside of the sea, while He departed to go somewhere alone to pray. In the middle of the night, while the disciples were still on the boat, they were struggling to manage it, and Jesus saw this. He walked out on to the water to where they were, and they thought He was a ghost. They cried out to Him, and He told them to be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." They were amazed because they did not understand in their hearts what He had done with the feeding of the loaves and fish. Then He got into the boat with them and they went to Gennesaret.

In this city, the people recognized Jesus and brought their sick to Him and begged Him to heal them; many just wanted to touch the hem of His garment that

...as many as touched Him were made well. 

COMMENTARY 

This is the peak of Jesus' ministry. He had made two trips to His hometown of Nazareth. Luke 4 recorded His first visit where He performed no miracles because there they tried to kill Him. This second visit, in Mark, His disciples were with Him, and He healed only a few sick people. Both times He taught in the synagogue, and both times He was rejected. 

This is also the place we learn that Mary, Jesus' mother, had other children, sons and daughters, all half-siblings with Jesus. They were "scandalized" because of Him. They thought they knew Him, but they did not. 

Because of the unbelief in Nazareth, He did not perform any miracles. In a similar way, when we talk to someone about Jesus, if they have a mocking heart, they are not ready to hear the gospel. Their heart is unwilling. When people have unbelief, they cannot know the power of God. 

Jesus sent His twelve disciples out to share the news of repentance, but this time He gave them orders to take nothing with them. This was a short journey and they had limited time to spread the good news. He gave them power to cast out demons, and He told them to shake the dust from their feet in places where they were rejected. "To reject the grace of God invited His judgment." When they were done, they  returned to Jesus and reported all they had done.

The feeding of the five thousand was a miracle, obviously. First Jesus taught the people and met their spiritual need; then He fed them and met their physical need. 

The miracle of Jesus walking on water to His disciples, according to McGee, was the same story of Peter walking on water to Him. But Mark left this part of the story out, for some reason. However, Matthew does record what Peter did. 

Finally, an important point is that when the men were struggling to manage the boat in the middle of the night, Jesus saw. He saw their struggle and He went to them. He is the same Jesus today, and He sees and knows our struggle. He is there, and all we need to do is cry out to Him. 

credit: Anna Noble via Dear 52