Mark 6

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

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?

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.

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.

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:

But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

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.

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.

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.

Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

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.

For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

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.

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;

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.

And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

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.

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.

And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

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.

And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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?

He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

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.

And they did all eat, and were filled.

And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

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.

And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

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.

But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

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.

And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

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.

What does Mark 6:2 mean?

Explanation

Mark 6:2 describes a scene where Jesus is teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath day, a day of rest and worship for the Jewish people.

The verse emphasizes the astonishment of the people who hear him.

They are surprised not just by the content of his teachings, which displays remarkable wisdom, but also because of the powerful deeds – the "mighty works" – associated with his hands.

The listeners are struggling to reconcile Jesus’ background as someone from an ordinary or humble origin with the profound authority and wisdom he demonstrates.

The underlying themes in this passage include the recognition of Jesus’ authority as a teacher, the miracle of his works surpassing human expectations, and the common inability of people, including his contemporaries, to understand his true identity and the source of his power and wisdom.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This verse occurs in the Gospel of Mark, which is one of the four canonical gospels, traditionally thought to have been written by John Mark, a companion of Peter, the apostle.

Scholars date its writing to roughly AD 66–70. During this period, Judaism was the predominant religion in the region, and synagogues served as places of worship, teaching, and community gatherings.

It was customary for itinerant teachers or rabbis to be given the opportunity to speak during synagogue services.

Jesus, coming from Nazareth, a small and not particularly esteemed village in Galilee, would have been seen as an unlikely source of profound teaching and miraculous deeds.

Therefore, the reaction of astonishment from the local population reflects social expectations and skepticism over his authority and abilities.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse alludes to the divine wisdom and power of Jesus Christ. The rhetorical questions asked by the synagogue-goers highlight a significant issue: the inability of some to recognize Jesus' divine nature alongside his human origins.

Different theological interpretations can be drawn from this verse.

Some might view it as evidence of Jesus' prophethood and messianic role being revealed through his teachings. Others might see it as just another example of Jesus' challenges in his ministry, facing disbelief and misunderstanding from the very people he came to save.

Additionally, scholars and theologians have discussed the concept of "scandal of particularity," which is the idea that God chose to reveal himself and become incarnate in a specific person, at a certain time and place, which can be a stumbling block to faith.

Practical Applications

The reactions to Jesus' teaching in Mark 6:2 can challenge individuals to consider their own preconceptions about wisdom and authority. Practically:

People can reflect on their biases and be more open to finding wisdom in unexpected places or people.
It serves as a reminder that spiritual authority does not always correlate with social status or formal education.
The verse encourages followers to discern spiritual truths and be open to God's work in their lives, rather than relying solely on external signs.

Cross-References

Matthew 13:54-56: "And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?"
Luke 4:22: "And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.

And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?"

John 7:15: "And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?"

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of this verse include:

"Astonished" (ἐκπλήσσω, ekpléssō): Struck with amazement or surprise.
"Wisdom" (σοφία, sophia): Skill or insight in practical affairs; often understood in a religious context as divine wisdom or the wisdom of God.
"Mighty works" (δυνάμεις, dynameis): Acts of power, often associated with miracles or supernatural deeds.

The use of the term "ekpléssō" suggests that the listeners were not just surprised but deeply shocked or moved by what they were encountering. It underscores the powerful impact Jesus' words and deeds had on his audience.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this narrative with other ancient myths and religious texts shows common themes of prophetic figures or deities engaging with humans and being met with disbelief.

Greek myths include demi-gods and heroes whose origins invoked similar wonder and skepticism.

In the ancient Near East, wise men or magi often appeared in mythological stories, bringing profound wisdom, but needing to prove their worth or true identity.

In other religious traditions, such as Buddhism or Hinduism, there are accounts of enlightened beings or avatars whose teachings and miracles challenge prevailing norms and question the status quo.

Scientific Perspectives

The intersection of Mark 6:2 with scientific perspectives is primarily concerned with the “mighty works” referenced.

In the modern scientific understanding, miracles defy natural explanations and thus are approached with skepticism.

Historical and psychological studies might explore the natural human reaction to the inexplicable, as seen in the astonishment of the audience in the synagogue, as well as the role of collective memory and cultural acceptance in accounts of miracles.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have various interpretations of Mark 6:2.

Some, like William Lane in his commentary on Mark, emphasize the contrast between Jesus’ wisdom and his humble social standing. Other commentators, such as Ben Witherington III, discuss how Jesus' teachings challenge the expectations of his listeners and provoke varied responses.

John Calvin notes the irony present in the passage, where people recognize Jesus' wisdom but fail to understand its divine source.

The overall consensus among many experts is that this verse highlights a consistent theme in the Gospels: Jesus is often misunderstood or not fully recognized by those around him, even when his teachings and miracles are plainly before them.

Mark 6

Mark 6

What does Mark 6:2 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 6:2 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?