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 6:32 mean?

Explanation

This verse, Mark 6:32, tells us about a moment when Jesus and His disciples sought a time of respite. After having ministered to crowds and done much work, the group departs to a quieter, remote place to rest.

The phrase "by ship privately" implies that they sought to avoid the attention that followed them in their public ministry.

It signifies a withdrawal from the demanding pace of interaction with the masses, presumably to rejuvenate and reflect, perhaps to pray and discuss the events that had transpired.

In a deeper sense, this verse touches on the theme of finding balance between service and solitude, highlighting the importance of rest even in the midst of busy ministerial work.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The historical context of Mark 6:32 is in the early first century AD, during the period of Jesus' public ministry in Galilee.

This verse falls within the narrative of Jesus sending out the twelve apostles in pairs, giving them power over unclean spirits and instruction on how to conduct themselves as they went from place to place preaching repentance, healing the sick, and casting out demons.

Upon their return, they reported to Jesus all they had done and taught.

Given the constant interaction with people and the physical and emotional demands of their ministry, a retreat would have been a welcome breather for Jesus and His disciples.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, Mark 6:32 may reflect on several themes:

The need for Sabbath: Jesus' invitation to His disciples can be seen as an echo of God's command for His people to observe times of rest.
The role of prayer: By retreating to a solitary place, Jesus often exemplified the importance of private communion with God, suggesting a model for spiritual discipline.
The humanity of Jesus and the disciples: This withdrawal shows that even the Son of God recognized the limitations of human endurance and the need for physical rest.

Different theological perspectives might emphasize the practical wisdom of Jesus' leadership, the rhythm of engagement and withdrawal in Christian ministry, or the incarnational aspect of Jesus fully participating in the human experience of fatigue and the need for rest.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of Mark 6:32 in today's life might include:

The importance of self-care for those in ministry and helping professions, highlighting that burnout can be mitigated through intentional times of rest.
The example set by Jesus of finding balance between work and rest, and the necessity of prioritizing private time for spiritual rejuvenation.
The encouragement for believers to not only serve faithfully but also to embrace times of solitude for personal growth and reflection.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:13: "When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities."
Mark 1:35: "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."
Luke 5:16: "And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed."

Language Study

The words "desert place" translate from the Greek "eremos topos," which means a solitary, desolate, or uninhabited area.

"Ship" is from the Greek "ploion," indicating a vessel for navigating water, suggesting that the group departed by boat to further ensure they would be alone.

The word "privately" translates from the Greek "idios," which can mean separately, privately, or pertaining to one's self, emphasizing the personal and secluded nature of this withdrawal.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, including Greek and Hebrew, retreats into the wilderness have often been associated with spiritual encounters or epiphanies.

For instance, Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptist all spent significant time in the wilderness, receiving revelations from God or preparing for their ministries.

This motif of seclusion in nature as a space for deeper spiritual activity can be found across a variety of religious traditions.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology supports the concept of retreats as beneficial for mental health; it recognizes the value of taking breaks from routine and stresses to refresh and improve overall well-being.

Neuroscience indicates that quiet and rest can help consolidate memory, process experiences, and reduce mental fatigue.

Commentaries

Different biblical commentaries offer insights into Mark 6:32:

The Pulpit Commentary suggests that the apostles had no leisure so much as to eat, pointing to the extent of their work and the need for their withdrawal.
Matthew Henry's Commentary highlights the balance between working for God and taking time to rest and highlight Christ's consideration for the wellbeing of His disciples.
The Expositor's Bible Commentary notes that private time for Jesus and His disciples was rare, and the occasions of retreat were necessary not just for physical rest but also for private instruction and fellowship with Jesus away from the pressing crowds.

Mark 6

Mark 6

What does Mark 6:32 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 6:32 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?