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 6:46 mean?

Explanation

Mark 6:46 speaks of a moment when Jesus separates himself from his disciples and the crowds to engage in private prayer. After performing the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, this verse describes Jesus's actions to retreat to solitude on a mountain.

The verse underlines the importance Jesus placed on prayer and how he often sought quiet, solitary places for his spiritual practice.

This act of withdrawing to pray is significant because it exemplifies Jesus's reliance on communication with God the Father, reflects his humanity and need for restoration, and demonstrates the balance he maintained between ministry to others and personal spiritual discipline.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The verse appears in the gospel of Mark, which is believed to have been written between AD 66 and 70.

This was a time of great turmoil, as the early Christian community was experiencing persecution, and the Jewish-Roman tensions were escalating, culminating in the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in AD 70.

In the broader context of Mark 6, Jesus had been teaching, healing, and performing miracles, revealing his authority and identity.

The feeding of the five thousand itself is a powerful demonstration of Jesus’s compassion and power.

The act of going to a mountain to pray fits within the Jewish tradition of seeking secluded places for prayer and reflection, mountains being considered places closer to God.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Mark 6:46 demonstrates the dual nature of Jesus: fully divine yet fully human. In his humanity, Jesus exhibits a need for solitude and prayer, just as humans require rest and communion with God.

Theologically, this moment reflects his dependence on and a relationship with the Father, emphasizing that Jesus lived in obedience to God's will.

Some Christian traditions view this time of prayer as preparation for the trials to come, both immediately, with the disciples facing a storm on the sea (Mark 6:47-52), and ultimately, in the passion and crucifixion.

Practical Applications

The practice of retreating to pray is a model for believers on the importance of personal time with God.

In a world filled with distractions and demands, setting aside time and finding a quiet space for prayer can be transformative. It can offer a respite and a means to gain spiritual strength and guidance.

This verse encourages individuals to prioritize their relationship with God through regular, intentional prayer time, even amidst busy schedules and responsibilities.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:23 - "And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone."
Luke 5:16 - "And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed."
Luke 6:12 - "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
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."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek manuscript for this verse include:

"sent them away" (ἀποταξάμενος): Suggests a dismissal or sending off, confirming that Jesus intentionally created space between himself and others.
"departed" (ἀπῆλθεν): Indicates Jesus leaving the place where he was.

The term conveys movement from one place to another.

"mountain" (εἰς τὸ ὄρος): Traditionally, mountains are symbolic of places where one can encounter God and receive revelation in Jewish tradition.
"to pray" (προσεύξασθαι): The verb form emphasizes the intent and action of praying, highlighting this as an active and purposeful time spent in communication with God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Mountains as places of divine encounter are not unique to the Judeo-Christian tradition.

In various ancient cultures and religions, mountains are often considered sacred spaces where gods dwell or where heaven and earth meet.

For example, Mount Olympus in Greek mythology was home to the gods, while Mount Sinai in the biblical tradition is where Moses received the Ten Commandments.

This highlights a cross-cultural reverence for high places as special points of contact with the divine.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the act of retreating to quiet, natural settings like mountains can have significant psychological benefits. It can reduce stress, increase creativity, and improve mental health.

While the scientific community typically separates the psychological benefits of such practices from their spiritual significance, it nonetheless recognizes the positive impact of solitude and nature on human well-being, which may, in part, corroborate why ancient spiritual practices included retreats to such environments.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and commentators have various interpretations of Mark 6:46.

Some say that Jesus’s actions signify his need to recharge following the exertions of ministry. Others suggest that his prayer was intercessory, possibly praying for the success of his disciples' mission or for strength in the face of growing opposition.

Many agree that this exemplifies Jesus's dedication to prayer and his example to believers.

Matthew Henry's Commentary, for instance, notes that prayer is Christ's relief in his solitude, and John Gill's Exposition of the Bible emphasizes the habitual practice Jesus had of praying alone after busy days of public service.

Mark 6

Mark 6

What does Mark 6:46 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 6:46 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?