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 6:50 mean?

Explanation

Mark 6:50 is a verse that recounts the event where Jesus Christ appears to his disciples walking on the Sea of Galilee during a storm. The disciples are initially terrified as they mistake him for a ghost.

This verse captures Jesus' response to their fear. He quickly reassures them by identifying himself with the phrase "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid." The literal meaning here is clear: Jesus is telling his disciples not to be afraid because he is with them.

On a deeper level, this verse emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus and his power over natural elements, reinforcing the idea that God is always present and in control, providing comfort in times of fear and uncertainty.

It also conveys the message that faith in Jesus dispels fear, as his presence brings peace even amidst chaotic circumstances.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The event occurs during the time of Jesus' active ministry in Galilee.

It follows the feeding of the five thousand, another miracle.

The historical context of this particular verse is significant because the Sea of Galilee was known for its sudden and fierce storms, and many of Jesus' disciples were experienced fishermen familiar with these dangers.

Their fear reflects the real peril they felt on the water.

The cultural backdrop of Jewish customs and beliefs also influences the disciples' initial reaction to Jesus walking on water as they associate such apparitions with ghostly or spiritual phenomena.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse has been interpreted in various ways. In Christian thought, it is often seen as a testament to the divinity of Christ, his power to transcend physical laws exemplifies his supernatural nature.

Some theologians also view this event as symbolic of Jesus' ability to provide guidance and safety in the "storms" of life; that is, the challenges and trials people face.

From different viewpoints, such as a non-Trinitarian perspective, the focus may be on Jesus as a divine agent of God's power rather than on his inherent divinity.

A literary-theological approach might emphasize the narrative's role in the overall structure of the Gospel of Mark, highlighting the themes of revelation and the disciples' growing understanding of Jesus' identity.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied to everyday life in multiple ways.

It serves as a reminder to find courage and reassurance in the presence of faith, especially in moments of fear or uncertainty.

It encourages individuals to trust in a higher power, in this case, Jesus Christ, and his teachings, to guide them through difficult times.

It suggests that faithfulness can bring peace of mind and help overcome personal challenges.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:27: "But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."
John 6:20: "But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid."
Isaiah 43:1-2: "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee..."

Language Study

In the original Greek, the phrase "Be of good cheer" translates to "θαρσεῖτε" (tharseite), an imperative that means "have courage" or "be confident".

The phrase "it is I" is translated from "ἐγώ εἰμι" (egō eimi), which literally means "I am," and is a significant phrase that echoes the divine name revealed in Exodus 3:14, potentially implying Jesus' divine identity.

The command "be not afraid" comes from "μὴ φοβεῖσθε" (mē phobeisthe), which is a present passive imperative meaning "do not fear."

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse and the event it describes can be compared to other ancient myths where gods or heroes demonstrate power over nature.

In Greek mythology, for instance, figures like Hermes and Orion are known to walk on water, reflecting the ancient theme of transcendent beings showing mastery over the elements.

However, in the context of Jewish monotheistic belief, this miracle is distinct because it reflects the sovereignty of the one God, who is present in Jesus.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific viewpoint, the act of walking on water, as described, defies the known laws of physics, particularly buoyancy and the properties of liquid water.

While there have been attempts to explain such events from a naturalistic perspective, these typically do not hold up to scrutiny, as the accounts emphasize the miraculous nature of the event. As such, many accept this event as a matter of faith rather than a phenomenon to be explained by science.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have offered insights on Mark 6:50:

William Lane, in his commentary on Mark, emphasizes Jesus' approach to his disciples as a revelation of his person, which eliminates their fear.

He also suggests the phrase "it is I" indicates the self-disclosure of Jesus' unique relationship with God.

R.T.

France notes in his commentary that the event is a theophany, a revelation of Jesus as the Son of God, with control over the chaotic forces of nature.

John Calvin interprets the reassurance of Jesus as an illustration that he can subdue our fears and is ever-present to aid us in adversities, reinforcing the idea of providence and comfort.
Theologian David Guzik suggests that the disciples' fear and misunderstanding are indicative of their spiritual perception, though physically near to Jesus, they are spiritually distant in that moment.

He posits that the miracle served a dual purpose: to reveal Jesus' deity and to teach the disciples about faith.

Mark 6

Mark 6

What does Mark 6:50 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 6:50 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?