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 6:51 mean?

Explanation

This verse from the Gospel of Mark recounts a miraculous incident where Jesus demonstrates his divine authority over nature.

Previously in the narrative, Jesus had been praying on a mountaintop after feeding the 5,000.

His disciples were struggling in a ship against adverse winds on the Sea of Galilee.

In this verse, it is described how Jesus goes up to them, walking on the water, and once He enters the ship, the wind ceases.

The disciples are described as being "sore amazed" and "wondered," which means they were both troubled and astonished by the event to an extraordinary degree.

The calming of the sea is representative of Jesus' power to bring peace in the midst of chaos, both in a physical and spiritual sense.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Within the historical context, the Gospel of Mark is believed to have been written around 66-70 A.D., a time of social upheaval and persecution for early Christians.

The Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Tiberias, was a familiar place for many of Jesus’ followers, as it was a central location for His ministry.

Many of His disciples were fishermen and would have been acutely aware of the dangers of a sudden storm on the lake.

The act of walking on water and calming the wind would have resonated powerfully with them, reinforcing Jesus' role as the Messiah and serving as a source of hope and reassurance that God was with them, even in the most perilous times.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological standpoint, this verse is often interpreted as a display of Jesus’ divine nature and authority over creation, something only God can possess.

It also symbolizes Jesus as the bringer of peace amidst the turmoil of the world.

Different Christian denominaries might slightly vary in their emphases, Catholic theology might focus on the encouragement to seek Jesus in times of trouble, Protestant theology on the assurance of faith, and Eastern Orthodoxy on the mystical union with God experienced by the apostles.

Practical Applications

The verse can be applied to modern life by encouraging individuals to trust in a higher power during times of trouble.

Just as Jesus calmed the storm and brought peace to His disciples, many find solace in believing that faith can bring inner peace amidst the storms of life.

Also, the disciples' response of amazement can remind individuals to maintain a sense of wonder and gratitude for the moments of serenity and resolution in their lives.

Cross-References

Matthew 8:26 (KJV): "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."
Matthew 14:32 (KJV): "And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased."
John 6:20-21 (KJV): "But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went."

Language Study

The original Greek text of this passage uses the term "ἀνέβη” (anebē) for "went up," which conveys the action of ascending or going aboard.

The term "ἐκόπασεν" (ekopasen) translates to "ceased," indicating a sudden stopping or resting of the wind.

When the disciples are described as "ἐξίσταντο" (existanto), it means they were astonished or astounded to the point of being beside themselves.

These terms underscore the dramatic shift from the chaos of the storm to the tranquillity that follows Jesus' action.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The motif of a deity demonstrating power over natural elements is a common thread in various ancient mythologies.

For instance, Greek god Poseidon was known for his control over the sea.

In Ancient Near Eastern religions, gods frequently depicted power over creation, affirming their authority and soliciting the worship of their subjects.

However, in the context of Mark, Jesus' actions are not just a show of power but also a demonstration of divine compassion and presence with his followers.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understanding recognizes the natural phenomenon of sudden wind cessation, usually as a result of a change in atmospheric pressure or other meteorological conditions.

While there is no scientific explanation for an individual walking on water or instantaneously calming a storm, these miracles are considered supernatural acts that supersede natural laws, and therefore are matters of faith rather than empirical science.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of Mark 6:51.

Some view it as a literal historical event that attests to Jesus’ deity and power. Others, like the 19th-century scholar Heinrich Meyer, suggest it is a symbolic representation meant to strengthen the faith of believers.

Many modern commentators emphasize the disciples' reactions, citing the incident as a turning point that deepened their understanding of Jesus’ identity and mission.

Overall, there is a consensus that the narrative demonstrates the extraordinary nature of Jesus’ ministry and the impact it had on his followers.

Mark 6

Mark 6

What does Mark 6:51 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 6:51 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?