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 6:55 mean?

Explanation

In Mark 6:55, we observe a scene where the actions and the reputation of Jesus as a healer had spread throughout the region.

The verse narrates that the people recognized the power and presence of Jesus, prompting them to transport the sick in the hope of receiving healing.

Literal interpretation suggests that individuals from all over the region brought their sick on mats or beds to wherever they heard Jesus was present.

This demonstrates the strong faith and eagerness of the people in seeking Jesus’ healing abilities.

Picturing this scenario, one can imagine a great number of sick individuals being brought out to the marketplaces and public spaces, or wherever Jesus was teaching and healing, signifying a collective surge of hope among the suffering for divine intervention.

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Historical Context

The verse is set in the time of Jesus' earthly ministry approximately 2000 years ago in the Roman province of Judea.

The historical context is that of a predominantly Jewish society under Roman rule.

Medicine at the time was rudimentary compared to modern standards, and individuals often sought healing through religious or supernatural means.

Jesus' reputation as a healer would have been particularly significant in such a context, and his popularity was growing as stories of his miraculous healings spread.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse illustrates Jesus’ compassion and his role as a healer, which is an important aspect of his ministry.

It offers insights into the Incarnation, God made flesh, dwelling among and directly interacting with humanity.

This narrative also signifies the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the coming of a healing Messiah (e.g., Isaiah 35:5-6).

It conveys the idea that Jesus is accessible to all who seek him, regardless of their status or condition.

Different theological viewpoints might emphasize the faith of the people in Jesus' power to heal, as well as the sovereignty of Jesus in his ability to command illness and infirmity to leave, thus showcasing his divine authority.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be applied in daily life through acts of faith and compassion.

One can emulate the efforts of those who brought the sick to Jesus by aiding those in need of help, be it physical healing or other forms of support.

It encourages believers to seek Jesus in times of need and to bring others to Christ, figuratively, through witness and testimony of his love and power.

Cross-References

Matthew 4:24 - "And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them."
Matthew 9:6 - "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Rise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house."
Luke 5:15 - "But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities."

Language Study

The phrase "carry about in beds" in the original Koine Greek text is "περιφέρειν ἐπὶ ταῖς κλίναις" (peripherein epi tais klinais). "Περιφέρειν" (peripherein) conveys the action of carrying around, and "ἐπὶ ταῖς κλίναις" (epi tais klinais) refers to "on the beds".

This indicates a sense of urgency and effort taken by the people to bring the sick for healing.

It also emphasizes the mobility and communal response of those seeking miracles from Jesus.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, including the Greek and Roman worlds, it was common for people to seek healing from gods and religious figures.

Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, for example, was said to cure the sick in his temples known as Asclepieia.

In Mark 6:55, we observe a similar pattern with people turning to Jesus for healing, indicating a parallel between Jesus and other perceived divine healers of the time.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific standpoint, the actions described in Mark 6:55 would not be understood as an endorsement of supernatural healing over medical treatment. Today, access to healthcare and advances in medical science afford different approaches to healing.

However, science also recognizes the importance of community support, faith, and hope in the overall well-being and recovery of individuals.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of Mark 6:55.

Some commentaries focus on the historical Jesus and the socio-political context of his healing ministry.

Others explore the theological implications of his miracles as signs of the Kingdom of God at hand.

They may also reflect on the centrality of faith in miracles, noting that people sought Jesus because they believed in his power to heal.

Commentaries often highlight the broad appeal of Jesus’ ministry to all strata of society and how his actions fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the healing Messiah.

Mark 6

Mark 6

What does Mark 6:55 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 6:55 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?