Mark 6-8

Mark 6

Rejection at Nazareth

• Jesus returns to His hometown and teaches in the synagogue
• People are amazed but offended:
  • “Is not this the carpenter?”
  • “the son of Mary…”
• Jesus says:“A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown…”
• Result:
  • He could do no mighty work there (except a few healings)
  • He marvels at their unbelief

Sending Out the Twelve

• Jesus sends the twelve two by two
• Gives them authority over unclean spirits
• Instructions:
  • take nothing except a staff
  • no bread, bag, or money
  • wear sandals, not extra tunic
  • Stay in one house per town
• If rejected shake dust off feet as testimony
• They go out:
  • preach repentance
  • cast out demons
  • anoint sick with oil and heal

Death of John the Baptist

• Herod Antipas hears of Jesus
• Thinks: Jesus is “John… has been raised from the dead”
• He remembers John rebuked Herod for marrying Herodias (his brother’s wife)
• Herodias hates John
• Herod:
  • fears John (knows he is righteous)
  • protects him but is conflicted

The banquet:

• Herodias’ daughter dances
• Herod promises: “up to half my kingdom” to her
• She asks (prompted by her mother) for John’s head on a platter
• Herod is deeply sorry but keeps oath
• John is beheaded
• Disciples bury his body

Feeding the 5,000

• Apostles return and report to Jesus
• Jesus invites them to rest
• Crowds follow anyway
• Jesus:
  • has compassion (sheep without shepherd)
  • teaches them
• However, it is a late hour, no food
• Disciples ask to “Send them away”
• Jesus: “You give them something to eat”
  • They have 5 loaves, 2 fish
• People sit in groups
• Jesus:
  • blesses and breaks bread
  • gives to disciples to distribute
• Result:
  • all eat and are satisfied
  • 12 baskets leftover
  • ~5,000 men

Jesus Walks on Water

• Jesus sends disciples ahead by boat and goes up mountain to pray
• That night disciples struggling against wind
• Jesus comes walking on the sea
• They think it’s a ghost and are  terrified
• Jesus says: “Take heart; it is I (ἐγώ εἰμι  I am). Do not be afraid.”
• He gets into the boat and wind stops
• Disciples:
  • utterly astounded
  • did not understand the loaves (5,000)
  • hearts hardened

Healings at Gennesaret

• People recognize Jesus immediately
• Bring sick on beds
• Wherever He goes (villages, cities, countryside)
  • People beg to touch even the fringe of His garment
• all who touch Him are healed

Mark 7

Traditions vs God’s Command

• Pharisees and scribes question why disciples eat with unwashed hands
• Issue is not hygiene but ceremonial tradition
• Jesus quotes Isaiah: “This people honors me with their lips…”
  • Accuses them of caring about human tradition more than God’s command 
• Declaring something “Corban” (devoted to God)
  • Used to avoid supporting parents
  • This nullifies God’s command

What Truly Defiles

• Jesus teaches the crowd nothing outside defiles by entering
• What defiles is what comes out of a person
• Food goes into stomach and not the heart
• Evil comes from within:
  • evil thoughts
  • sexual immorality
  • theft, murder, adultery
  • coveting, wickedness, deceit
  • pride, foolishness

The Syrophoenician Woman

• Jesus goes to region of Tyre
• A Gentile woman seeks healing for her daughter
• Jesus says: “Let the children be fed first…”
  • (Israel first, then Gentiles)
• She responds: “Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs”
  • Word for dog here is κυνάριον (kynárion) (more like little dog or puppy)
• Jesus:
  • praises her response
  • heals her daughter

Healing a Deaf Man

• Jesus returns from Tyre  to Sidon to  Sea of Galilee to Decapolis (Gentile region)
• People bring a man to Him:
  • deaf
  • speech impediment
• Jesus takes the man aside away from the crowd 
• He uses physical actions:
  • puts His fingers into the man’s ears
  • spits and touches his tongue
• Looks up to heaven and says: Ephphatha” (Ἐφφαθά) Aramaic: “Be opened”
• Immediately:
  • ears are opened
  • tongue is released
  • he speaks plainly
• Jesus commands them to tell no one
  • But the more He tells them, the more they proclaim it
  • They are astonished

Mark 8

Feeding the 4,000

• Another large crowd, no food
• Jesus has compassion (they’ve been with Him 3 days)
• Disciples again unsure how to feed them
• They have 7 loaves (and a few fish)
• Jesus gives thanks, breaks, distributes
  • all satisfied
  • 7 baskets leftover
  • ~4,000 men fed

Demand for a Sign

• Pharisees argue with Jesus and demand a sign from heaven
• Jesus:
  • sighs deeply
  • refuses: “No sign will be given to this generation”
• He leaves them

Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod

• Disciples forget bread
• Jesus warns: “Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod”
  • From https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/mark-8/: This leaven wasn’t merely yeast, but a pinch of dough left over from the previous batch, as in the making of sourdough bread. This was how bread was commonly leavened in the ancient world, and a little pinch of dough from the old lump could make a whole new lump of dough rise and “puff up.” So, the work of leaven was considered an illustration of the work of sin and pride. The presence of a little can corrupt a large amount.
• Disciples misunderstand andthink He’s talking about bread
• Jesus reminds them:
  • 5,000 fed from 12 baskets
  • 4,000 fed from 7 baskets
• Questions: “Do you not yet understand?”

Healing the Blind Man (Two Stages)

• In Bethsaida a blind man is brought to Jesus
• First touch he sees partially: “people like trees walking”
• Second touch hesees clearly
  • Miracle requiring two touches could be to show disciples their own spiritual blindness

Peter’s Confession

• At Caesarea Philippi Jesus asks: “Who do people say that I am?”
• Answers:
  • John the Baptist
  • Elijah
  • one of the prophets
• Jesus asks:“But who do YOU say that I am?”
• Peter answers: “You are the Christ (Χριστός – Messiah)”

Jesus Predicts His Death

• First clear prediction:
  • suffering
  • rejection
  • death
  • resurrection
• Peter rebukes Jesus
• Jesus rebukes Peter:
  • “Get behind me, Satan!”
  • you are setting your mind on man, not God

The Cost of Discipleship

• Jesus calls the crowd and disciples
• Requirements to follow Him:
  • deny yourself
  • take up your cross
  • follow Me
• lose your life will save it
• save your life will lose it
  • gaining the world is not worth losing soul
  • whoever is ashamed of Jesus,  He will be ashamed at His coming

Application

Like the disciples, we can still miss who Jesus really is if our hearts are not ready to understand. Even when we do not fully get what Jesus is doing in our life, we must have full faith in Him, especially in the confusing moments. When in doubt, see how Jesus cared for others and reflect that same compassion.