Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:
(Mark 6:1) And He went out from there and came into His own country, and His disciples followed Him.
At the end of the last chapter Jesus had just healed the daughter of a ruler of the synagogue at the ruler's house in Capernaum. He now went from Capernaum to His own land around Nazareth. Nazareth was said to be Jesus's own city because He had been conceived there and had been educated there. He had regard for it as His hometown. His disciples followed Him there.
(2) And when the Sabbath day had come, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands?"
When the Sabbath day had come, Jesus began teaching at the synagogue in Nazareth. Many of the people hearing Him teach marveled and were astonished at His teaching. They wondered where He had gotten such ideas and wisdom. They recognized that He had some power to perform miracles and wondered what gave Him such power and wisdom.
(3) "Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, the brother of James, Joseph, Judah, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him.
Although the people marveled, they recognized that Jesus was the carpenter, the son of Mary, who had grown up with them. Matthew had stated in his account that Jesus was the carpenter's Son, but it is perfectly reasonable to believe that Jesus had worked in His earthly father's trade in His younger years. The fact that Mary was mentioned and not Joseph, might mean that Mary was a widow by then. James, Joseph, Judah, and Simon might have been the half-brothers of Jesus, sons of Mary and Joseph, but they might also have been close kinsmen, close enough to be called brothers. The point is that these people knew Jesus's roots and His family. They knew His sisters who were still among them. They became offended that "one of them" should now claim this apparent spiritual superiority over them. At least that is the way they probably saw it. Seeing Him grow up with them and knowing His family, they could not or would not believe who He truly was, and by what power and wisdom He did the things He did.
(4) But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and among his own kin and in his own house."
Jesus somewhat pardoned their ignorance. He recognized that the primary place a prophet was without honor and respect as a prophet was among the people with whom he had grown up and his own family and household. However, that did not completely excuse them. Jesus recognized that it might be harder for them to believe and be saved, just as it is harder for a rich man to be saved (Matthew 19:24) or for a good man (1 Peter 4:18). His own people find it hard to believe, a rich man finds it hard to give up his money, and a "good" man doesn't see his need as a sinner. It might be harder, but not impossible, and it is necessary to be saved only through the saving grace of Jesus Christ's sacrifice.
(5) And He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick folk and healed them.
It's not that Jesus was unable to do mighty miracles because of the people's unbelief, but the purpose of miracles is to bring people to a saving belief in Christ. If people were not receptive to His message, then Jesus was not about vain show. He knew the hearts and minds of those people before He spoke and knew whether or not they would be receptive of His teaching. He concluded it was useless to perform a mighty work there. However, Jesus did have mercy on a few sick people and healed them.
(6) And He marveled because of their unbelief. And He went round about the villages, teaching.
Jesus the man could not help but be amazed at the unbelief of His very own people. There He was offering grace and eternal life, and the people were too stubborn to even listen. So Jesus went around to the surrounding villages and taught.
(7) And He called the twelve and began to send them forth two by two and gave them power over unclean spirits.
Jesus called His twelve disciples to Himself and sent them out in pairs to preach and teach the Gospel. By sending out two together, they would be able to support and encourage each other. Besides, there was that scriptural adage that a thing was established if out of the mouth of two or three. Jesus gave His disciples the power over unclean spirits. In the last chapter, we were told of Jesus's innate nature to heal and drive out evil spirits. The disciples were not able to drive out spirits of their own power, but Jesus gave them that power. That squashes the notion of faith teachers that we can all heal and exorcise demons if we have enough faith. It is only if it is within God's will and He gives us that power, and the Holy Spirit so directs us; then it is actually Him doing the healing or exorcism.
This reminds me of something I personally witnessed. I was in a women's mentoring group, and prayer was asked for a sick member. One woman prayed humbly that if it was in God's will, would He please heal that woman. Another woman, apparently not pleased with the path of her prayer, interrupted and began praying that she knew God wanted that woman healed and therefore she demanded that sickness leave that woman's body. She presumed to know the mind of God! I've been in Word of Faith groups before, and they take scripture and claim every one as a promise for us all, and therefore think they know what God wants at any given moment. As a result, they think they have the right to demand it. What they fail to realize is that God's ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). There may be a greater purpose in allowing a person to suffer with an illness. There may be countless people saved because they see the faith and joy and peace of Christians regardless of their apparent hopeless situations. I have a personal testimony regarding my husband that attests to that. My husband was blind; he actually regained slight vision and then lost it totally again. He had a weak heart and countless other medical problems resulting from a terrible car crash when he was younger. His parents had been told on countless occasions that he would not make it through the night. He was always in a lot of pain and normal daily activities seemed a struggle. His heart finally did give out and he is no longer with me, but I cannot tell you how many people he touched just by his humble life and soft-spoken words. And he always gave glory to God for all the little things. People saw that and continue to tell me what an inspiration he was. Just by living with all his infirmities and continuing in faith and love, he was an inspiration! If countless more people were saved observing his life than would have been if he had not gone through it all, then which is the good thing? Our selfish afraid of adversity selves would say the good thing would be to be immediately healed! But what if it is God's purpose for our lives that we persevere in adversity so that others may see the hope within us and be saved? We can't all be preachers and missionaries. But if we perform our purposes with willing and glad hearts, there is great reward in heaven. And this life on earth is just a blip in the whole of eternity. As it says in Romans 8:18, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
(8) And commanded them to take nothing for their journey except a staff only, no bag, no bread, no money.
Jesus commanded His disciples to take nothing with them as they went forth two by two, except for a staff, which probably served as a walking aid. They were to be about their work and not concerned with their "things." God would provide.
(9) But be shod with sandals and not put on two coats.
They were to wear sandals but were not to take extra clothes. Again, all their needs would be provided.
(10) And He said to them, "In whatever place you enter a house, abide there till you depart from that place."
Jesus further instructed His disciples. In whatever city or town they went to, when they were invited in to stay at a house, they were to stay there until they left that city or town. That was to be their headquarters, so to speak. They weren't to go from house to house throughout the town spending the nights in different places. There was wisdom in that command, as there always is with Christ's commands. Once they were welcomed into a place, it should only increase the pleasure of their hosts to be a small part of their great work; and the time it would take to find another place to stay and settle into there would only take away from their work. Jesus would make sure they were welcomed into the right place in the beginning!
(11) "And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city."
If the disciples came to a city where no one would receive them into their houses or even listen to them, Jesus told them that when they left that city, they were to shake off the dust of that city's ground as a testimony against them. They had been in that city's ground but now shook it off, leaving that city completely behind that had rejected the Gospel. Jesus went on to say that in the day of judgment still to come, judgment on the city that rejected the disciples and their gospel message would be more severe than it would be for even Sodom and Gomorrah.
(12) And they went out and preached that men should repent.
The disciples went out as Jesus sent them forth, two by two, preaching that men should repent of their sinful ways.
(13) And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.
The disciples were able to cast out devils with the power Jesus had given them. They anointed the sick with oil which was a common custom among the Jews as it might have a soothing effect on the body. In the case of the disciples, they also healed the sick by the power given them by Jesus.
(14) 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 show forth themselves in him."
King Herod began to hear of Jesus and the fame of His works. He thought that it must have been John the Baptist risen from the dead. I suppose his reasoning was that if John had the power to rise from the dead, he would have the power to do miracles.
(15) Others said, "That is Elijah." And others said, "That is a prophet or like one of the prophets."
Other people thought it was Elijah whom the Jews did expect to come before the Messiah. Still others said it was one of the old prophets risen up, or a new prophet who had been raised up with the same power as the old prophets.
(16) But when Herod heard, he said, "It is John whom I beheaded; he is risen from the dead."
When Herod heard the opinions of others, he rejected them. He was sure it was John the Baptist whom he had had beheaded. Obviously, his conscience was bothering him for having so good a man beheaded, and he was sure John had come back from the dead.
(17) For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold of John and bound him in prison for Herodias's sake, his brother Philip's wife, for he had married her. (18) For John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
More detail is given about how Herod came to have John beheaded, and why his conscience might be bothering him. Herod had taken his brother's wife, Herodias, as his own. John had told Herod that it was unlawful for him to do so, so he had had John seized and bound in prison for Herodias's sake, and honor, as I suppose he would have thought it.
(19) Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him and would have killed him, but she could not.
Prison for John was not good enough for Herodias. She wanted him killed, but it was not in her power to do so.
(20) For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and holy, and observed him, and when he heard him, he did many things and heard him gladly.
Herodias had surely petitioned Herod to have John killed, but Herod feared John because he knew he was a just and holy man. He kept him in prison, but observed him, listening to what he had to say. He did many things and listened to John gladly. We aren't told what many things he did, but it seems to be in reference to the things John was telling him that he received gladly. However, we know that he did not fully embrace John's message as he continued to keep his brother's wife as his own.
(21) And when a convenient day had come when Herod on his birthday made a supper for his lords, high captains, and chiefs of Galilee; (22) And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in and danced and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the damsel, "Ask of me whatever you will and I will give it to you."
An opportune time came for Herodias when it was Herod's birthday and he held a supper for all his nobles and chief officers. The daughter of Herodias danced for Herod and the men who sat with him. He was so pleased with her performance that he told her he would grant her whatever she wished; she needed merely to ask.
(23) And he swore to her, "Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom."
Herod went all out and swore an oath to Herodias's daughter that whatever she asked, he would give her, up to half his kingdom. That's quite a reward for a dance!
(24) And she went forth and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist."
Herodias's daughter asked her mother what she should ask for, and she told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist. That woman could surely hold a grudge, for John had been in prison for almost two years, say Biblical scholars. She probably didn't like the fact that Herod seemed to enjoy listening to John.
(25) And she came in right away with haste to the king, and asked, saying, "I want that you give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."
Indeed, Herodias's daughter went immediately in to King Herod and asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.
(26) And the king was exceedingly sorry, but for his oath's sake, and for their sakes who sat with him, he would not reject her.
King Herod was very sorry he had opened his big mouth, so to speak, to offer the girl anything she desired. However, because he had sworn an oath, and because he had done it in front of all his guests, he would not refuse the girl her request.
(27) And immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought; and he went and beheaded him in prison.
The king sent an executioner to the imprisoned John, and commanded that he bring John's head to him. The executioner indeed beheaded John in his prison.
(28) And brought his head on a platter and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother.
The executioner brought John's head on a platter and gave it to Herodias's daughter, and she, in turn, gave it to her mother. And that explained why Herod was haunted by his killing of a good and holy man for a dance!
(29) And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb.
When John's disciples heard about what had happened to him, they came to the prison and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.
As this is a rather long chapter with rather long commentary, I will end this post here and continue Mark 6 in the next.
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