Mark 6

Mark 6:1-6

Here is, 1. Christ continued by his countrymen, vers. 1-6. 2. The power he gave his apostles ever unclean spirits, vers. 7-13. 3. A strange notion which liberal and other had of Christ, upon which religion, we have the story of the martyrdom of John Baptist, vers. 14-29. 4. Christ’s retirement into a desert place which his disciples; the crowds that followed him thicker to receive instruction from him, and his feeding few thousand of them with few leaves and two fishes, vers. 30-44. 5. Christ’s walking

upon the fee to his disciples, and the abundance of cares he verenght on the other side the water, vers. 45-50.

1. AND he went out from thence, and came into his own country, and his disciples follow him. 2. 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? 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. 7. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

From Capernaum our Lord visited the place of his education, Nazareth, accompanied by his disciples. And there, as was his custom,

1. On the Sabbath-day he entered into the synagogue; and from the law and the prophets preached the things concerning himself with such dignity and education, as quite amazed his countrymen. He had been bred among them, a carpenter by trade, without any education; his family and relations were all persons of mean and low circumstances; how he should be able to discourse with such readiness, and perform such miraculous works, they could not conceive; and yet their prejudices against him, on account of his low birth and education, prevailed over their admiration; and notwithstanding all the wonders they beheld, they disband to be followers of a person for mean and despicable in their account. Note, (1.) The humiliation of Jesus, at which they were offended, should make him the dearer to us. (2.) If the Lord, in our nature, submitted to earn with the labour of his hands the bread he eat, let it reach us how commendable is industry, and never to depose any man because he is poor.

2. To rebuke their folly, and punish their unbelief, he reminds them how they verified that proverbial saying, if prophet is not without honour but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house; people ordinarily paying more respect to strangers and persons unknown, than to those with whom having been indulged in familiarity, they are ready to treat them with contempt. Therefore, except healing a few sick folk, he refused to exercise his power and grace among them. Their unbelief bound up, as it were, the hands of his omnipresence; and marveling at it, he left them, in just judgment, to the perversionate and impenitence of their hearts, carrying the glad tidings of salvation from them to the other villages of Galilee, where greater respect would be payed to his person and ministry.

3. 8. And he calfeth unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two, and gave them power ever unclean spirits. 8. And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only: no krip, no bread, no money in their purse: 9. But he shod with sandals: and not put on two coats. 10. And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. 11. 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 Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. 12. And they went out, and preached that men should repent. 13. And they cast out many devils, and a nointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

Mark 6:7-13

The twelve having now for a while attended their master, are here,

1. Sent forth to preach what they had learned of him, and endued with power to work miracles, and cast out devils, in confirmation of the doctrine they taught. For their mutual comfort and support, they were joined in pairs, and forbid to cumber themselves with cloaths or provisions; but must set off just as they were, with only their stick in their hand, the cloaths on their backs, and the sandals on their feet, trusting upon divine providence for a supply of their wants during their travels. Their message would deserve and procure them a welcome. Wherever therefore they came, and were received into a house, there they must fix their quarters till they removed to another city or village. But if in any place they were refused a

Mark 6:14-20

The same of Jesus had by this time reached the ears of Herod. His guilty conscience suggested to him that John, whom he had murdered, was now risen from the dead, and invested with greater powers than before, perhaps to avenge his blood upon the head of his murderer. Others thought him to be Elijah, the forerunner of the Messiah; others one of the ancient prophets revived; others a new prophet sent of God, like those of old; but all mistook his true character, and knew him not as the Savior of the world. Herod, haunted with the guilty of his injustice and cruelty, perished in the conviction, that this was surely John the Baptist, whom he had beheaded. The narrative of which bloody transaction is related in nearly the same words as before, Mat. xiv. To what was there said, we may here farther observe. 1. How far a man may go in his convictions, without being over effectually wrought upon. Herod was in his conscience performed that John was a just man, and a holy; his whole demonition showed the Baptist to be such, and commanded verarction. And so far many go, as to be convinced of the integrity of God’s ministers, and reverence their character; to observe them, to attend their ministry with seriousness and constancy. VOL. II. to do many things that are right through their preaching; yea, to take delight in their discourses, and to feel a transient joy whilst sitting under them: and yet like Herod, may never be divorced from their darling sins, nor their hearts at all effectually changed. 2. How commendable is fidelity! All the respect and kindness of Herod did not make John the least indulgent to his sins; he told him plainly, though a king, the guilt and danger of his state, and charged upon his conscience his lewdness, adultery, and incest in marrying his brother’s wife: and such should we be, imitating this holy plainness and simplicity, neither moved by crusades, nor deterred by fear; but approving ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3. They who will be thus faithful, may repack to be often severely treated. The hearts of sinners will be exasperated, and malice will drive them, like Herodias, to conceive them mischief against their reprovers, and thus to revenge the honest rebukes, which they regard as premeditated affronts. 30. And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. 31. 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 to much as to eat. 32. And ’they departed into a desert place by ship privately. 33. And the people saw them departing and many knew him, and ran a foot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. 34. And Jesus when he came out, saw much people, and ‘was moved with compassion towards them,’ because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. 35. 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 pasted: 36. 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. 37. He answered and said unto them, ‘Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, ‘Shall we go and buy two hundred + penny-worth of bread, and give them to eat? 38. He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. 39. And he commanded them to make all fit down by companies upon the green grass. 40. And they sat down in ranks by hundreds and by fifties. 41. And when he had taken the five loaves, and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and ‘bleffed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples, ’to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 42. And they did all eat, and were filled. 43. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. 44. And they that did eat of the loaves, were about five thousand men.

Mark 6:30-44

for the gospel of Jesus, will take many a weary step for the sake of attending that ministry, where it is dispensed with power. (2.) Is it a peculiar pleasure to preach to those, who appear a chief for the word of truth.

3. He not only sed their souls with the heavenly manna of his doctrine, but their bodies by miraculous food. The disciples, as the day drew to a close, reminded him how far the people were from any inhabited place, and that the night would soon come on; it would be necessary, therefore, they suggest, to dismiss the multitude, that they might get some refreshment after falling so long. But He, to prove their faith, bid them provide for them the necessary repast. In a surprise, they look not to his power, but to their own inability: Where should they get bread, or money to buy it, when two hundred pennyworth would not be sufficient to give a mortal to each? Perceiving they had no notion whence the supply should come, he enquired what store of provision they had with them? they told him only five barley loaves, and two filters, a quantity utterly insufficient to satisfy such a multitude. Commanding them to be brought, Jesus took the loaves; and having disposed the people in ranks, a hundred in depth, and fifty in length, he gave thanks, brake, and gave to his disciples, who waited on the goods; and far from want, there appeared enough and to spare: they not only made a hearty meal, but left fragments sufficient to fill twelve halfarts, which Christ commanded to be collected with care, not only to supply their future wants, but to make the miracle appear more illustrious. Nate, (1.) They who bore the word, will for the sake of it sometimes forage their necessary food. (2.) Barley loaves, with Christ’s blessing, afford a favorite feast than the richest delicacies without it. (3.) Christ’s disciples must be content with, and thankful for course fare. (4.) Wafes, even of crumbs of barley bread, is useful; no fragments are to be left, when there are so many who want them.

4. And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethleda, while he sent away the people. 46. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 47. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48. 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. 49. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out. 50. (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. 51. And he went up unto them into the ship, and the wind ceased: and they were bare amassed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves, the their heart was a hardened. 53. And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. 54. And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, 55. And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. 56. And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and befought him ’that they might touch, if it were but the border of his garment: and ‘as many as touched him, were made whole.

Mark 6:45-56

The entertainment being finished, Christ bid his disciples first embark, and cross the lake, which they did with reluctance; thinking this a good opportunity for him to declare himself, and set up, as they expected, his temporal kingdom. But he, dismissing the multitude, retired into a mountain, as he was wont, to spend some time in prayer; to teach us the necessity of keeping up private communion with God, as the best means of enabling us to go comfortably through our public manifestations. Mean time we are told,

1. The distress of the disciples. The wind was tempelous, and directly a head, so that though they pulled hard, they got no way, and had advanced in many hours not above thirty furtongs. We may expect in Christ’s service to meet with difficulties, but if we patiently persevere, all will be well.

2. After exercising their faith and patience till the morning wants, at last Christ came to them, walking upon the waters, and seemed as though he would have passed them; but they all discovered something walking on the water, and supposing it an apparition, shrieked out, exceedingly affrighted; till his well-known voice filled their fears, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid; and entering the boat, instantly the wind and waves soofed, to the exceeding astonishment of the apostles,

who, forgetting the miracle of the loaves which they had just seen, were so dull and stupid in their hearts, as to be surprised at this new manifestation of their Master’s divine power, though they were daily eye witnesses to his stupendous miracles. Nate, (1.) If Christ’s people toil hard through a night of temptations, or desertion, the morning will come, a little faith and patience shall bring them to the light of peace and joy. (2.) Our fancies raise a thousand unnecessary fears; and in our distress we often helped that Christ is passing from us, when he is really coming to us. (3.) It is then comfortable with the troubled soul when Jesus reveals himself, and saith with the voice of love, It is I, be of good cheer. Lord, speak thou to my soul, and it shall rest from all its fears!

3. No sooner had they reached the shore, near Capernuon, than immediately the rumour of his arrival spread on every side, and vast multitudes crowded around him, bringing the sick and diseased; in every city, town, or village that he passed, they were laid on beds in the streets, and befought him, that they might touch, if but the border of his garment; and as many as touched him were perfectly cured, whatever was their malady. O Jesus, enable me to touch thee with my trembling hand of faith, and heal thou my sin-sick soul!