Shared Word Translation
Mark 6
Rejected at Nazareth
He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And when the sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were astounded and said, “Where did this man get these things? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? And what deeds of power are being done through his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown and among their kin and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.
The Twelve Are Sent Out
He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for the journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.
And he said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. And if any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
Herod Hears of Jesus
King Herod heard of it, for his name had become known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
The Death of John the Baptist
For Herod himself had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly.
But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. And when his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” And immediately she rushed back to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
And the king was deeply grieved; yet because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her. And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and ordered him to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
The Return of the Apostles
The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a little.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
Compassion for the Crowd
Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. And when he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late. Send them away, so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.”
But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
Then he ordered them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men.
Jesus Walks on the Sea
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And seeing that they were distressed in rowing, for the wind was against them, about the fourth watch of the night he came toward them, walking on the sea; and he intended to pass by them.
But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke with them and said, “Take courage; I am. Do not be afraid.”
Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
Healings at Gennesaret
When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. And when they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him,
and ran about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.