Mark 6

Jesus Is Rejected in His Hometown

1Jesus left there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were astonished and said, “Where did this man get these things? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What are these works of power being done through his hands? 3Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house.” 5He could do no work of power there except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went around the surrounding villages teaching.

The Twelve Are Sent Out

7Jesus called the twelve and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. 8He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. 11If any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 12They went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13They cast out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Herod and John the Baptist

14King Herod heard about Jesus, because his name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why these powers are at work in him.” 15Others said, “He is Elijah.” Still others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16But when Herod heard, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17Herod himself had sent men to arrest John and bind him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom Herod had married. 18John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not, 20because Herod feared John, knowing he was a righteous and holy man, and protected him. When Herod listened to him, he was greatly perplexed, yet he still liked to listen.

21An opportunity came on Herod’s birthday, when he gave a banquet for his officials, military commanders, and the leading people of Galilee. 22Herodias’s own daughter came in and danced, and she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23He swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 24She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25The girl hurried back at once to the king and said, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter right now.” 26The king became deeply grieved, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27Immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went and beheaded John in the prison, 28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. The girl gave it to her mother. 29When John’s disciples heard, they came, took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

The Apostles Return

30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported everything they had done and taught. 31He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest for a while.” So many people were coming and going that they did not even have time to eat. 32They went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33But many people saw them leaving and recognized them. They ran there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34When Jesus came ashore and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

35When it was already late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and it is already very late. 36Send the people away so they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37Jesus answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “Are we supposed to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them?” 38He asked, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” 39He told them to have everyone sit down in groups on the green grass. 40They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them, broke the loaves, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among everyone. 42They all ate and were satisfied. 43The disciples picked up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and fish. 44Those who ate the loaves numbered five thousand men.

Jesus Walks on the Sea

45Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him toward Bethsaida on the other side while he dismissed the crowd. 46After saying goodbye to them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on land. 48He saw them struggling at the oars because the wind was against them. Around the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea, and he intended to pass by them. 49When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought he was a ghost and cried out, 50because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them: “Take courage. I am. Do not be afraid.” 51He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped. They were utterly astonished, 52because they had not understood about the loaves; instead, their hearts were hardened.

Healing at Gennesaret

53After crossing over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55They ran throughout that whole region and began carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56Wherever he entered—villages, cities, or the countryside—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him to let them touch even the fringe of his cloak. Everyone who touched it was made well.