Mark 6:1 – 6:29 (Week 11) Study Notes and Questions
Key Theme
Going out to meet the world.
Storm of Unbelief: 6:1 - 6:6
Where is Jesus? What's going on?
Jesus is back in his hometown. He is ministering there, but the people are rejecting
him. What's the issue? His authority, wisdom and mighty works.
What's the problem? Why do they respond the way they do?
This is not the Jesus they know (and have known since he was a child). Jesus is just
an ordinary carpenter, not a messiah-type or prophet. They see Jesus as simply a
man.
What parable does this represent?
Hard soil, inside/outside, new and old wineskins (they can't adjust their worldview to
allow for the new).
Why can't Jesus do any mighty work here?
Jesus is not Lord of unbelief. He marvels at their unbelief.
What are the dynamics of being inside or outside? Who's inside, who's outside? What is the
contrast between this and preceding sections?
Sending out the 12: 6:6 –6:13
What does Jesus do here? What does he tell them not to take?
He sends the 12 out to minister. He tells them not to take money, supplies, extra
clothing etc. He wants them to travel light. Why? You are to depend utterly on the
Lord, picture of total dependence.
What does he tell them to take?
Another person, a staff, authority to cast out demons, sandals. See Exodus 4:1-5 and
Psalm 23:4 – the only thing Moses had with him to deliver Israel was a staff, a
symbol of authority. Also a shepherd symbol.
Why does he send them out in twos? Couldn't they cover more ground alone?
Partnership is more important than coverage. Deuteronomy 17:6: two are needed
for witness.
Why does he tell them not to move around?
They might be tempted not to be a burden, or to move to a house with a better
standard of hospitality. But Jesus wants them to build deep relationships with a few.
What does he tell them to do if their message is not accepted? How does this help the
disciples?
Shake the dust off their feet – a warning of judgment. Shaking off dust is a Jewish
custom -- if you are in Gentile country and then come back to Jewish country, you
remove dust from feet and clothing, since even the dust was defiling. They are not
to persevere where it is totally fruitless – hard soil, outsiders. If the people are
outsiders, it would be better for them if they don't hear (and reject) all the words of
the gospel. When has Jesus already done this? In his hometown – he left because
they refused to hear or receive him. The disciples know that this kind of rejection
happened even to Jesus.
It is helpful for the disciples to hear that they may experience opposition, that it will
be difficult – they should expect this and not be discouraged when it happens. The
success of their mission is not measured by lack of opposition. What might the
disciples be tempted to do when faced with opposition?
 Keep on plugging away without fruit.
 Soften the message.
 Doubt the message, think there must be something wrong with what they're
saying.
 Be discouraged.
But now that they have been prepared for opposition, they can simply move on,
knowing that Jesus is right and not doubting him or the message. They learn that
they are responsible to deliver the message, but not responsible for the response.
Jesus gives them the confidence and authority to shake the dust from their feet.
What are their relational priorities when they're sent out?
 Relationships with God, dependence on Jesus' word.
 Relationships with their partners.
 Relationships with the people who receive them into their homes, depth over
breadth.
What new thing does Jesus give the disciples?
They have his authority! This is the fulfillment. They went out and preached that
men should repent, cast out many demons and healed the sick. They did the same
things that Jesus was doing – they became representatives of Jesus. The kingdom
was expanded by twelve – what Jesus did, they could do. He invested his power and
authority in them. Jesus is building faith in them, showing that God will work
through them.
A King and a Prophet: 6:14-6:29
The word "it" is used several times in verses 14-16 – what is "it"?
The sending out of the 12, the results of their mission. Jesus' name has become well
known now.
What is the question everyone is asking? "Who is Jesus"
When have we seen this asked before? 1:27, 2:7, 3:22, 4:41, 6:2-3, now 6:14-16.
What kind of person is Herod, judging by this passage?
Weak, proud, fears John. He's controlled by the crowd, Herodias and the Romans
(as a puppet king).
Background: Herod's father was appointed king by Julius Caesar in 47 BC. Herod the
great was king from 40BC – 4BC. He died about the time of Jesus' birth, and his 3
sons (Archelaus, Herod and Philip) succeeded him – his kingdom was divided
between them. John confronted Herod, who divorced his wife in order to marry
Herodias, who was his half-brother Philip's wife (not lawful to have brother's wife:
Lev. 18:16).
Compare Herod to John:
John makes a stand, no matter the consequences. He's not afraid of Herod, truth is
the standard, also righteousness and holiness.
Herod is afraid of John. He put John in jail – Herodias wanted him killed, but
Herod feared John so kept him safe. He heard John's message gladly, but was
perplexed by it (thorny soil?). He had John beheaded but was obviously very uneasy
about it – his first thought on hearing about Jesus was that John had been raised and
had returned to haunt him.
There seem to be parallels between John/Herod and Elijah/Ahab – Ahab was the
worst king of Israel (1 Kings 16:29-33, 21:20-26) and persecuted the prophet Elijah.
His wife Jezebel (like Herodias) was if anything even worse -- she made it her goal to
kill Elijah (see 1 Kings 19:2).
Why didn't Herod want to break his word to Herodias' daughter?
Not a question of integrity – it was because of his guests. He doesn't want to be
thought a liar, but he's willing to be a murderer.
Why does Mark use this story now?
Jesus is calling people to repent, the disciples are calling people to repent, and John
the Baptist is calling Herod and Herodias to repent.
Application Questions
 What does outreach look like for us? Do we end up beating our heads against the wall
with the same people? How do we look for responsiveness, for signs of receptivity?
How can we look for the secret of the kingdom of God in people and give more to
those who are ready to receive more?
 Are there promises we make to people that keep us from obeying God (like Herod)?
Integrity with God may involve breaking promises that we shouldn't have made in the
first place.
Mark 6:30-52 (Week 12) Study Notes and Questions
Key Theme
Being a good shepherd, receiving rest.
Individual Study:
Read the passage out loud, asking everyone to just listen and not read until vs. 52, ending
with, “for they did not understand about the. . .” Tell them to finish the sentence in their
own words. Share with one another how you ended the sentence, then read the rest of the
sentence.
Trace the theme/word “loaves” through the whole story. How is "loaves" used throughout
the story? Provision, God can do a lot with a little, they are operating on scarcity model, etc.
Try to put yourself in the disciples’ shoes. Imagine what their emotions were throughout the
story.
Feeding the Five Thousand
What has just happened?
The disciples returned from their mission with good reports. They returned to Jesus,
told him all they had done, told him all they had taught. The disciples have had their
first opportunity to learn in action to be like Jesus.
What does "apostle" mean?
Sent out ones, the only time in Mark this word is used for the disciples.
What does Jesus say to them?
Come away by yourselves and rest awhile, boat lands in the lonely place. Focus
seems to be inward.
Describe the emotions of the disciples, Jesus, crowd....
What does the crowd do?
Follows them, ran there ahead of them. Now the disciples have a second
opportunity to in action be like Jesus. Jesus wants the disciples to be like him.
What does Jesus do?
He had compassion on the crowd, so he taught them many things.
Describe the scene. What's the disciples' attitude/circumstances coming into this passage?
What do they want? What happens instead?
What do the disciples say?
Send them away! Had no compassion, see no opportunity for ministry, waited long
enough, send them away, this is a lonely place, let them buy themselves something to
eat.
How does Jesus respond?
You give them something to eat, go exercise the authority I have given you. How
many loaves have you? Go and see.
How do the disciples react?
Sarcastically, defensively. Disciples laugh at Jesus: 200 denarii worth of Bread (1
denarii = a days labor), 2/3 of a year's salary to feed them, impossible.
Who is this crowd? why do they pursue? (they recognized them). How would they recognize
the disciples? (they are people the disciples have been reaching out to in the preceding
passage)
What is Jesus trying to teach the disciples?
What should you do when you do not understand what Jesus is doing?
YOU SHOULD ASK, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
So what does Jesus do?
Finds out what they have, commands crowds to sit down on green grass. Blessed
loaves, looked to Heaven in prayer, broke loaves. A foreshadowing of the last
supper.
The disciples are forced to serve the people with bread, with fish. Read Psalm 23:
establish a table before me in the midst of my enemies. (Who were the disciples at
this time?)
They gather the leftovers, then he dismisses the crowd, and sends his disciples away.
Jesus is the good shepherd.
How many people?
5000 men, they didn't count women and children.
What happens next, on the lake?
Jesus puts his disciples in a boat and sends them off by themselves. They still want to
get away from the people. Jesus wants them to think, to consider. He dismisses the
crowd, wants to be with them. He goes into the hills to pray (for his disciples?).
Then what happens? They are distressed in rowing, scared of the wind
What does it mean, "he intended to pass them by"? Jesus intended to be seen by them;
trying to elicit some response of faith (similar to the parable of the sower)
The disciples see him and think they've seen a ghost. Terrified, cried out, utterly
astonished. They didn't understand about the loaves (manna God had given in the
wilderness), their hearts were hardened.
See Exodus 33:12-23, 34:5-10.
Why does Jesus get into the boat with them?
To encourage them, tell them not to be afraid, calm the storm again. Take heart, it is
I, have no fear. The wind ceased when he got in the boat.
See Job 9:2-12, Psalm 77:13-20.
Why were they utterly astonished? (Read the sentences)
Now what does Mark say? (How does that fit...?)
What are some of the shepherding images from this passage and last week? (staffs; sheep
w/o shepherd; green grass; sit down in groups)
What would it be like for the disciples to have the people sit down in groups? How is it
risky? (they still don't have food to give them; it's a lot of seemingly useless work; it's raising
the hopes of the crowd but the 12 don't have any answers for them)
How are the disciples doing in terms of the secret of the kingdom?
Disciples respond with fear, not faith. Why? What's going on for them? Imagine how
disciples are feeling throughout the story, trace their emotions.
What's their experience with loaves so far? List all references. What does Jesus want them to
learn here about the loaves? (when you give, even when it seems pointless, God will provide
for you; offer what little you have in order to care for others; don't be afraid of being
cheated).
What does it feel like when your heart is hardened? What are the results?
SUMMARY
Rest & Shepherding
What got the disciples into trouble? Their sarcasm.
Who's in the crowd? Why were they there? Where did they come from? They knew them, they
knew the disciples, they had preached to them, stayed with them, been fed by them.
Why did Jesus say "You feed them"? What did Jesus want them to understand?
When Jesus sent out the disciples, what were they to bring with them? A staff.
Who uses a staff? Shepherds.
What did Jesus want his disciples to understand? That they were shepherds. Jesus was training his
disciples to be shepherds to the people.
What should the disciples have said in response to Jesus? How are we supposed to feed them,
Jesus?
Why weren't they thinking about being shepherds? What were they thinking about? Jesus
promised us rest, we want our rest.
Jesus promised them rest, what should they have done to get rest? Trust that Jesus would
provide it.
Instead what did they do? Tried to demand it for themselves.
What was the result? They never received rest, they didn't even get rest that night.
Who was the feeding for? The disciples—it is not clear from Mark that the crowds even knew that a
miracle had been performed. But they took up twelve baskets of broken bread – one for each disciple, to
make the miracle real to them.
Will they be good or bad shepherds?
Read Isaiah 53, Ezekial 34. God is against bad shepherds (like Herod, like
Pharisees). A warning to the disciples. God will do it himself, he will become the
good shepherd and care for his people. Jesus desires to make the disciples good
shepherds.
The disciples focused on themselves and their own desires for rest. Jesus wanted to teach
them something about shepherding and about trusting Him for the rest they were promised.
When they tried to grasp for themselves that which Jesus promised to give them, they lost
out -- they missed his teaching for them, their hearts were hardened, and they still did not get
the rest they wanted.
The disciples had been sent out in utter dependence on Jesus and his words. The experiment
worked! Jesus’ promises held true. Now they have come back and all they can think about is
the rest Jesus promised them. They are unable to trust him to provide it.
So their hearts are hardened: they don’t understand about the loaves. What should they have
understood? That Jesus can provide; that we are to come to him when we are asked to care
for people beyond our own resources.
Why did Jesus send the disciples home in the boat without him?
They had become outsiders – they weren't going to get their rest.
What did Jesus do?
Go and pray, for the disciples who are in a dangerous spiritual condition.
What kind of soil are the disciples now?
Thorny soil – the cares of the world and the desire for rest have crowded out the
word.
Authority & shepherding
Miracle of the loaves – God gave the manna in the desert. They did not see who Jesus was,
didn't see he was God. God kept his promise – he's come as a shepherd to the people
(Isaiah 40:11).
Jesus has given them his authority – they have power to be like him, they could have fed the
5000, they could have calmed the sea, they could have taken authority.
But instead, they stopped ASKING, they stopped CARING, they stopped HAVING
FAITH. There was a split between what they know and what they do. This split hardens
the heart.
You either learn more, or you care less.
What does this say to you?
We are shepherds, extensions of the apostles. We must have compassion. Do you
realize the power you have? Hardness of heart is the difference between what I
know and what I do not do.
See 4:24-25 – to whom much is given, much is required. The measure you give will be the
measure you get, and still more will be given to you. For to him who has, more will be
given, and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
In the Christian life, we never stay the same – there is no stable, "treading water" state. We
are either increasing or decreasing. This is a terrifying passage.
Possible pictures of Israel:
 Woman sick for 12 years, now healed.
 12 year old girl died, raised from the dead.
 12 baskets of scraps, abundant life is available.
Application Questions
 Sometimes we discern correctly that God has promised us something, but have a
difficult time trusting him for it. How do we tend to take matters into our own hands?
 How are we tempted, like the disciples, to view others as an impediment to us receiving
rest or a deeper relationship with God?
 Which of the activities of shepherds are relevant to us? How? Feeding, teaching, organizing
flock.
The Two Banquets, the Two Kings
Herod the King
Jesus the King
Where?
Galilee
Galilee
Who was invited?
Big shots – courtiers, officers, leading men of
Galilee
All who wanted to be with Him (5000 men
plus women and children)
Atmosphere
Out of control – his stepdaughter and wife,
his irresponsible vow, his guests
Jesus took control, commanded the disciples
and commanded the crowds. He taught and
served them.
Place
In the palace.
In a wilderness place.
Food
Rich, exotic food, much drink.
Simple bread and fish.
Entertainment
Immoral dancing, his stepdaughter.
Jesus & his teaching.
Who served?
Herod is being served.
Jesus serves the crowd and disciples.
End
The end is demonic, gross evil – John's
death
Show's God's heart of compassion, provides
food and teaching, feeds the hungry. There
is satisfaction and over-abundance.
Kingdom
My kingdom
God's kingdom
Cost
Their souls
It is free, given life
Priorities
Priorities of the world – self-aggrandizement,
power, hatred, position
Priorities of God's kingdom, concern for
people and their needs.
Type of shepherd
Bad
Good
Character
Weak king and his word.
Christ and his word.