Jesus' rejection in His hometown of Nazareth, where He can do few mighty works due to unbelief, leads to His marveling and the proverbial statement about prophets lacking honor among their own. The Twelve are sent out two by two with authority over unclean spirits, instructed to take nothing for the journey but a staff and to shake dust against rejecting towns, followed by the account of Herod's execution of John the Baptist after Herodias' daughter's dance. Jesus feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fish, walks on the water to the storm-tossed boat while the disciples' hearts remain hardened, and heals all who touch His garment's fringe in Gennesaret.
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Read Mark Chapter 6 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Jesus Christ
The Suffering Servant and Son of God
Peter
Leading disciple whose testimony likely underlies Mark
John Mark
Author who compiled Peter's recollections
Mary of Bethany
Sister of Martha and Lazarus
James, Brother of Jesus
Leader of the Jerusalem Church
Herod the Great
King of Judea
John the Baptist
Forerunner of the Messiah
Philip
Apostle from Bethsaida
Places in This Chapter
Sodom
View on MapA city of the Jordan plain that Lot chose for its well-watered land, destroyed with Gomorrah by fire from heaven. Abraham had pleaded for it, and the Lord agreed to spare it for ten righteous men who were never found. Its site is disputed: this marker follows the southern tradition, on the eastern escarpment of the Dead Sea.
Position in Book
PreparationChapters 1:1-13
John the Baptist, Jesus' baptism and temptation.
Galilean MinistryChapters 1:14-8:26
Miracles, conflicts, parables, expanding fame.
Road to JerusalemChapters 8:27-10:52
Passion WeekChapters 11-16
Bible Bites
Mark Originally Ended with Fear
The earliest manuscripts of Mark end abruptly at 16:8 with the women fleeing the tomb in fear and saying nothing to anyone. The longer ending (verses 9-20) was added later by scribes who thought this ending too sudden.
Mark 16:8