Mark 6 PREVIEW: In Mark 6, Jesus is rejected in His own hometown and He empowers and sends out His disciples to perform miracles. He hears of John the Baptist s murder, 5,000 are fed, He walks on water, and the disciples discover who He truly is. Jesus is Rejected at Nazareth - Read Mark 6:1-6 1. After Jesus left Jairus' home, He and His disciples go to His own country, Nazareth, the place where Jesus lived until He was baptized by John (see Mark 1:9 and Luke 4:16). On the Sabbath, as was His custom, He taught in the synagogue. How did the hearers in that synagogue respond (vv. 2-3)? 2. Why do you think they responded that way? (See John 7:15.) 3. The Catholic Church teaches the perpetual virginity of Mary. How does this passage refute that false teaching (v. 3)? (See also Mark 3:31.) 4. The people of Nazareth were offended by Jesus because they were familiar with Him and thus unable to accept Him as the Messiah, God s Annointed One. What did Jesus say about a person who is not offended by Him and His teachings? (See Matthew 11:6.) How is their offense at Him a fulfillment of prophecy? (See Isaiah 8:14-15, Romans 9:32, and 1 Peter 2:8.) Mark 6 Page 1
5. Jesus response to their offense of Him implies that those in the Nazareth synagogue dishonored Him (v. 4). What was the result of their offense towards Him and their dishonor toward Him (v. 5)? 6. Scriptures record Jesus marveling on only two occasions. One is here when He marveled at the unbelief of the Jews in the synagogue at Nazareth. At what else did Jesus marvel? (See Matthew 8:10 and Luke 7:9.) 7. You and I have the entire revealed Word of God and unlimited access to great Bible teachings on the internet. We have also been given His Holy Spirit to teach us all things (see John 14:26). Based on this, which of the two things that Jesus marveled at exists in your life? 8. What things did Jesus say those who believe in Him would do? (See John 14:12.) Twelve are Sent to Serve - Read Mark 6:7-13 9. Jesus had already selected the 12 that He wanted (see Mark 3:13-14). He then empowered them and sent them out two by two. Why do you think Jesus sent them out two by two? (See John 8:17 and Deuteronomy 17:6 and 19:15.) Mark 6 Page 2
10. Knowing they would need it, what did Jesus give His disciples for their journey (v. 7)? Why did He give them this (v. 13)? (See also Mark 3:14-15.) 11. What did Jesus command His disciples to take and not to take on their journey (vv. 8-9)? Why do you think He didn t want them to take these items? 12. If the apostles (sent out ones) were received in a town, they were to remain in the same household that received them until they departed (v. 10). Why do you think Jesus instructed them to do this? 13. If a town or village would not receive the apostles, what were they to do (v. 11)? Why were they to do this? (See also Luke 10:10-11 and Acts 13:51 and 18:6.) 14. Jesus said it would be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for the city that didn't receive His disciples and their message. Why is this true? (See also Matthew 10:40 and John 13:20.) Mark 6 Page 3
15. How is the message that the disciples preached the same message that Jesus and John the Baptist preached (v. 12)? (See Matthew 3:1-2, Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:4, and Mark 1:14-15.) How is that message the very same message we too need to preach? 16. What were the effective results of the disciples journey (v. 13)? (See also Luke 10:34 and James 5:14.) John the Baptist is Murdered - Read Mark 6:14-29 17. Who did King Herod think Jesus was when he heard of Him (v. 14)? Why (v. 16, 20)? 18. Mark includes a flashback to elaborate on Mark 1:14 and to clarify Mark 6:16. What did Herod, Herodias, and Herodias daughter (Salome) each do to John the Baptist (vv. 17-29)? Why? 19. Jesus was not only a rock of stumbling to those in the synagogue in Nazareth (vv. 1-6), but because of the effective ministry of the disciples (v. 12), He was also a stumbling block to Herod (v. 14). What can become of a person to whom Jesus is a stone of stumbling? (See Matthew 21:44.) Mark 6 Page 4
20. Although Herod was exceedingly sorry (v. 26), he had made an oath in the presence of his noble guests and proceeded with the murder of John the Baptist (v. 27). Sorrow that doesn t lead to repentance is worldly sorrow. What does worldly sorrow produce? What does godly sorrow produce? (See 2 Corinthians 7:9-10.) 21. Herod was sorry for what he had done (v. 26) because he knew John was a just and holy man (v. 20) and he heard what John had to say gladly, so he tried to protect John from Herodias by imprisoning him (v. 20). However, Herod s sorrow was a worldly sorrow because of his situation and vow. What action should Herod have taken, which was the message of John, Jesus, and the disciples? (See Mark 1:4, 14-15, and 6:12.) 22. If you find yourself in situation similar to Herod a situation in which you re sorrowful and feel stuck because of foolish vows you ve made, what should you do? (See Proverbs 28:13 and Acts 3:19 and 8:32.) Twelve Return - Read Mark 6:30-31 23. When the apostles returned from being sent, they told Jesus of all the things they had done and had taught (v. 30). What did Jesus invite them to go and do (v. 31)? Mark 6 Page 5
24. Where specifically did Jesus invite them to go (v. 31)? (See also Luke 9:10.) Five Thousand are Fed - Read Mark 6:32-44 25. Jesus and the disciples departed in a boat, headed to the deserted place (v. 32). Who saw them do this? What did they do (v. 33)? 26. How did Jesus respond to those who saw them depart in the boat (v. 34)? (See also Luke 9:11.) 27. Why do you think Jesus responded that way? (See Matthew 11:28, John 10:11, and 2 Peter 3:9.) 28. Jesus spent the day teaching, preaching, and healing the multitudes. In the evening, the disciples urged Him to send the multitudes away so they could eat (vv. 35-36). How did Jesus respond to their urging (v. 37)? 29. How did the disciples respond to what Jesus said (v. 37)? Mark 6 Page 6
30. Do you think the disciples could have obeyed Jesus command and given the multitudes something to eat? 31. What did Jesus have the disciples do after they answered His command (v. 38)? (See also John 6:8-9.) 32. What did Jesus have the disciples do with the multitudes (vv. 39-40)? Why do you think he had them do this? (See John 6:10-11.) 33. What did Jesus do with the five loaves and two fish (v. 41)? 34. What was the result of what Jesus did with the five loaves and two fish (v. 42)? 35. How many baskets full of fragments were left over (v. 43)? How many disciples were there? Is there any significance to this? (See Matthew 16:9.) Mark 6 Page 7
36. Approximately how many people experienced this miracle that day (v. 44)? Jesus Walks on Water - Read Mark 6:45-52 37. Once the feeding of the multitudes was complete, what did Jesus make His disciples do (v. 45)? 38. Jesus sent His disciples off in the boat and the multitudes back to their homes. Why (v. 46)? (See also Matthew 14:12-13.) 39. When evening came, where was Jesus? Where were the disciples (v. 47)? 40. According to Roman reckoning, the night was divided into four watches: (1) 6-9 pm, (2) 9 pm-12 am, (3) 12-3 am, (4) 3-6 am. What time was it? Where were the disciples? What were they doing? Approximately how long had they been doing it (v. 48)? (See also John 6:4.) Mark 6 Page 8
41. What did the disciples think they saw during the fourth watch of the night, while battling the contrary winds and waves in the middle of the sea (vv. 49-50)? How did they respond to what they thought they saw? 42. Jesus came to the disciples in the midst of their dark night. What was His response to the fearful disciples (v. 50)? 43. How has Jesus come to you during a stormy time? 44. What happened when Jesus got into the boat with the disciples (v. 51)? (See also John 6:21.) 45. What did the disciples do after their experience in the midst of the dark night (v. 51)? (See also Matthew 14:33.) 46. What did the disciples proclaim after their experience in the midst of the dark night? (See Matthew 14:33.) Mark 6 Page 9
47. The disciples were greatly amazed beyond measure (literally out of their minds) and marveled (v. 51). Mark alone explains that they had not understood about the loaves, because their hearts were hardened (v. 52). What did they not understand about the loaves? 48. How should we follow the example of what the disciples did once Jesus got into their boat? (See also Matthew 14:33) Jesus Heals at Gennesaret - Read Mark 6:53-56 49. Once Jesus and His disciples crossed over to Gennesaret, the people recognized Him. What did they do (vv. 54-56)? 50. What did the people beg Jesus to allow them to do (v. 56)? Why do you think they begged Him for this? (See Mark 5:25-34.) Mark 6 Page 10