Did Jesus do many miracles in places where He was dishonored? What was the purpose of the first short-term mission trip? Why was John the baptist killed? How did Jesus provide for the 5000? Did Jesus take time alone to pray? Were the disciples' hearts still hardened? Let’s look at Mark 6.
Why did Jesus go into the synagogue? What was the people's reaction?
He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? (Mark 6:1-2 WEB)
Were they repulsed? Did familiarity breed contempt?
Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t he Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” They were repulsed by him and fell into sin. (Mark 6:3 CEB)
What did Jesus say about their prejudice? Are prophets honored in their own families?
But Jesus said, “Prophets are honored by everyone, except the people of their hometown and their relatives and their own family.” (Mark 6:4 CEV)
Can our attitude prevent God from wanting to do mighty works among us? Does such an attitude shock us like it did Jesus?
And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. (Mark 6:5-6 ESV)
Did Jesus then send the disciples on a short term mission trip, sent out in pairs?
He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits. (Mark 6:7 HCSB)
Was this also possibly a faith building exercise as much as practical experience?
He instructed them to take nothing along on the trip except a walking stick—no bread, no traveling bag, nothing in their moneybag. They could wear sandals but not take along an extra shirt. (Mark 6:8-9 ISV)
Should they stay put so that people could know where to find them?
And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. (Mark 6:10 KJV)
What if they were rejected? Is that going to happen to us? What do we do when we are rejected?
And any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.” (Mark 6:11 LSB)
What did they do? What was their message? Do churches today still preach repentance?
And they went out and preached that people are to repent. And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them. (Mark 6:12-13 NASB)
What was Herod’s fear? Was he worried about John the baptist or himself?
King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” (Mark 6:14-16 NIV)
What had Herod done? What had John said to him? Did he publicly condemn Herod’s adultery?
For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” (Mark 6:17-18 NKJV)
Did John compromise the truth? Is speaking truth to power courageous?
So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him. (Mark 6:19-20 NLT)
Did Herod make a foolish promise? Do we make foolish promises?
Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” He swore to her, “Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” (Mark 6:21-23 WEB)
What was the tragic result? Is a root cause of injustice among the powerful, their pride?
She left the banquet hall and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” “John the Baptist’s head,” Herodias replied. Hurrying back to the ruler, she made her request: “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a plate, right this minute.” Although the king was upset, because of his solemn pledge and his guests, he didn’t want to refuse her. So he ordered a guard to bring John’s head. The guard went to the prison, cut off John’s head, brought his head on a plate, and gave it to the young woman, and she gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came and took his dead body and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6:24-29 CEB)
As the disciples return from their mission trip, did they and Jesus need some rest?
After the apostles returned to Jesus, they told him everything they had done and taught. But so many people were coming and going that Jesus and the apostles did not even have a chance to eat. Then Jesus said, “Let's go to a place where we can be alone and get some rest.” They left in a boat for a place where they could be alone. (Mark 6:30-32 CEV)
Despite His tiredness, did Jesus have compassion on the crowd that followed?
Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:33-34 ESV)
What did the disciples want to do with the people? What did Jesus tell them? Does Jesus sometimes change our plans?
When it was already late, His disciples approached Him and said, “This place is a wilderness, and it is already late! Send them away, so they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat.” “You give them something to eat,” He responded. They said to Him, “Should we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” And He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look.” When they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” (Mark 6:35-37 HCSB)
How did Jesus multiply their efforts way beyond their wildest dreams? Can Jesus do the same with the church’s needs?
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 fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. All of them ate and were filled. Then the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of leftover bread and fish. There were 5,000 men who had eaten the loaves. (Mark 6:39-44 ISV)
Did Jesus take time out for prayer alone? Do we? Have we ever taken time alone for prayer?
And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. (Mark 6:45-46 KJV)
Did Jesus walk on the water? What would we have done if we saw Him?
And when it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. And seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He was intending to pass by them. (Mark 6:47-48 LSB)
Were they terrified? Had their hearts been too hard to have any insight?
But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought that it was a ghost, and they cried out; for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. (Mark 6:49-52 NASB)
Did Jesus get much rest on the other side? Or, did He continue healing the sick?
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. (Mark 6:53-56 NIV)
Did Jesus do many miracles in places where He was dishonored? What was the purpose of the first short-term mission trip? Why was John the baptist killed? How did Jesus provide for the 5000? Did Jesus take time alone to pray? Were the disciples' hearts still hardened? Are ours? You decide!
