Mark 6, a visual study from The Lampstand Project.
Is not this the carpenter?
Rejection at Nazareth. The twelve sent out. John the Baptist beheaded. Five thousand fed. Walking on water. Mark 6 is the chapter where Jesus is most misunderstood — by his hometown, his enemies, and his own disciples.
Five scenes of misunderstanding.
Every scene in Mark 6 turns on the gap between who Jesus is and how he is perceived. His hometown sees a carpenter’s son. Herod sees a ghost of John. The disciples see a ghost on the water. Only the sick — who simply touch his garment — understand how to receive him.
Tap any numbered marker to read its part
“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary? And they took offense at him.”
A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown.
Jesus returns to Nazareth and teaches in the synagogue. The crowd is astonished at his wisdom, but familiarity curdles into offense: isn’t this the carpenter? We know his family. Their knowledge of his origins becomes the barrier to receiving him. Mark records something stunning: Jesus could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he was amazed because of their unbelief. Jesus, who was never surprised by anything, is amazed by unbelief in the place that knew him best. Familiarity can be the greatest obstacle to faith.
“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.”
“He gave them authority over unclean spirits.”
He sent them out two by two.
Jesus sends out the twelve two by two with authority over unclean spirits. The instructions are radical: no bread, no bag, no money, no extra tunic. Shake the dust off your feet where you are not welcomed. They go out and preach repentance, cast out demons, anoint the sick. When they return they report everything. Jesus tells them to come away to a desolate place and rest. The mission and the rest are both commanded. Mark holds them together: authority to go, and a call to withdraw. The disciples have authority they did not manufacture — it was given.
“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
“The king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.”
Herod had sent and seized John.
Herod hears about Jesus and concludes: John, whom I beheaded, has been raised. Mark inserts the account of John’s death: Herod had arrested John for rebuking him over his marriage to Herodias. Herodias wanted John killed but Herod feared him, knowing he was righteous and holy. At Herod’s birthday banquet, Herodias’s daughter dances and Herod promises her anything. She asks for John’s head on a platter. Herod is sorry but trapped by his own oath and his pride before his guests. The forerunner who prepared the way dies at the intersection of lust, pride, and political cowardice.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.”
You give them something to eat.
The crowd follows to a desolate place and Jesus has compassion: they are like sheep without a shepherd. When evening comes, the disciples want to send them away to buy food. Jesus: you give them something to eat. They have five loaves and two fish. Jesus takes them, looks up to heaven, blesses and breaks and gives. Five thousand men, plus women and children, eat until they are satisfied, and twelve baskets of fragments are collected. Jesus is doing what Moses did in the wilderness — feeding the people of God in the desert. But Moses asked God for bread. Jesus gives thanks and distributes it himself.
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger.”
“He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out.”
Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.
Jesus dismisses the crowd and goes up a mountain to pray. The disciples are in the boat, rowing against the wind. About the fourth watch of the night — between 3 and 6 a.m. — he comes to them walking on the sea. Mark says he meant to pass by them — a phrase that echoes God passing by Moses on Sinai and Elijah at Horeb. The disciples see him and cry out in terror: a ghost! He speaks: take heart, it is I, do not be afraid. He gets into the boat and the wind ceases. They are utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, because their hearts were hardened.
“It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.”
Mark says the disciples did not understand about the loaves, and their hearts were hardened. This is the same phrase used of the Pharisees in chapter 3. The disciples are not enemies of Jesus — but they share the same structural problem: reality is happening in front of them and they cannot yet receive it. This is what discipleship in Mark looks like: slow, confused, gradually broken open.
The chapter of amazement.
Jesus is amazed at Nazareth’s unbelief. The disciples are amazed on the water. The crowds are amazed wherever he goes. Mark 6 is saturated with astonishment — and the question it presses is what kind of amazement leads to faith, and what kind stays at the surface.
At the end of the chapter, the sick reach out to touch the fringe of his garment. Everyone who touches it is made well. No theological understanding required. Just reach.
“And he was amazed because of their unbelief.”Mark 6:6 ESV
All scripture quoted from the English Standard Version (ESV). A study from The Lampstand Project.