Foundations: New Testament - MarkSample

One characteristic that sets the Gospel of Mark apart from the other three Gospels is its nonstop action. Nowhere is that seen more clearly than in Mark 6. Mark darted from event to event in Jesus’ ministry, beginning with Jesus’ reception in His hometown and ending with His miraculous walking on water. 

Evidently, Jesus’ growing fame didn’t impress the people in His hometown, and they refused to believe He was the Messiah. Their rejection didn’t surprise Jesus, but it meant His ministry in Nazareth was limited. Instead, He and His disciples focused their efforts elsewhere, and He sent them out in pairs to call people to repentance. To validate their ministry, He gave them the authority to cast out demons and heal the sick. This marked the beginning of the disciples’ ministry, which was modeled on that of Jesus. 

Mark briefly broke from the accounts of Jesus’ work to describe how King Herod had John the Baptist killed. This incident served as a warning for Jesus’ disciples about what they could expect when they joined Him on mission. Although all believers won’t face death for their relationship with Jesus, opposition is guaranteed. Jesus never hid the fact that living for Him comes at great personal cost. 

The two miracles that close chapter 6 show that one reason Jesus performed miracles was to help His disciples understand who He was and realize the power He had. This purpose was the driving force behind both His feeding of the five thousand and His walking on water. Only when His disciples truly understood Jesus to be the Son of God could they wholeheartedly commit to joining Him in His work of redemption.