This is the literal truth!
Before we jump into the published commentary on the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 6, I'd like to share a general observation. Have you noticed how much clearer the picture becomes when you start to compare the Gospel's? I was thinking about this as I sat editing the video reading. I remembered back in my younger days when I would follow particular music bands. I'd clamour to the shops and buy up a selection of fantastic magazines to essentially read the same story. Each article would cover the latest adventure but maybe they'd feature a different band member or someone on the inside who had something unique to reveal. That's a bit like reading about the life of Jesus from the perspective of the different Gospel authors.
I noted here in Mark, that we're given more of a glimpse of the dialogue between Jesus and the disciples when they are faced with a crowd of 5000 hungry men. I've heard people try and pass off this story as something not to be taken literally. Suggesting that the real number would be far less. I noted that Jesus directs the disciples to seat the people in groups of either 100 or 50.
39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
This is notable because it provides us with clarity that the people gathered were hundreds and hundreds and that literally translates to thousands. I remember reading a note by MacArthur on this who makes the point that the text is accounting for the number of 'men' only and that the implication is that if women and children were counted alongside the men, the crowd could have been much larger.
Let's jump into the commentaries on this chapter.
Enduring Word Commentary
At the beginning of this commentary there is a snippet relaying a kind of ancient joke. The fact that Jesus was a carpenter, wasn't considered a selling point. It's highlighting that it wasn't thought acceptable for people to flock to a common labourer for answers to life's biggest questions.
i. Throughout the centuries, some people have thought that Jesus’ employment as a carpenter somehow discredited His message. In ancient Rome, there was a terrible persecution under the Emperor Julian. At that time, a philosopher mocked a Christian, asking him “What do you think the carpenter’s son is doing now?” The Christian wisely answered, “He is building a coffin for Julian.”
Later in the commentary, they clarity that the term 'carpenter' was used more broadly than it is today. It wasn't limited to an artisan who worked only with wood but also could include builders generally. For example, Jesus could have worked with stone. I didn't know that!
Here's the link for a wealth of further information:
https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/mark-6/
Blue Letter Commentary
A striking element from this chapter is the story of Jesus' own people denying Him. I've heard it said that Jesus couldn't do miracles in Nazareth in a way that implies he did not have the power. I think this is a strange way of reading the situation and was happy to find clarity in this commentary. It wasn't that Jesus was powerless to perform miracles in His hometown, he did in fact perform a few. It was rather that he was denied the opportunity to perform miracles. They didn't believe He could and therefore lacked the necessary faith to ask him.
4. He marvelled because of their unbelief, v. 6. We never find Christ wondering but at the faith of the Gentiles that were strangers, as the centurion (Mt. 8:10), and the woman of Samaria, and at the unbelief of Jews that were his own countrymen. Note, The unbelief of those that enjoy the means of grace, is a most amazing thing.
Take a look at the commentary for a fuller explanation and loads of other useful context and clarity.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Mar/Mar_006.cfm
Bible Hub Commentary
I've mentioned how much I value this particular commentary site before. I really like considering the origin Greek and Hebrew text because it can illuminate the meaning. The snippet I've selected provides us with clarity on how the disciples were commanding to equip themselves as they set out to minister on behalf of Jesus. They are asked to go with nothing of value, placing their faith in God to provide for them. I wondered when reading the passage, what exactly a 'scrip' may be. I found the answer here alongside other useful information.
Those who had a staff might use it; those who had not one were not to trouble themselves to procure one. The scrip (πήρα) was the wallet for food. They were to take no money in their purse (μὴ εἰς τὴν ζώνην χαλκόν); literally, brass in their girdle. St. Mark, writing for Romans, uses this word for money. St. Luke, writing for Greeks, uses the term (ἀργύριον) "silver." St. Matthew (Matthew 10:9) says, "provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass."
This commentary provides a lot of extra historical information that I found fascinating, such as other ancient writers outside of the Bible mentioning John the Baptist.
Verse 17. - In prison. Josephus ('Antiq.,' 18:5, 2) informs us that this prison was the fort of Machaerus, on the confines of Galilee and Arabia, and that there John was beheaded. Herod's father had built a magnificent palace within that fort; and so he may have been keeping the anniversary of his birthday there
If you find extra context helps you to form a better picture in your head, I fully recommend reading this commentary.
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/mark/6.htm
I'll leave it there for today but please feel free to post a comment and ask questions if there is anything you would like more information on. I don't always know the answer off the top of my head but generally enjoy and have the time to go hunting through respected commentary for answers.
I have to say, I'm personally getting so much from reading and sharing Mark's Gospel. There's something about setting out to share a message that really gets you to think about it. My aim is first to share and second to inspire people to read and understand. Salvation is the first step, I mean we are given faith as a gift from God but following Jesus is not a passive act. I don't want to trip over any theology here, there's a sense that even our ability to follow is a gracious gift from God. We do however play a part and everyday as believer's we have opportunities to make decisions. Every day becomes an opportunity to Repent and do better as God's representatives on Earth. I see it personally, that we have a King in Heaven and we have sworn allegiance to that King and we are called to serve. We're given by grace, bit by bit the armour and the tools but it's down to us to seek guidance daily on how to use them. We're called to report in for direction and guidance. It's not a passive relationship, we're called to participate. We have two key points of access to God. We have the Bible for His written Word and we have access to prayer, enabled because of our relationship with Jesus Christ, Our Saviour.
One thing that jumps out really loudly for me, is that the only way we can possibly know the will of God is by hearing what God said. The Bible is a book that explains the will of God, it is the definitive answer to the question... What did God say! My mission is motivated by trying to share the importance of that fact, to encourage people to hear what God said, first hand. Pick up a Bible and read it. It's tough at first, you find you have more questions than answers but gradually the more you read, the more you hear and understand. It's ongoing, you could literally spend every moment of the rest of your life reading and I promise you every day, you'll hear and understand more. Combine your reading with constant prayers for help to understand and guidance on how to apply what you're learning and you really hit the jackpot. A bit like winning the Salvation jackpot. There is an end game and that is an eternity with God where there will be no more mystery but here on earth there is an opportunity to find heaven on earth. That state of being is finding and walking the narrow path... Not passively but actively! Feeling God with you every day because you are reaching for God to be with you every day. Striving for the richness of God's grace and mercy in our lives. That's the heaven on earth that my mission is dedicated to promoting. I'm not very good at it but that's what I hope to get better at. My prayer for anybody who may read this is that they read the Bible more and speak to God more... It's my prayer for me too.