Thirdmill Study Bible

Notes on Mark 6:1-13

Rejection in Nazareth. - Mark 6:1-6

Jesus was rejected in his home town of Nazareth.

Jesus' hometown - Mark 6:1

Jesus' hometown of Nazareth was about 25 miles from Capernaum in the hill country of Galilee. It is not stated explicitly in the text, but perhaps his family out of concern for him had asked him to come home (3:21, 31, 32).

They had heard of his powerful miracles. - Mark 6:2

That Jesus was teaching in the synagogue indicates that he was already recognized as worthy of that honor. The people were amazed by the wisdom of his teaching and by the reports they had heard of his powerful miracles. They had known him and his family while he was growing up and had never thought that he would have this kind of wisdom and power.

Carpenter - Mark 6:3

The word carpenter refers to a craftsman or builder who may have worked not only with wood, but also with stone. They referred to him as Mary's son. This may simply indicate that his father Joseph had already died. Joseph is not mentioned anywhere in Mark's gospel. On the other hand, it may be an example of the local gossip about Jesus' reported illegitimate birth. The people's astonishment was mixed with unbelief. Rather than being proud of one of their own, they were offended that he seemed to be so much more than they had thought when he was younger.

Proverbial saying - Mark 6:4

Jesus quoted what seems to have been a well-known proverbial saying.

His messiahship would not allow it. - Mark 6:5

Why was Jesus unable to perform many miracles there? It was not because he lacked the power. It was because he was a suffering Messiah who was headed toward the cross. To display messianic power to those who refused to believe would be to throw your pearls to pigs (Matt. 7:6). It wasn't that Jesus didn't have the power to do miracles there. It was that the character of his messiahship would not allow it in the face of such blatant unbelief.

The people had been amazed - Mark 6:6

In verse 2 the people had been amazed. Then in verse 6 Jesus became amazed at their unbelief. Mark continues throughout these chapters to stress this kind of a reaction to Jesus and his ministry.

Jesus and the Twelve - Mark 6:7-13

This major section of the Gospel opened in 3:7-19 with Jesus calling the twelve. It concludes here with Jesus sending out the twelve. Jesus was extending his ministry through them. He had called them to be with him (3:14) so they could learn from him. Then he sent them out like he would send them out after his resurrection.

Instructions to his disciples- Mark 6:8-9

There have been many different attempts to explain the differences between the three reports of Jesus' instructions to his disciples in Matt 10:9, 10; Mark 6:8, 9; and Luke 10:4. No explanation that has been suggested is fully satisfactory. Most likely is the view that Jesus encouraged the disciples to wear the tunic and sandals they had on, carry the staff they already had, but to take no extras or other supplies. Instead they were to trust God and God's people for provision. The instructions, with the absence of commands to prepare for the trip, stress the urgency of their mission to proclaim the gospel and their true need to depend completely on God for their needs.