The following Sabbath, He began preaching in the synagogue. Verse 2 tells us that those who heard Him were "amazed." They were amazed at His wisdom and ability to do miracles. Initially they were amazed, just like all the crowds in the other places He had been. It seems that once they thought about who He was, He lost all credit. Because He was from there and His family was there, they thought He must not be important. In fact, they were "deeply offended" and "refused to believe in Him."
Some of us who want to share the truth of Christ have a similar issue. I have felt the same way. It seems that often those closest to us regard our education and knowledge the least. It is a difficult thing to deal with and it can be very discouraging. Jesus then commented that a prophet is honored everywhere but in his hometown and among his relatives and family.
I believe Jesus came to Nazareth to help those who needed healing and needed to find the hope of the Good News just as was His reason for visiting the other places. Other places welcomed Him but His home rejected Him. Jesus came to heal but because of the lack of faith in Him, there was little He did. Remember in chapter 5, we saw Jesus say, "you're faith has healed you." Because of their lack of faith, all He could do was heal a few people. Verse 6 reads, "And He was "amazed" at their unbelief." Can we imagine how big anyone's disbelief would have to be to be "amazed" by it?
I think I would feel so sad at the state of my friends and family knowing that I had the ability to help them yet not be able to. Jesus had a tender and loving heart for all people, let alone His friends and family. It must have broken His heart to be rejected by His hometown.
Jesus moved on to more villages. At one point, He gathered His twelve disciples together and sent them out two by two with the authority to cast out evil spirits. He told them they could not take anything except a walking stick, what they wore, and sandals.
Jesus sent them on a mission just as He was on. It is interesting that after Jesus' experience with His hometown, He gave them the following instruction; (NLT) "Wherever you go," He said, "stay in the same house until you leave town. But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their own fate."
People can bring the message of Christ but it can be rejected. It seems to me that Jesus never hung around trying to convince people or persuade them for long periods of time. He would teach and leave. It was on those who heard to believe or not believe.
The disciples went out, teaching people to repent of their sin and to turn to God, healed many and cast out evil spirits.
Mark begins the next portion a little backwards in my opinion. I will go at it more from a chronological view.
Herod Antipas ruled one fourth of his father's kingdom as tetrarch. A tetrarch is a joint ruler who rules one fourth of a territory. The portion he ruled was Galilee and Perea. Herod's first wife was the daughter of an Arabian king, who he divorced to marry his second wife, Herodias. Herodias was formerly married to his half brother Phillip. Herodias was an ambitious woman and from the story here we can see she was ruthless. When Herod was planning to marry Herodias, who had divorced Phillip, John the Baptist repeatedly denounced this union because it was against the law. Herod ignored John and married her anyhow, even though he admired and listened to John a great deal. Obviously, Herodias hated John because her plans would be spoiled if John had persuaded Herod not to marry her. John's repeated rejection of Herod's marriage to Herodias set her on a path to destroy John. All she managed to do was to get John put into prison. Out of his respect for John, Herod put him in prison to appease Herodias.
Herodias' true desire was to have John killed. When Herod planned a celebration for his birthday, Herodias found the opportunity to accomplish her plan. The party was filled with the leaders and powers of Galilee. Herodias deliberately sent Salome, her daughter, to the party to dance for the guests. Salome was in her teens and a skilled and provocative dancer. Her mother's plan was for her to dance in such a way that Herod and his guests would be very well pleased. Aware of Herod's arrogance, Herodias believed Herod would reward her richly for her dance. He did offer to reward her by making an oath, before all his guests, that he would give her anything she wanted, up to half his kingdom.
Salome went to her mother and asked what she should do. Herodias' plan came into full bloom as she instructed Salome to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.
It is written that Herod was deeply troubled and he regretted his promise but did what he said he would do and John was immediately beheaded. His head was brought to them on a platter for all to see.
While studying this story, I couldn't help but wonder how many people vow or promise to do something when they are not fully aware of what that promise might lead to. This story cautions us to know all the facts before we give our word to others. Foolishly giving a promise because of something like pride or arrogance can lead into a very bad situation as did Herod's. So, what if such a promise is made? We know Herod was proud and arrogant and we can imagine he chose to not look foolish to his guests by declining his vow. If such a promise is made and if the outcome is wrong, such as Herod's, would it not be better to look foolish than to attempt to save face by going ahead with it anyhow? I think a person of honor would admit his foolishness and say no to the request.
Following the beheading of John, Herod hears about Jesus. Everyone was talking about Jesus and news about all that He had been doing reached Herod. People were saying Jesus was John the Baptist or Elijah or a great prophet. Herod said, regarding Jesus, that he was John who he beheaded back from the dead. The murder Herod committed must never have left him. Either his guilt over beheading John haunted him or maybe thinking John was back from the dead would clear his conscience. In any event, by Herod thinking this man who did such great things as Jesus was doing, was John, showed his great respect for John.
The disciples came back from the ministry tour Jesus sent them on and told Him all they had done. Because of the trip and the fact that so many people kept coming to them that they had no time to eat, Jesus decided they all should go to a quiet place and rest. They went off in the boat to find that place. As they made their trip, people recognized them and ran along the shore to get there before they landed. They landed and when Jesus stepped onto land he had compassion on them because He viewed them as sheep without a shepherd. He could have been angry. He could have said, Hey give us a break. Rather, as tired as they were, He had compassion for them. They were chasing after Him looking for someone to follow, be led and taught by. Led by His caring for people, He began teaching them.
Late in the day, the disciples came to Jesus and suggested He tell the people to leave so they could buy food. Jesus told them to feed the people. I can imagine they thought that was the craziest idea ever. The disciples replied that they had no where near enough money to feed all those people. Additionally, if they had to earn enough money to feed them, it would take months.
Jesus told them to find out how much bread they had to which they came back and said five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus instructed them to have all the people sit down in small groups which they did. The people sat in groups of fifty or one hundred.
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, blessed them, and then broke them up into small pieces to pass out to the people. Everyone ate as much as they wanted following which the disciples gathered twelve baskets of left overs. Jesus fed five thousand men AND their families. Considering that, we see that more than five thousand were fed.
Immediately, Jesus dismissed the crowds and the disciples got back into the boat and headed across the lake. Jesus stayed on shore, said goodbye to the crowd then went up into the hills alone to pray. The disciples stayed in the boat for we see them in the middle of the lake without Jesus late in the night. Around three in the morning, Jesus saw that the disciples were in trouble, rowing hard against the waves and wind. Jesus went out to them walking on the water and planned to come along side them. Some people misunderstand that this meant He was going to go past them, however, that is not what that verse means. It means He was going to pass by them or beside them. When they saw Jesus they thought He was a ghost and were terrified. Jesus told them not to be afraid and to take courage because He was with them. He climbed into the boat and immediately the wind stopped. The disciples were amazed at His power and control of nature. They had not figured out Jesus' power and His true identity during the miracle of the five loaves, so this surprised them even more.
Notice that Jesus sent them away late in the afternoon and said goodbye to the crowd. He went up in the hills to pray, so He prayed for quite a while. Next we see that late that night he was alone on shore watching the disciples. It appears that He may have watched them for some time because it wasn't until 3am the next day that He went out to them. Perhaps He waited for them to learn something or to feel the need for help. What can we take away from that? Of course I have no idea what Jesus was thinking but it gives me cause to think that at times we may be left in a struggle, although always under His watchful eye, to strain against whatever it is that is in our path until we realize we need Jesus help or until we feel we cannot overcome a situation. Then Jesus will come in and rescue us. At that point we see His power as things calm down and we rest in His peace.
Now, Jesus and the disciples crossed the lake and landed. Immediately, the crowds recognized them and the people ran all about telling people He was there. They were mobbed by people wanting to be healed. They brought people on mats and begged Him to let the sick touch the fringe of His robe. (We might imagine the story of the woman with the bleeding issue had spread.) All who touched Him were healed.
So, what was the meaning of the twelve baskets of left over bread gathered by the disciples after the feeding of the five thousand men? Many agree that the fact that Jesus fed all those people with the bread points to Him as the bread of life and pointed to Him as their provider. The fact that there was more food than was needed makes the point that while He aptly fed those who were there, He had plenty more provision for those who were yet to come. What is the point of there being twelve baskets? It is also agreed that the twelve baskets represent the twelve tribes of Israel. We can see the remnants totaling twelve baskets saying that Jesus will provide and rescue the remnants of the twelve tribes of Israel as is described in Revelations.