Mark 6 - Seeing Jesus

The sixth chapter of Mark centers around how we see Jesus. His reputation had spread at this point in his ministry, and people were talking about him. Some said he was a prophet, some said Elijah, some said John the Baptist come back from the dead (verses 14-15). How we see Jesus is important because it determines how we respond to him. How we relate to Jesus is the most important question of our lives. Our future, both in this life and the one to come, is determined by this question: Who is Jesus?

In a series of stories, we see how Jesus was received from a variety of perspectives. The first story in the chapter has Jesus returning to his hometown of Nazareth. The people are amazed at the change in him since he left. He is preaching with power and performing miracles. But their amazement quickly sours. They know Jesus’s family, his mother and brothers and sisters. He probably grew up in their synagogue. He was a carpenter here not long ago, and now he thinks he’s a prophet? The people take offense at him.

Jesus reputation was spreading. Even King Herod had taken notice. Mark tells us the story of how King Herod executed John the Baptist. He tells that Herod liked to listen to John, but he was puzzled by his words. John told him he was committing adultery and Herod was… interested. He didn’t repent, but he kept calling John back to speak with him. In the end, he has him executed to save his reputation. For Herod, John was a curiosity. Now Jesus is the next side show.

The people love Jesus. They swarm into the wilderness after him. He has compassion on them and feeds five thousand of them miraculously with only five loaves and two fish. In another gospel, we are told that at this point they want to come and make him king by force (John 6:15). The people see Jesus as someone they can use. He will be the instrument that frees them from Roman oppression. He will satisfy their stomachs. For them, Jesus is a just way to get what they want.

Even his own disciples do not understand him yet. That night Jesus walks out to them in the middle of the sea of Galilee (to escape the king-making mob). They are terrified, until he gets in the boat with them. Mark tells us, “They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves, their hearts were hardened” (Verse 52-53). Even the disciples didn’t get it. It is not until two chapters later that Peter makes his confession, “You are the messiah.”

The disciples often seem so dense, but it is important to remember that they still had a veil over their hearts. When Peter makes his confession, Jesus responds, “this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven” (Matt. 16:17). We can’t truly see Jesus as he is unless the Holy Spirit illuminates our understanding. Jesus told us, “No man can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44).

So how do you perceive Jesus? Do you find him offensive, like the people in his hometown? Or is he a curiosity? Just an interesting character, a good moral teacher, like King Herod saw? Like the crowds, is he just there to solve your problems when you need him?  Or is he the Messiah, the Son of God, as he revealed himself to his true followers? It’s the most important question.

Let’s look at the outcome of the responses of the people in this chapter. The people in his hometown were offended, and consequently they had no faith. The mighty works he did in other places were not repeated there. There were only a few healings. The people had no faith, and they missed his ministry completely.

Herod gets his chance to finally see Jesus the day he is crucified. He hopes to see a miracle but is disappointed. Jesus is silent before him. His curiosity quickly turns to ridicule. He mocks Jesus and sends him back to his trial.

The crowds are also disappointed. They chase Jesus all over the district of Galilee and eventually track him down. Jesus tells them the truth, that what they really need is spiritual bread and spiritual freedom. He explains that it can only be found through faith in him. Their hope ends in disillusionment. Many of his followers abandon him that day (John 6:66).

His disciples who stay get to see him as he truly is. “The lamb of God takes away the sin of the word (John 1:29). The King of Glory (Psalm 24:9). The Creator who stepped into his creation to redeem it (John 1:3). They receive the Holy Spirit and are entrusted with the gospel message. They are adopted into God’s family (Eph. 1:5). We need the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to us. We need him to transform our minds and make Jesus known to our hearts. I pray that he would reveal Jesus to you in a new deeper way today.

At one point in this chapter, Jesus invites the disciples to come away with him. They had just come back from a missionary trip and there was so much going on they couldn’t even eat. Jesus makes this invitation to them: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” This is the only way to really get to know him. If you want to see him correctly, you must draw close to him. If you want to relate to him properly, you must be in a relationship with him. That invitation still stands. Come away with him. Spend some time with him in a quiet place. Let him refresh your soul.