Mark 6

₁Jesus left and returned to his home town with his disciples. ₂The next Sabbath he taught in the Jewish meeting place. Many of the people who heard him were amazed and asked, “How can he do all this? Where did he get such wisdom and the power to perform these miracles? ₃Isn't he the carpenter, the son of Mary? Aren't James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon his brothers? Don't his sisters still live here in our town?” The people were very unhappy because of what he was doing.

₄But Jesus said, “Prophets are honoured by everyone, except the people of their home town and their relatives and their own family.” ₅Jesus could not perform any miracles there, except to heal a few sick people by placing his hands on them. ₆He was surprised that the people did not have any faith.

Jesus taught in all the neighbouring villages. ₇Then he called together his twelve apostles and sent them out two by two with power over evil spirits. ₈He told them, “You may take along a walking stick. But don't carry food or a travelling bag or any money. ₉It's all right to wear sandals, but don't take along a change of clothes. ₁₀When you are welcomed into a home, stay there until you leave that town. ₁₁If any place won't welcome you or listen to your message, leave and shake the dust from your feet as a warning to them.”

₁₂The apostles left and started telling everyone to turn to God. ₁₃They forced out many demons and healed a lot of sick people by putting olive oil on them.

₁₄Jesus became so well known that Herod the ruler heard about him. Some people thought he was John the Baptist, who had come back to life with the power to perform miracles. ₁₅Others thought he was Elijah or some other prophet who had lived long ago. ₁₆But when Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “This must be John! I had his head cut off, and now he has come back to life.”

_17-18Herod had earlier married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. But John had told him, “It isn't right for you to take your brother's wife!” So, in order to please Herodias, Herod arrested John and put him in prison.

₁₉Herodias had a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she could not do it ₂₀because Herod was afraid of John and protected him. He knew that John was a good and holy man. Even though Herod was confused by what John said, he was glad to listen to him. And he often did.

₂₁Finally, Herodias got her chance when Herod gave a great birthday celebration for himself and invited his officials, his army officers, and the leaders of Galilee. ₂₂The daughter of Herodias came in and danced for Herod and his guests. She pleased them so much that Herod said, “Ask for anything, and it's yours! ₂₃I swear that I will give you as much as half of my kingdom, if you want it.”

₂₄The girl left and asked her mother, “What do you think I should ask for?”

Her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist!”

₂₅The girl hurried back and told Herod, “Straight away on a dish I want the head of John the Baptist!”

₂₆The king was very sorry for what he had said. But he did not want to break the promise he had made in front of his guests. ₂₇At once he ordered a guard to cut off John's head there in prison. ₂₈The guard put the head on a dish and took it to the girl. Then she gave it to her mother.

₂₉When John's followers learnt that he had been killed, they took his body and put it in a tomb.

₃₀After the apostles returned to Jesus, they told him everything they had done and taught. ₃₁But so many people were coming and going that Jesus and the apostles did not even have a chance to eat. Then Jesus said, “Let's go to a place where we can be alone and get some rest.” ₃₂They left in a boat for a place where they could be alone. ₃₃But many people saw them leave and worked out where they were going. So people from every town ran on ahead and got there first.

₃₄When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd that was like sheep without a shepherd. He felt sorry for the people and started teaching them many things.

₃₅That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This place is like a desert, and it is already late. ₃₆Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the farms and villages near here and buy something to eat.”

₃₇Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.”

But they asked him, “Don't you know that it would take almost a year's wages to buy all these people something to eat?”

₃₈Then Jesus said, “How much bread do you have? Go and see!”

They found out and answered, “We have five small loaves of bread and two fish.” ₃₉Jesus told his disciples to make the people sit down on the green grass. ₄₀They sat down in groups of a hundred and groups of fifty.

₄₁Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up towards heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples to give to the people. He also divided the two fish, so that everyone could have some.

₄₂After everyone had eaten all they wanted, ₄₃Jesus' disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftover bread and fish.

₄₄There were five thousand men who ate the food.

₄₅Straight away, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and start back across to Bethsaida. But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away. ₄₆Then he said goodbye to them and went up on the side of a mountain to pray.

₄₇Later that evening he was still there by himself, and the boat was somewhere in the middle of the lake. ₄₈He could see that the disciples were struggling hard, because they were rowing against the wind. Not long before morning, Jesus came towards them. He was walking on the water and was about to pass the boat.

₄₉When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost, and they started screaming. ₅₀All of them saw him and were terrified. But at that same time he said, “Don't worry! I am Jesus. Don't be afraid.” ₅₁He then got into the boat with them, and the wind died down. The disciples were completely confused. ₅₂Their minds were closed, and they could not understand the true meaning of the loaves of bread.

₅₃Jesus and his disciples crossed the lake and brought the boat to shore near the town of Gennesaret. ₅₄As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus. ₅₅So they ran all over that part of the country to bring their sick people to him on mats. They brought them each time they heard where he was. ₅₆In every village or farm or market place where Jesus went, the people brought their sick to him. They begged him to let them just touch his clothes, and everyone who did was healed.