Helpfinder Sampler - Flipbook - Page 45
M AR K 6
page 901
walked around! They were overwhelmed and
totally amazed. 43 Jesus gave them strict orders
not to tell anyone what had happened, and then
he told them to give her something to eat.
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his
hometown. 2 The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard
him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he
get all this wisdom and the power to perform
such miracles?” 3 Then they scoffed, “He’s just
a carpenter, the son of Mary* and the brother of
James, Joseph,* Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply
offended and refused to believe in him.
4 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored
everywhere except in his own hometown and
among his relatives and his own family.” 5 And
because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any
miracles among them except to place his hands
on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he
was amazed at their unbelief.
6
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Disciples
Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people. 7 And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out
two by two, giving them authority to cast out
evil* spirits. 8 He told them to take nothing for
their journey except a walking stick—no food,
no traveler’s bag, no money.* 9 He allowed
them to wear sandals but not to take a change
of clothes.
10 “Wherever you go,” he said, “stay in the
same house until you leave town. 11 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 fate.”
12 So the disciples went out, telling everyone
they met to repent of their sins and turn to God.
13 And they cast out many demons and healed
many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.
The Death of John the Baptist
14 Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about
Jesus, because everyone was talking about him.
Some were saying,* “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. That is why he can do
such miracles.” 15 Others said, “He’s the prophet
Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet like
the other great prophets of the past.”
16 When Herod heard about Jesus, he said,
“John, the man I beheaded, has come back from
the dead.”
17 For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and
6:3a Some manuscripts read He’s just the son of the carpenter
and of Mary. 6:3b Most manuscripts read Joses; see Matt
13:55. 6:7 Greek unclean. 6:8 Greek no copper coins in their
money belts. 6:14 Some manuscripts read He was saying.
6:22 Some manuscripts read the daughter of Herodias herself.
imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had
been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had
married her. 18 John had been telling Herod,
“It is against God’s law for you to marry your
brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias bore a grudge
against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, 20 for
Herod respected John; and knowing that he was
a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod
was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with
John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.
21 Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s
birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading
citizens of Galilee. 22 Then his daughter, also
named Herodias,* came in and performed
a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his
guests. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king
said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.” 23 He
even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask,
up to half my kingdom!”
24 She went out and asked her mother, “What
should I ask for?”
Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John
the Baptist!”
25 So the girl hurried back to the king and told
him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right
now, on a tray!”
26 Then the king deeply regretted what he
had said; but because of the vows he had made
in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her.
27 So he immediately sent an executioner to
the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to
him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison,
28 brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the
girl, who took it to her mother. 29 When John’s
disciples heard what had happened, they came
to get his body and buried it in a tomb.
• Unity &
Teamwork
MAR K 6 :7
The disciples were sent out in pairs.
Individually they could have reached
more areas of the country, but this was
not Jesus’ plan. One advantage of
going out by twos was that they could
strengthen and encourage each other,
especially when they faced rejection. Our
strength comes from God, but he meets
many of our needs through our teamwork
with others. As you serve Jesus, don’t try
to go it alone.
