Recount of the Murder of John the Baptist

Mark 6:17–29

3 bFor Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 Because John had said to him, c“It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, dbecause they counted him as a prophet.

6 But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. 7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

8 So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.”

9 And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. 10 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

Jesus Feeds 5,000

Mark 6:31–44; Luke 9:11–17; John 6:1–13

13 eWhen Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He fwas moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 gWhen it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”

16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, hHe blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus Walks on Water

Mark 6:45–52; John 6:14–21

22 Immediately Jesus 1made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 iAnd when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. jNow when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now 2in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him kwalking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, 3“Be of good lcheer! 4It is I; do not be afraid.”

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw 5that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of mlittle faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 Then those who were in the boat 6came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly nYou are the Son of God.”

Jesus Heals Many

Mark 6:53–56

34 oWhen they had crossed over, they came 7to the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, 36 and begged Him that they might only ptouch the hem of His garment. And qas many as touched it were made perfectly well.

Debate Over Tradition

Mark 7:1–23

15 Then athe scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 b“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, c‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, d‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, e“Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”—6 then he need not honor his father 1or mother.’ Thus you have made the 2commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 fHypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 ‘These gpeople 3draw near to Me with their mouth,

And honor Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me.

9 And in vain they worship Me,

hTeaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

10 iWhen He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 jNot what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

13 But He answered and said, k“Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. lThey are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

15 mThen Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

16 So Jesus said, n“Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that owhatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But pthose things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 qFor out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”