Verses 1 - 5
This is an interesting section of Mark.  In here we see Jesus has returned to His home town, He is teaching in the synagogue and the people are astonished by what he is saying and doing amoung them and yet they can not get past the fact that he grew up with them.  They figured that the Christ or a prophet should not grow up as other people had, but somehow be different, maybe just appearing as an adult and working from there.  They really had a problem with the fact that he came from an earthly family that they knew, infact His brothers and sisters still lived with them.  They were actually offended by Him and as such he could do nothing more amoung them.

Verses 7 - 12
Christ then gathered His desciples and sent them forth into the land to teach.  It is interesting what He said to them however, as this is how we as desciples should also act.  He told them not to take anything along with them, to just go.  They were supposed to go into a town and abide with someone.  While in that town they were to stay with that same person.  Everything that they needed would be met during their travels.  This is a picture of what our lives are to be like, in that we are not to worry about what we have or have not.  We are to go forth where he calls us to minister and "He will take care of the rest" as the old Keith Green song states. 

Verses 13 - 29
In this passes is shows that Herod was worried that Jesus was some how John the Baptist raised from the dead.  It also shows how and why Herod had killed John.  Obviously Herod was very guilty over what he had done and probably had a tinge in him that stated that God would probably hold him accountable for this, which of course is true.

Versus 30 - 44
This is a famous passege about the feeding of the five thousand.  It is significant to note that Jesus was teaching His desciples during this miracle probably more than the people.  He was asking His desciples what they had.  They did not get it really, even through they were following Jesus they really did not know who He was.  During this He showed that you need to be faithful with whatever you have, no matter how little or how much as God can make it do for His will.  From 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish 5000 people ate their fill and they still had 12 baskets full of food at the end.  I think the fact that they had 12 baskets full is also significant in that there were 12 desciples.  I think this might show in a small way how God will bless you if you are faithful, not always with money but He will bless you.

Versus 45 - 53
It is interesting that the desciples still did not understand from the last miricle who Jesus was.  Imediatly after that miricle Jesus performs yet another to show that He was God.  He sent his desciples away in the boat to the other side and waited on this side to pray.  When the desciples were in the middle of the sea a storm came up and the boat was being bounced around.  Jesus proceeds to walk on the water and overtakes them.  They are afraid but He calms them down.  He walked on water to them, how could they not know He was different now?

Versus 54 - 56
Jesus was known by the people, His fame grew.  They did not necessarily know who he was (the Christ) but they knew that he would heal the sick, so everywhere that He went they brought the sick to Him.  And He healed many of them.

It is interesting to see how Jesus taught His desciples.  He spent a lot of time showing them who He was, proving who He was and teaching what this all ment.  As you read about His desciples and the teaching that they recieved it is comforting to see that even while He was with them doing all of these miracles they still did not get it.  It is not until he raises from the dead that they start to understand who He is.  This is comforting to me since I continue to have such a hard time trusting Him in ALL THINGS.  I have given my life to Him and trust Him as my savior and know who He is, however, during good times and normal circumstances of life when I think I am on top of my game I don't do the things that I should or keep my eye on Him at all times.  I blow it, and stuggle.  I always come back and He always takes me back but, I wish I could live the way that I am supposed to live all the time.  It is comforting to know that the desciples who were with Him were no better than I.

Thank you Lord Jesus for being there for all of us and for always taking us back when we forget to follow you and blow it!  You are full of Grace for all of us, thank you.