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1. The Gathering of the Multitudes (Mark 3:7-12)
MARK 3:7-12
7 Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples, and a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea, 8 from Jerusalem, from Idumaea, beyond the Jordan, and those from around Tyre and Sidon. A great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came to him. 9 He spoke to his disciples that a little boat should stay near him because of the crowd, so that they wouldn’t press on him. 10 For he had healed many, so that as many as had diseases pressed on him that they might touch him. 11 The unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, “You are the Son of God!” 12 He sternly warned them that they should not make him known.
Christ turned away from the superficial religious teachers, and left the fanatic hypocrites, but the great multitudes of simple people followed him in droves. They came from all directions; as far north as the mountainous region of Galilee; as far south, as from Judea, the source of legalism, and Jerusalem, the axis of the rites in the temple, and the center of the highest court of the Jews whose members began to watch the young man of Nazareth and his thronging multitudes. Individuals came from Idumea, the homeland of the family of King Herod, who was a stranger to the Jewish nation. Others came from the west, and as far as the country of international traders, to experience the power of God embodied in Jesus. People came as far east as from beyond Jordan to hear his kind words and be healed of their diseases. Great multitudes followed him from all parts of the nation, and his movement grew. Many tried to touch him, for the power of God flowed out of his body. The multitudes increased and crowded around him, so he went onboard a boat, withdrew a little from the shore, which became overcrowded with people, and began to preach to them from the boat, which was prepared for him.
Hell trembled, and quaked, because Satan was compelled to see how Christ snatched suffering and enslaved people away from his hands. The angels of Satan too had already known Christ in his nature and worshiped him fearfully confessing: “You are the Son of God.”
They did not give the reason and purpose of their knowledge, but the power of Christ threw them into the dust, and his holiness condemned their impurities. Christ prevented the hellish voices from talking, for he wanted to establish the faith of men on the love of his kindness, and not on the fear of his holiness. Hell recognized what the Pharisees did not want to believe. The evil one knew clearer and clearer the truth of Jesus, and he recruited the fanatics against him that they might destroy the Son of God in the name of religion.
PRAYER: O Lord, You are love. You healed all who came to you with longing and trust. Similarly, we resort to your generosity, and request grace from your love for our families and nation, for without you we suffer from hatred and unclean spirits. Keep us particularly from bigotry, that we may love our enemies and not refuse anyone, but serve everyone, as you bore all bitterness with your wonderful patience and forbearance. Amen.
QUESTION:
- From which regions did the multitudes come to Jesus?