Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him. (Mark 3:7-12 NIV)
Now crowds from both Jewish and Gentile (Tyre and Sidon are Gentile lands close to the sea of Galilee) people's begin to come together to follow Jesus. They had heard about all Jesus had been doing - the healings and casting out demons. But I wonder did they come just for the miracles or did they come for Jesus himself to follow him?
The gospel of Mark is so interesting as again and again it speaks of the crowds and how Jesus spoke to them but Mark doesn't seem to think the content of the sermons is as important as what he did. I love the action and pace of Mark that is urgently moving us through Jesus ministry.
I find it interesting that the demons all knew Jesus was the Son of God and yet nobody had even suspected who Jesus really was at this point. Weren't these people at least the Jews looking for their Messiah? Yet Jesus also is keeping the secret of who he is and even silencing any talk of who he is. This is another theme in Marks recording of the gospel - secrecy around Jesus identity. Yet Jesus also talks about setting a light on a stand but not until its proper time. I believe Jesus did not want people to believe he was the Son of God and Messiah based on words but based on his actions and the signs that demonstrate with proof who he is.
For Jesus of Nazareth is the one and only Christ the Son of the living God!
Amen
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