Mark 3: 7-12

Pastor Kurt Gebhards continued his sermon series on The Gospel of Mark this week and I'm splitting my notes over the next 4 posts.

Mark 3:7-12 7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. 8 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. 9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. 10 For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. 11 Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

This large crowd probably consisted of thousands of people! They would have been pushing and shoving to get right up in His face because they were desperate to be healed. And these were all kinds of people: Jews from Judea and Jerusalem, mixed races from Idumea and even pagans. People had heard of Jesus’ miracles and healings and they wanted help too.

Some of the people who came had unclean spirits in them and they fell down before Him. What’s so astounding about the demons is, every time they talk to Jesus they tell the truth. They believe, but they don’t worship. They do tremble because of the judgment that is due them.

The demonized people falling down and crying out in loud voices would have added greatly to the mayhem.

In spite of the chaotic scene, Jesus never lost His patience. He never rebuked them for coming to Him. He suggested the boat to create a little space so that He could give them what they needed even more than physical healing: spiritual healing. He wanted to teach them.

Many of us have to be desperate to come to Christ. To literally have nowhere else to turn. And God will use the broken.

2 Corinthians 4:7 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

We are the jars of clay and the treasure is knowing Christ. Our lives are frail. We need Christ. We are mere vessels that allow His works and message to pour through us. All the surpassing power of our lives is attributed to God.

But 2nd Corinthians goes on to say in verses 8 – 10, 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Christianity is always dying daily so that Christ can fill us with His life. So that His life is manifested in our bodies.

Everyday we should ask Jesus, “How can I draw near to you so you can teach me Your precepts?” Desperation strips us of pride. And that’s a good thing!