The Gospel of Mark: Down by the Seaside

Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, “You are the Son of God!” But he sternly ordered them not to make him known. ~ Mark 3:7-12


This is a familiar scene. We've already seen Jesus swarmed by people wanting to be healed. The image here is striking. Jesus is nearly crushed by the crowds. Nearly injured by the very people who already love and admire him. Those who already want to follow him.

And we are beginning to get an idea as to why he doesn't want anyone to know who he is. Already he's a "rock star." But how much harder would be it be to be the real work of God's kingdom done if he told everyone who he was?

Maybe that's the reason why he doesn't want people to know who he is, but maybe it isn't. Mark isn't exactly forthcoming as to why Jesus wants the spirits to keep quiet.

But while those crowding in around Jesus haven't heard what these spirits claimed, we, Mark's readers, have. We have been told again that this is God's Son.

We are in the know.

So, we have to wonder, what does Mark want US to do with that information?


Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen


Engagement Questions:


Have you ever been part of a throng of people crowding in on someone? What did it feel like? Who was that person and why were people crowding around them?


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