Mark 3:7-12

9. THE FAME OF JESUS 3:7-12

TEXT 3:7-12

And Jesus with his disciples withdrew to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed: and from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and beyond Jordan, and about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came unto him. And he spake to his disciples, that a little boat should wait on him because of the crowd, lest they should throng him: for he had healed many; insomuch that as many as had plagues pressed upon him that they might touch him. And the unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. And he charged them much that they should not make him known.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 3:7-12

114.

Did the opposition of the Pharisees prompt the move to the beach of Galilee?

115.

Where was Idumaea? What is meant by beyond the Jordan?

116.

What number is estimated in the expression a great multitude?

117.

Why were the crowds so interested?

118.

What was Jesus going to do with the little boat?

119.

What was physically wrong with the persons with plagues?

120.

Did Jesus have any failures in healing? Specify.

121.

Why the testimony of the demons?

122.

Why so urgently caution the demons?

COMMENT 3:7-12

TIMEMidsummerA.D. 28.
PLACEThe beach of the sea of Galilee, not far from Capernaum.

PARALLEL ACCOUNTSMatthew 12:15-21.

OUTLINE1. Jesus withdraws to the Sea, Mark 3:7. Mark 3:2. A multitude follows, Mark 3:8. Mark 3:3. The little boat requested, Mark 3:9. Mark 3:4. Healing and casting out demons, Mark 3:10-11.

ANALYSIS

I.

JESUS WITHDRAWS TO THE SEA. Mark 3:7.

1.

His disciples are with Him.

2.

He is accompanied by a great multitude.

II.

A MULTITUDE FOLLOWS. Mark 3:8.

1.

From Jerusalem and Judea.

2.

From Idumaea and beyond Jordan.

3.

From round about Tyre and Sidon.

III.

A LITTLE BOAT REQUESTED. Mark 3:9.

1.

Asked disciples for the boat.

2.

Feared lest He be thronged.

IV.

HEALING AND CASTING OUT DEMONS. Mark 3:10-12.

1.

So many were healed others pressed toward Him for just a touch.

2.

Unclean spirits cast out and caused to acknowledge His divinity.

3.

Jesus wanted no testimony from an evil sourceand most especially when it was given before He wanted it known.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

I.

JESUS WITHDRAWS TO THE SEA. Mark 3:7.

But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea. His hour was not yet come; so He went with His disciples to the borders of the lake of Galilee, where, if pursued, He could the more easily take ship, and escape to some other part, out of the reach of His persecutors.

II.

A MULTITUDE FOLLOWS, Mark 3:8.

And a great multitude from Galilee followed him, We should put a full stop after followed him, and read the two verses thus: And a great multitude from Galilee followed him, And a great multitude from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan, and about Tyre and Sidon, hearing what great things He did, came unto Him. The multitude from the neighboring Galilee, in which He had been preaching and healing, followed Him; the multitude from Judea, and Jerusalem, and from all the regions bordering on the Holy Land, attracted by the fame of His miracles, came to Him. Notice how, though He is rejected by the leaders both in Church and State, the people from all parts seem to accept Him. I say seem, for the Evangelist is careful to inform us that they were attracted, not by His preaching, but by His miracles.

Let the reader notice how here, as before, this Evangelist loves to dwell upon the widespread popularity of the Lord.

III.

A LITTLE BOAT REQUESTED. Mark 3:9.

And he spake to the disciples, that a small ship should wait on him, The word wait does not give the full meaning of the original, which is the same word as that used in the Apostolic precept, continue instant in prayer, of Romans 12:12. It means that the ship should be always at His beck and call, so that, by escaping the pressure of the multitude, He should not be unduly hindered in the exercise of His ministry.

IV.

HEALING AND CASTING OUT DEMONS. Mark 3:10-12.

For he had healed many: insomuch that they pressed upon him, Pressed upon him should rather be rendered fell upon him, as if there was a rush towards Him of all who had plaguesplagues (literally scourges) describing the painfulness and distress of disease, as if it were a scourging inflicted on man as a punishment for his sin.

To touch him. It was the Lord's will most frequently to heal men by contact with His body. He makes communication with His body the means by which virtue flows from Himself to those whom He wills to benefit. The reader will understand.

And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him. The uniformity of action on the part of all evil spirits in the presence of the Lord, in that they should fall down and confess Him, is exceedingly remarkable (Matthew 8:29; Mark 1:23-24). These fallen beings seem to be under a law that they should thus acknowledge the Son of God. I cannot think that this is to be explained, as so many attempt to do, on the ground of diabolical cunning. It seems as if they were compelled to fall down, and confess their Maker, even though they had made it the one object of their existence to oppose and thwart Him.

And he Straitly charged them that they should not make him known. On this Bede remarks, A sinner is forbidden to preach the Lord, lest any one listening to his preaching should follow him in his error, for the devil is an evil master, who always mingles false things with true, that the semblance of truth may cover the witness of fraud. But not only devils, but persons healed by Christ and even Apostles (Mark 8:9) are ordered to be silent concerning Him before the Passion, lest by the preaching of the majesty of His Divinity, the economy of His Passion should be retarded. (M. F. Sadler)

FACT QUESTIONS 3:7-12

146.

Why did Jesus withdraw to the borders of the lake of Galilee?

147.

Who followed Jesus and who came to Him?

148.

What is meant by the word wait in reference to the boat?

149.

What would be a better translation of pressed upon him?

150.

Why did the sick want to touch him?

151

.Why did the demons seem compelled to fall down before Jesus?

152.

If demons told the truth why not accept it?