Great Multitudes Follow Jesus - Mark 3:7

Mark wrote how, “the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against” Jesus “how they might destroy him”, and in chapter three and verse seven of his book, Mark shares how, “Jesus withdrew himself … and a great multitude from Galilee followed him” where we read:

But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea:

and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,

The verse reads, “But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea:” Mark began with the words, “but Jesus” or “nevertheless, nonetheless and moreover Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “withdrew himself” which means “retired, turned aside and departed” “with his disciples” which means “alongside Jesus' students, pupils and attendants” “to the sea” which means “toward the “Sea of Galilee”. Mark shared how Jesus rather than combat the “Pharisees” simply left them and went with His “disciples” to the “Sea of Galilee”.

The verse continues, “and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,” Mark added the words, “and a great multitude” which means “and a large and massive group of people” “from Galilee” or “from the Galilee area which means circuit and was the name of a region of northern Palestine, bounded on the north by Syria, on the west by Sidon, Tyre, Ptolemais and their territories and the promontory of Carmel, on the south by Samaria and on the east by the Jordan” “followed him” which means “joined alongside, sided with, accompanied and were in the same way with Jesus”, “and from Judaea” or “the people also came from the area of Judaea which means he shall be praised and was to the southern portion of Palestine lying on this side of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, to distinguish it from Samaria, Galilee, Peraea, and Idumaea”. Mark shared how large amounts of people went after Jesus from the areas of “Galilee and Judaea”.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see Jesus' reaction to the “Pharisees” conspiring against Him. He simply “left” and took His disciples with Him to the “Sea of Galilee”. However, many people “followed” alongside them. God loves people, and rather than enter into unnecessary disputes, He wants them to come alongside Him through His Son Jesus. Those who are wise shall find where Jesus is going and “follow” Him.

Next time Mark shares how people from more places came to see Jesus, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".