02.03.08
Christ’s Authority to Heal (Matt 12:15-21; Mark 3:7-12)
The things Jesus said and did evoked such hostility that He left Jerusalem and returned to Galilee. Mark notes (vs. 7) that He sought a refuge from the time of conflict by withdrawing with His disciples to the lake. However, crowds of people followed them. Looking at verse 8, they came from all over, which geographically indicates that not only the nation of Israel - but all the border nations came to hear His message and seek His help.
What was Christ’s response? To teach the people, heal the sick, deliver those who were demon-possessed. In verse 9 we see it was probable that Jesus had to retreat to a boat to address the crowds because they were in a constant state of flux (some wanting to hear His words of truth and others coming for healing).
Matthew notes that this throng of people who had come from all the lands outside of Israel was a fulfillment of Isaiah 42:1-4. This prophecy portrayed a Messiah who would be empowered by Holy Spirit and would proclaim the message to Gentiles. He came to minister gently to the people, not to be quarrelsome or vengeful. He would be a catalyst for justice to triumph. It’s like Matthew, who was in the crowd listening, could not help but be awed with the realization that this One was God’s approved messiah in whom God delighted and was doing God’s work as God Himself would do it.
But there was a downside to all this. Jesus was in demand. The crowds were non stop. There were lots of reasons Jesus withdrew. And us?
Mark records several instances where Jesus set aside his work in order to spend time teaching the disciples, to pray, to escape his enemies, or simply to rest. For example:
- 1:12 — Jesus went into the wilderness alone to be tempted by Satan.
- 2:13 — Jesus went out to the seaside after the Pharisees considered him guilty of blasphemy because he claimed to forgive sins.
- 3:7 — Jesus went out to the seaside after confronting the Pharisees regarding his healing on the Sabbath.
- 3:13 — Jesus went up on the mountain and called to him those who would be his twelve disciples.
- 6:31 — Jesus took his disciples away for a time of rest.
- 6:46 — Jesus went up on a mountainside to pray.
- 7:24 — Jesus and the disciples left Galilee and went into the pagan territory of Tyre after confronting the religious leaders with their hypocrisy.
- 9:2 — Jesus took Peter, James, and John onto a high mountain to see his transfiguration.
- 14:32, 35 — Jesus went apart from his disciples to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus withdrew to replenish his relationship with God the Father through prayer, and to build strong bonds with selected followers through long talks away from normal distractions.
Do you want to be a strong disciple today? It will require time, openness to a deepening relationship, and growing ties with God’s people. Do you want to develop Christian disciples today? Jesus’ methods work best.
(from The Life Application Commentary Series copyright (C) 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 by the Livingstone Corporation. Produced with permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.)
