THESIS: The work of Christ in healing many in such a vast crowd ought to point us to the greatest of the works of Christ – Salvation to our souls!
This evening we’ll again be considering Mark 3:7-12
But Jesus withdrew with His
disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from
Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea
and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when
they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him. 9 So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept
ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him. 10 For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions
pressed about Him to touch Him. 11 And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down
before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him
known.[1]
This passage could become rather ordinary. What do we see here? A crowd of people. Jesus healing them. Mark is speaking in
generalities – let’s not get lost in them.
Sometimes we get to thinking like this.
But there is far more here, when you look closely at the text, and
consider the time, the crowd, and the places mentioned. When we consider the work of Jesus, in light
of the crowd, and in light of our own selves – 2000 years removed from the
occasion – we will see once again, that we have a faithful compassionate and
considerate heavenly Father.
Let’s set the stage – what do we really have here? Jesus withdrew to the sea. This is probably the Sea of Galilee. The sea provides a natural barrier against
which large crowds could not cross, literally ‘crowd control’. I avoid crowded places. I especially avoid large crowds. Crowds can be dangerous. I don’t have to tell you that – we hear the
news. Terrorists look for crowded places
to make their mark, because people are constricted. Jesus had the disciples get a boat ready –
because of the crowd.
And who were the people of this great crowd? Scripture records a much more diverse group
here than we have observed so far in Mark.
Remember the crowd that gathered in Peters’ home that Sabbath when
Peters’ Mother-in-law was healed? Right
after sundown they converged on Peters’ home because of the incident in the
synagogue. And of course the time when
the paralytic and his friends tore the roof open at Peters home to get to Him.
Or especially the crowd we read about in Mark 1:29 – 39 where we considered the
land of Galilee and how dark a place it was. But the crowd in today’s passage
was much larger and far more diverse.
Consider the places mentioned:
v
Galilee
v
Judea (Jerusalem) - 80 miles south of Capernaum
v
Idumea – This is the area south of Judea,
extending as far south as Gaza
§
This is up to 145 miles from Capernaum (aka Edom
– Esau)
v
Beyond the Jordan - This would be east of the
Jordan – Perea (the area vacated by Edom) & Decapolis.
v
Tyre & Sidon – North of Capernaum as far as
50 miles
The
area this crowd was coming from was a range as far as 175 miles round! What this tells us is not that people
traveled that far to see him but the word traveled out so far! The furthest people may have traveled was
from Idumea and those traveled as much as 145 miles. But remember this travel was not in the
comfort and speed of a car, but on a horse, camel, or for many, on foot. Are you ready to travel 100 miles on foot to
see a faith healer?
And
what about those people? They weren’t
necessarily the young and healthy now, were they? These were the blind, the lame, the sick, the
demon possessed – and their families who traveled because they had heard of a
man who could help them. How fast do you
think such people traveled? Do you think
it was an easy trip?!
About
30 years ago my Mom heard about this faith healer who was apparently in
town. My Mom was a Nurse. Since she was
working on the evening of this event she enlisted me, and my 2 sisters to bring
my brother Scott – who was diabetic – to the healer. I don’t remember all the particulars, but we
kids weren’t all that convinced. In any
event, who were we to stand in Scott’s way?
He needed help – maybe this guy could help?
So
we sat down in the far back of this large room.
At some point the invitation was made and we pushed Scott down the
aisle. After a bit of yelling and other
hocus pocus, they pushed him backwards into someone who caught him and sent him
back to us. His face was literally
bright red. So on the car ride home, I
asked him, “So, are you gonna take your insulin tonight?” We knew this was a farce. But we went – just in case it wasn’t. When people are hurting they often do the
ridiculous. Americans spend money on
meds and health pills by the millions annually.
The woman who had an issue of blood (Mark 5) spent all that she had for
12 years and was no better.
This
crowd had heard that there was a gentle healer in the area and they came in
droves! So many that Christ had to have
a small boat nearby so that he could still minister to them. I’m not sure I’d be so patient. The crowds pressed in to touch him. The woman with the issue of blood thought
just that! If I but touch the hem of his
clothing I will be healed. This was the
crowd who traveled on foot, though sick for many miles to be healed. And Christ healed many the Scripture says. The Greek word is πολύς and it isn’t a
mystery. It means numerous, populous, much, abundantly, freely.
Do you see the compassion of our
God? How willing he was to spend
himself and be spent upon the people!
How long would you put up with such a large imperious crowd? I doubt for very long. Yet this was Christ’s reason for coming! And He desired to do it! Think about how long the crowds hung
around. To the point of not bringing
enough food and fainting in the way. The
disciples, patient perhaps for a while could not put up with them for so
long. Remember the request they made to
Christ that he send the crowds away to get food for the day was spent? Yet the ministry was not done for the
day… And remember the circumstance of
the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus
sat on the well, and sent the disciples to get food – he was tired and
hungry. But when they returned, they saw
him back at it – ministering to her.
When they pressed him to eat we read, “But
He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” 33 Therefore
the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” 34 Jesus
said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His
work.
35 Do you not say, ‘There
are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift
up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest![2]
If it was Jesus plan to do the
will of the Father, what is that will?
When I was researching the passage I of course thought of Isa. 61:1-2, a
passage which I have cited numerous times – the same passage which Christ cited
in the synagogue in Nazareth as having been fulfilled in their very hearing! In
the parallel passage, Matthew cites Isa. 42:1-4 as being fulfilled in this
account. It is a familiar passage, but
I’d like to read it.
Isaiah prophesies of the Lord
Jesus that he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. Recall the list of places all the people came
from – Beginning with Galilee – Galilee of the gentiles. Idumea – AKA Edom or Esau. In my Bible, one
map shows that Edom originally settled east of the Jordan, and another map
referencing the time of Christ show Edom south of Judea. Beyond the Jordan – Perea & Decapolis.
Perea represented places almost entirely composed of Jewish people, while
Decapolis was primarily of Gentile people.
Tyre & Sidon were Phoenician historically and therefore primarily
Gentile. Matthew tells us that Isaiah’s
prophecy here is being fulfilled.
Consider the prophecy if you will
for a moment. Matthew 12:18a seems to
foreshadow his baptism. 18b speaks to
the fact that Christ is not the Christ of the Jews only – a point I made
repeatedly in an earlier message. Verse
19 references the manner that Christ will be in his 1st coming –
gentle – not railing. Verse 20a expands
on this considerably. Verse 20b and 21 speak
to the aspect of justice and to the Gentiles.
This
is the 1st time Isaiah uses the phrase ‘My Servant’ in reference to
the Lord Jesus. You may recall that in
Isaiah 52:13 Isaiah also uses the phrase in the same way as he introduces the
key essential ministry of Messiah. Keep
that in your thoughts as I begin to catalog for you a few of the Lord’s healing
activities.
·
The woman with the issue of blood. (Mark 5:25-34) 32And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But
the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and
fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He
said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be
healed of your affliction.”[3]
·
The Syro-Phoenecian woman - (Matthew 15:21-28) 21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of
Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that
region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” 23 But He answered
her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away,
for she cries out after us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I
was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 Then
she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 But He
answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to
the little dogs.” 27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the
little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then
Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you
as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.[4]
·
The Paralytic let down through the roof (Mark 2)
5When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the
paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”…10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth
to forgive sins” – He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your
house.” 12 Immediately he arose,
took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all.[5]
·
The Centurion’s servant (Luke 7:1-10) 9When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned
around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found
such great faith, not even in Israel!”[6]
Contrast
those 4 accounts with this verse, “And he did
not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:58)
Why
did Jesus heal people? Recall the passage in Isaiah 61:1-2, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has
anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the
brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the
prison to those who are bound; 2To
proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord”[7] Recall for a moment the response Christ gave
to the disciples of John as he languished in jail - “Jesus answered and said
to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind
see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are
raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Luke 7:22)
What do we see in each of the various healings cited? We see faith exercised. Faith is defined in Hebrew 11:1 Now faith is
the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [8]
And in Nazareth he did not do many mighty works because of their unbelief. Their lack of faith
is what kept them from experiencing the blessing of the Messiah.
But these healings? Are they really the point? Why did Christ pour himself out on such an
unruly crowd? And think about it – when
the blind was given sight how did that help him? Or the lame walk? Even the dead raised? Wasn’t it the fact that all these eventually
died again? Yet the Messiah did come
with healing in his wings as it were.
Remember the phrase ‘My Servant’ in Isaiah? Chapter 52:13 through 53 depicts our Saviors
work on the cross to cure our true malady – Sin.
Physical healing was truly only a pointer that something is
wrong. But to heal a man’s blinded eyes
and do no more will not help that man.
Remember that Isa 61 and 42 both reference something greater that the
miraculous healings – the poor have the
gospel preached to them. What is
that gospel? – the suffering death of the Saviour in our place on the
tree!
The fact that we have illness and troubles really only help
to point us to the greater problem of our Spiritual deadness because of Adam’s
sin. One could actually say that these
physical troubles are the symptoms of a far more pervasive dilemma which is our
standing before a holy & righteous God after we die.
Yet Jesus willingly spent himself on helping men and women
with many symptoms so that they might hear him and trust in Him and His work on
the cross for our sake!
Blessed are the poor in spirit – for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 5:3)
Are you poor in spirit? What does that mean? In all the
cases where Christ healed – it was said of them, that their faith has made them
whole. Faith is defined as the substance
of things hoped for. Substance
references something weighty. The Greek
word is ὑπόστασις – which is translated confidence most of the time. It can also mean to stand. When we trust in Christ we stand upon the
finished work on the Cross. Our
confidence is in his perfect sinless life, and his satisfactory death to pay
for our sin debt and atone us to God.
Before I complete this message there is one more portion we
have not really addressed. That is
verses 11 – 12, “And the unclean spirits, whenever they
saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But He sternly warned them that they should not make
Him known.”[9]
Again we have the demonic set before us. How does their presence fit and what are we
to make of their statements and Christs rebuke?
I would direct you once again to Isaiah 61:1 and the phrase
‘liberty to the captives’ As Luke quotes it, “to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” Demon
possession – or oppression is nothing good.
And it is a real problem these days as it was in those days. But Christ set us free of the bondage of sin
– giving Satan no foothold in our lives.
As for the declaration, ‘You are the Son of God’ This is nothing more
than a kind of political speech. Our
Lord Jesus will indeed come again with recompense for his agenda – but his
first coming was not to take vengeance – but to heal the sin-sick soul. Christ did not need the declaration of demons
to further his work. They furthered it
only insofar as they came out of men and women shrieking in agony. Indeed he is the very Son of God. But his actions speak very much louder than
their words!
When I began to study
for this message I read two of Spurgeons’ messages on the passage. And though they were preached about 15 years
apart both seemed to be evangelistically oriented. At the time, I really did not see the need to
focus the message evangelistically. But
we have the children among us today, and for the summer. We have the poor among us. Indeed we are the very poor in spirit.
Jeremiah says,
Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there
no physician there? Why then is there no
recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?[10]
The old spiritual replies:
There
is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;
There
is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.
Brothers & Sisters, are you truly trusting in Jesus and
him alone for your confidence before the Father? Do you think you can stand apart from
Him? People of faith are not those who
build up a faith all their own. It is a
gift of God – lest anyone boast. People
of faith are those who trusting in the very goodness of the Lord say – If I but
touch the hem of his clothing I shall be healed. Our Lord Jesus is now in heaven. We cannot even see the hem of his clothing
let alone touch it.
Yet I tell you in all confidence that He hears you and heals
today just as he did on that seaside beach with all the clambering crowd. And you do not have to fight the crowd - you
call upon the Lord – and be saved!
