People Flocked to Jesus and were Taught by Him: After the cure of the paralytic in the house he was teaching and before the call of Levi, when Jesus went out to the lake-side all the crowd came there and he taught them (See Mark,2: 13). This instance shows us that there was no special place for Jesus to teach and preach as anywhere the people gathered was good enough for him. After curing the man with the withered arm. as the Pharisees and the Herodians were plotting to do away with him, "Jesus went away to the lake-side with his disciples" (Mark, 3: 7). On hearing what Jesus had done a lot of people from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, Transjordan, and the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon came to see him. Since the sick people of all kinds wanted to touch him, in order to save himself from being crushed by the people, Jesus told his disciples to keep a boat ready for him. Jesus was all for teaching and curing the people of their infirmities and therefore did not avoid them, but only took precaution to be safe from the danger of their over-enthusiasm. For to be cured of any malady, faith in the power of Jesus was enough and yet people wanted to touch him. Those possessed of unclean spirits were told not to reveal his true identity as it would have turned out to be a hindrance in fulfilling his mission (See Mark, 3: 8-12).
In the Midst of People: Jesus went up the hill-country and chose from his disciples whom he wanted after spending a night in prayer according to the Gospel of Luke (See Luke, 6: 12) that adds the detail that they were called Apostles. In the Gospel of Mark we see the role of the Apostles to be his companions, to be sent out to proclaim the Gospel with a specific commission to drive out devils (See Mark 3: 14-15). Jesus came down the hill with the newly appointed Apostles and entered a house. The crowd that milled around them was so huge that they did not have a chance even to have food. Jesus was acting in the full power of the Holy Spirit that the routine activities like eating and drinking were less important to him. Because of this unusual behavior, the people started saying that he was out of his mind. Having heard this kind of opinion from the people, his family thought of taking charge of him. However, Jesus started teaching the people the difference between the Holy Spirit and the evil spirit Jesus was engrossed in teaching the people that when word was brought to him that his mother and brothers were waiting for him, he said: "Whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, my mother" (Mark, 3: 35). It is evident that Jesus is here speaking of spiritual relationships beyond any consideration of other kinds of relationships. The detachment required for true attachment is seen in these words of Jesus just like when he asked his mother at the age of twelve in the Jerusalem Temple, "What made you search for me?" (Luke, 2: 49).
From the Boat: On another occasion Jesus began to teach at the lake-side when the crowd swelled out of all expectations and he had to get into a boat and teach them there. The many parables about the Kingdom of God were taught on that occasion (See our previous Posts for those parables). Afterwards Jesus and the disciples crossed the lake of Galilee over to the country of the Gerasenes where he cured the man possessed of the Legion. On his return back to the shore, a great crowd gathered around him again. When Jesus was by the lake-side, Jairus, the president of one of the Synagogues came to him and threw himself down at his feet. Jairus wanted his daughter who was at death's door to be cured by the laying on of the hands of Jesus on her. "So Jesus went with him, accompanied by a great crowd which pressed upon him" (Mark, 5: 24).(To be Contd).
In the Midst of People: Jesus went up the hill-country and chose from his disciples whom he wanted after spending a night in prayer according to the Gospel of Luke (See Luke, 6: 12) that adds the detail that they were called Apostles. In the Gospel of Mark we see the role of the Apostles to be his companions, to be sent out to proclaim the Gospel with a specific commission to drive out devils (See Mark 3: 14-15). Jesus came down the hill with the newly appointed Apostles and entered a house. The crowd that milled around them was so huge that they did not have a chance even to have food. Jesus was acting in the full power of the Holy Spirit that the routine activities like eating and drinking were less important to him. Because of this unusual behavior, the people started saying that he was out of his mind. Having heard this kind of opinion from the people, his family thought of taking charge of him. However, Jesus started teaching the people the difference between the Holy Spirit and the evil spirit Jesus was engrossed in teaching the people that when word was brought to him that his mother and brothers were waiting for him, he said: "Whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, my mother" (Mark, 3: 35). It is evident that Jesus is here speaking of spiritual relationships beyond any consideration of other kinds of relationships. The detachment required for true attachment is seen in these words of Jesus just like when he asked his mother at the age of twelve in the Jerusalem Temple, "What made you search for me?" (Luke, 2: 49).
From the Boat: On another occasion Jesus began to teach at the lake-side when the crowd swelled out of all expectations and he had to get into a boat and teach them there. The many parables about the Kingdom of God were taught on that occasion (See our previous Posts for those parables). Afterwards Jesus and the disciples crossed the lake of Galilee over to the country of the Gerasenes where he cured the man possessed of the Legion. On his return back to the shore, a great crowd gathered around him again. When Jesus was by the lake-side, Jairus, the president of one of the Synagogues came to him and threw himself down at his feet. Jairus wanted his daughter who was at death's door to be cured by the laying on of the hands of Jesus on her. "So Jesus went with him, accompanied by a great crowd which pressed upon him" (Mark, 5: 24).(To be Contd).
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