Multitudes Coming To Jesus

⏱️ 5 minutes.

Greetings, beloved of God,

Today, let’s take a look at the response that followed after the Pharisees and Herodians plotted to destroy Jesus:

And Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples, and a great multitude from Galilee followed; also from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, a great number of people heard of all that He was doing and came to Him. — Mark 3:7-8

Let’s examine two specific responses that occurred immediately after this:

Jesus’ Response

When the Pharisees began plotting to harm Him, Jesus’ response was to withdraw from them. This is a rather unique reaction. One might think that God incarnate, in His power, would call down fire and brimstone upon those seeking to harm Him. Yet, this was not Jesus’ reaction. Instead, He withdrew and continued with His ministry.

A passage in Matthew connects this response to the words of the prophet Isaiah:

Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;
My chosen one in whom My soul is well-pleased.
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry out or raise His voice,
Nor make His voice heard in the street.
— Isaiah 42:1-2

There is something we as believers can learn here about following Christ. Often, when we are offended, the natural response is to fight back. Although the Bible doesn’t explicitly forbid self-defense, there are moments when withdrawal is the wisest option. Engaging in conflict sometimes adds nothing to the glory of God and only aligns Christians with the world’s behavior.

The book of Proverbs gives us similar wisdom:

It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife,
but every fool is quick to quarrel.
— Proverbs 20:3

The mark of an honorable person is to avoid quarreling. However, it is common for fools to seek out vengeance and conflict. As Christians, we must learn to let go of disputes, especially when they do not lead to anything constructive.

The apostle Paul also speaks to this:

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. — Romans 12:18

Paul recognizes that while it is not always up to us to maintain peace, there are times when we can choose peace over conflict. In such moments, the Christian is called to pursue peace.

The author of Hebrews takes this even further, linking the pursuit of peace to sanctification:

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. — Hebrews 12:14

This was how Jesus responded. When people gathered to destroy Him, He withdrew and focused on His ministry. Now, let’s consider how the people responded after the Pharisees and Herodians plotted against Jesus.

The People’s Response

Mark tells us that people from all around Judea and Galilee followed Jesus. This is an interesting reaction. By this time, it was public knowledge that the Pharisees were seeking to destroy Him. They had even gone so far as to falsely accuse Him of blasphemy:

“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” — Mark 2:7

Blasphemy was a serious crime, punishable by death under Jewish law:

Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of Yahweh shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death. — Leviticus 24:16

The people had every reason to align themselves with the Pharisees and reject Jesus’ teachings, especially considering the Pharisees were the religious authorities. To go against them was to risk being labeled a sinner or a tax collector, someone outside of God’s favor.

Even today, religious leaders hold significant influence because they deal with matters of the soul. As of 2023, about 84% of the world’s population identifies with a religion (Pew Research Center).

Yet, in this case, the people did not side with the religious leaders. Instead, large crowds continued to follow Jesus despite the opposition from the Pharisees. One commentator puts it this way:

If Christ be persecuted and abandoned by the wicked, there are still multitudes of pious souls who will earnestly seek and follow Him. He who labors for God will always find more than he loses amidst all contradiction and persecution.
— Adam Clarke

When people heard Jesus’ teachings and saw His works, they knew they needed a Savior. This reminds us as believers that there will always be those who hear the gospel and turn to Christ. Though not all will repent, there remains a remnant ready to obey and submit to the Lord.

This should encourage us, especially as we are called to preach to the masses. Sometimes we might feel that the world’s influence is too strong, but this is a false assumption. We are commanded to preach the gospel, and God has already prepared hearts to receive it.

So, be encouraged, and go out to share the message that will bring many to follow Him.

I pray that today’s message inspires you to seek peace and preach the gospel.

Be blessed.