Daily Thoughts from Mark: The Genius of the Common Man (Mark 3:7-12)

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. (Mark 3:7-12, ESV)

 

Again, ironically, though the people who should have acknowledged him as Messiah were seeking to destroy him, the common, untaught people were flocking to him because of his unprecedented power to heal and cast out demons.  And even the demons knew who he was and testified to it.  Every part of Israel was coming to him.  He was in danger of being crushed by the throngs.

 

Christianity has ever since been a religion of the common man.  It is not that people of power and influence have not responded to Jesus, but often, because the call of Jesus is to give up self, it is hardest for such people to repent and believe.  Arrogance will keep you from God or will cause you to try to use God for your own purposes.  Neediness is the first step to relationship with Him.