Through Pressing Crowds They Wanted to Touch His Garment

By Mary Vee
Matthew 12, Mark 3,

From Matthew's Journal 

Sea of Galilee, Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Matthew. I am a disciple of Jesus. I am here with other disciples, so they may add something today. 

We followed Jesus to the lake to get away from the large crowds. Word had spread about Jesus healing the sick. It seemed as though the entire country came to visit Him, asking for healing.

There were people who came from Tyre and Sidon over on the Mediterranean Sea, from cities on the other side of the Jordan River, Judea, Jerusalem, and far south of Jerusalem in Idumea.

Jesus looked at the growing number of people and said to us, "We will need to have a small boat ready to keep the people from crowding me into the water."

None of us could blame the people. Most had traveled long distances with their loved ones who had great needs. They saw he had healed many, and that simply touching Jesus brought healing to the sick. The crowds pushed, not like as in fighting, but as in strongly wanting to get close enough to Jesus to touch even his garment.

When those came who were possessed by evil spirits, we heard the spirits cry out, "You are the Son of God." Jesus faced the spirits and gave them strict orders not to say who he was."

I know, I wondered why He said that, too, until Jesus reminded us of Isaiah's prophecy:

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, I am delighted by Him.

I have put my Spirit on Him, by this He will judge the nations.

He won't scream, or yell, or cry out for people to hear in the streets.

What is bruised or bent, He will not break

He won't blow out a smoldering candle--rather he will lead justice to victory.

Nations will put their hope in His name. 

So, we kept a boat close by knowing that at some point the crowds would press Jesus toward the water...not to harm Him. They just wanted to touch Him. At that point, he'd get in the boat and speak to them from there.

You need to know that our country is not under the control of the Jews. The Romans have a strong arm, the Greeks had their influence, and many of our people long for someone to come and rescue our country from those who force us to become like them. We are seeking someone to save us from these controlling powers.


I'll tell you more about that next time.

Author's note: what they didn't realize at the time was Jesus was the Savior, but he would not save them from the temporary political problems and turmoil, he give the only way for eternal life. 

Come back to read the next story.

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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.