“And He told His disciples that a boat should stand ready for Him because of the crowd, so that they would not crowd Him; for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed around Him in order to touch Him” (Mark 3:9-10).
Crowds can be difficult to handle. People get riled up and get out of control. There are so many needs, and one person cannot meet them all. Yet, the Gospel tells us that through the one man, Jesus, death has been overcome. See the very human circumstance here. Jesus was helped so that the crowd did not overwhelm Him. On Good Friday the crowd would overwhelm, which led Him to Golgotha, but even then, He overwhelmed death.
Lord, we are often demanding and press in. Driven by inner thoughts and fears, we become concerned only for ourselves. Your salvation takes away fear. You grace works from the inside out. Lead us to be aware and be concerned for others as much as we are concerned with ourselves. Teach us how to live loving our neighbors. Teach us patient waiting upon You rather than pressing in for what is desired.
Lord Jesus, You know all that is needed. Lead me in the way You know I need to go. Guide me according to the Father’s will to live into the kind of life that You will teach me to live. Remind me, when I am pressing in and demanding, to be humble such that I care for others as You care for others. Guide me in the way You know I need and grant me a heart that follows You first and foremost. Amen.
