They cross over the lake and land and anchor at Gennesaret. This doesn't add up- Jesus had told the disciples to go ahead of him to Bethsaida, and Bethsaida is on the other side of the lake to Gennesaret. (Capernaum in the middle and Bethsaida on the East and Gennesaret on the west- they're all in the Northern section of the lake).
Not surprisingly at this point in the story, people see him and run about spreading the news- and wherever he goes in the region this news system insures a steady stream of the sick being brought to him. This must be the height of his popularity. France points out in comparison to Nazareth, there were many healings.
At least 8000 would have been at the miraculous meal on the shores of the lake- that's a lot of people in that region with an amazing story to tell.
Mark gives us a little summary to conclude this section and finishes with- (NIV) They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
You have to be a little sympathetic to the people of Nazareth. They'd seen this man grow up- be among them – one of them- the Carpenter's son, for over 20 years. And there was no hint of any this. How could he be that, when he has been this all these years? Here is a prophet who is eclipsing the greatest prophets of old- Elijah and Elisha. Miracles of these dimensions had not been seen in Israel for hundreds of years. Just being able to brush his cloak as he walks past would heal you of ailments you'd had for years- It reads like some sort of fantasy- It's fantastic- and Mark puts it in a quick summary. Stuff like this can pretty easily obscure. For far too long in my life I have had an idea of Jesus being somehow less or more than a man, which diminishes the glory of the incarnation.
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Where are we at here in terms of the pharisees and scribes opposition?
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