He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.”

The gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four, but it is packed full of information and meaning. Scholars say that even though Mark did not cover all of the stories that are in the other gospels, the ones he did recount, have the most detail. So knowing that, we have to ask why is today’s passage in Mark’s gospel, it seems unnecessary. I believe it is about the testimony of the demons, showing that even the deamons of this world proclaim Jesus is Lord.

The passage says that the crowd was thronging to Him. This would be akin to those scenes where the starving people in Africa are pressing in against the U.N. Food truck, because they are starving and need food. This is how Jesus must have felt, but instead of hunger, the people here, are starving for healing. This is why He needed a boat so that He had a means of respite when He became tired.

But the real reason for this passage, I believe, is to show us today, that those throngs of people that were pressing in on Jesus were all healed, simply by touching Him. Jesus has command over all demons, that they cannot even stand being close to Him, and simply touching Jesus forces them to leave. and when they leave they are forced to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God.

Incedentally, this also shows very clearly, that no matter how possessed or oppressed by a deamon a person might be, that the human will is still more powerful than anything the possessing deamon can do to stop it. But to put deamons in their place we must make that choice in our mind to choose Jesus over their temptations. That choice is not something they can stop from happening.  But if you turn to Jesus, and reach out your hand to him, he will save you from your toment.

This passage is in the gospel, I feel because it was a way for all the people following Jesus to see with their own eyes that Jesus is indeed Lord, because even the deamons proclaim it. And further, It was also for the pharisees that were trying to trap him to recognize that they are indeed wrong about Him.

This is one of those great moment in the bible, like the baptism of Jesus, where the Father declares that Jesus is Lord. The baptism scene was only for His closest followers, this scene, of the mass healings, is for all the rest of us. Jesus simply asks us, in this passage, do you believe, or do you need more evidence. I suggest that we deeply reflect on this quesion, and asks ourselves do we need more evidence…, do we actually believe that Jesus is God, the second person of the trinity? If you dont, what more do you need?

Oh Jesus, I believe, help my unbelief. Help me today to recognize that you are the lord of the universe and that you want my friendship and love. I am not worthy of such a gift, but I am sooo grateful.