Section 52
Withdrawal to the Sea of Galilee with large crowds from many places
By the Sea of Galilee
Matthew 12:15-21
Mark 3:7-12
15Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from there. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them all
7But Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and also from Judea, 8from Jerusalem, from Idumea, and from beyond the Jordan. A great multitude of people from around Tyre and Sidon also came to him when they heard about everything he was doing. 9Then he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, so that the crowd would not crush him. 10For he had healed many, so that all who had afflictions were pressing toward him to touch him. 11Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they would fall down before him and cry out, “You are the Son of God.”
16and warned them not to make him known. 17This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 18“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased.I will put my Spirit upon him,and he will declare justice to the Gentiles. 19He will not quarrel, nor will he cry out,nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20A bruised reed he will not break,and a smoldering wick he will not extinguish,until he brings justice to victory. 21And in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
12But he would strictly warn them not to make him known.
Notes
Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Galilee is a beautiful blue freshwater lake. Because it is shaped like a harp, it is called Yam Kinneret (Numbers 34:11) in Hebrew, from the word kinnor, which means “harp.” It was also known as the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1) after the large city, built by Herod Antipas, which is located on its shores. It was also called Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1)
The Sea of Galilee is fed by the Jordan River, which brings water from the melting snows of Mount Hermon to the north. Additional water comes from the numerous springs around the lake, many of which are hot springs. The hot water from these springs allows even tropical fish to thrive. The very high rate of evaporation from the lake raises the humidity to an average of 65% in the area over and around the lake; such an environment also enables tropical plants and fruit to grow.
The lake is now 12.5 miles long and 7 miles wide, with a circumference of 32 miles. It may have been slightly longer in Jesus’ time, since the lake may have receded somewhat in the north near Bethsaida. The surface of the lake is about 700 feet below sea level.
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By the Sea of Galilee
Footnotes
Matthew 12,21
Isaiah 42:1-4