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Matthew 13:2
As Jesus sat by the sea (Matthew 13:1), “great multitudes were gathered together to Him” (Matthew 13:2, NKJV). I do not believe that someone/many people went around gathering people as one would gather eggs from the henhouse, but that people/great multitudes were attracted to Him through the local knowledge of the miracles He had performed. Just as if a famous movie star comes to town; the word spreads of his or her coming, and an excitement grows for everyone in the community to go and see him or her. This multitude grew so large that Jesus had to retreat to a boat and go out into the sea a little to keep the crowd from over-running Him. This act of Jesus getting into a boat and moving out into the sea a little also created an atmosphere for Jesus to teach/preach to the people. Can you imagine the people running to Jesus, only to be stopped by the water’s edge and silenced as Jesus prepared a podium to teach from? The crowd continues to grow but is now in a position to not only see Jesus, but to hear and to listen to what He has to say to them.
This is an example that in our excitement to come to Jesus, He wants us to hear and to listen to what He has to say to us.
We still run to Jesus today spiritually in our excitement to experience the salvation that only He can provide as we become God’s children through our faith and profession of Jesus as our Savior. But realizing that Jesus was sent by our heavenly Father is not enough, He wants us to develop a desire to learn from Him – to hear what He has to say to us, and to listen to Him speak to our hearts through His Holy Spirit. We run to Him in excitement, and that is wonderful news, but Jesus wants us to hear the good news – the gospel – that He has for us as we put our faith in Him. Let’s make sure that we open our eyes, hearts, minds and ears to Jesus as He teaches us the way to life eternal – in Christ!
Dear LORD,
We find it a magnificent miracle to come to a realization that You sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world (John 3:16-17). We praise and thank You for saving us from sin. We ask now that You help us to realize the importance of hearing and listening to what You have to say to us through Your Holy Spirit that dwells within all who put their faith in Jesus and profess Him Savior and Lord. In Jesus name I pray, amen.